Ethan's first baseball game is on Saturday. For weeks now, we have had practices on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Each time, he has learned a new concept of baseball.
**as you'll note, my blogs are becoming more sport-friendly than before....apparently I'm learning something. Either that, or I'm just pretending to learn something! Yep....that's more like it**
Since the game is on Saturday, today's practice focused on how to play the actual game. See, we've learned how to catch pop-ups, stop grounders, setting up at the plate, and even hit a couple times! Running the bases has been hilarious to watch because they just keep running round & round! This practice, however, they started to understand what the heck they were doing out there:
Batter hit the ball (after multiple missed swings), infielders ran to get the ball (instead of waiting for the ball to reach them), outfielders caught the ball (fighting the sun in their eyes), and the batter ran to first base (and actually stopped).
The head coach is a very patient man. There's a reason he's the head coach. VERY encouraging, always positive, and a great teacher. His "assistant dads" are also very knowledgeable and helpful to the boys.
They are always yelling "baseball ready." The first couple weeks, obviously, I was lost. It took me a while to figure out what "baseball ready" meant. And it didn't mean that the baseball was literally ready.
Before the ball is thrown to the batter, the yell is loud&clear: "baseball ready" -everybody preps for the pitch
Knees bent, gloved hands up, and awareness of the upcoming play.
It is the coaches' way of getting the boys' attention & it's the boys' way of preparing for what is coming next.
In the New Testament, John the Baptist was yelling similar instruction: "Messiah ready"
I'm here to get your attention; you need to prepare for what is coming next.
Jesus says the same thing to me, sometimes in a yelling fashion: "Heaven ready"
I came to get your attention; prepare for what is coming next.
Knees bent in prayer, hands up in praise, and awareness of the upcoming play....I will continue my journey.
