Hey, Batter, Batter, Batter....

Eli had his first baseball game this evening. Not his first 'real' one, as this was just a scrimmage. But as far as Eli and his team were concerned, it might as well have been the real deal. When the kids and I arrived, we were handed Eli's uniform: a green "Knights" jersey shirt with 'Eliason' and '4' on the back, grey baseball pants (like the ones he already has), green socks, and a green baseball cap with a '4' on the back. Wow. Put that on Eli and it all became very real. I opted to not bring a camera tonight as I was alone with the kids for an hour or so, so the pictures are from Lehr's phone. (If you've not seen Maddux in action at a soccer or baseball game, she doesn't leave you with a lot of down time.)

The Knights were up to bat first. The rules indicate that each child gets five pitches (overhand, by the coach) and then he can swing off of the tee if needed. The teams switch from offense to defence when one of two things happen: the offense scores five runs or the defense gets three outs. I don't remember where Eli was in the line-up, but he got up to bat that first inning. It took four pitches, but he knocked it out. At least to second base or so. He ran straight to first base and right over it. The first base coach had to remind him to then wait at the bag until the next player hit. On to second base. The third base coach held up two big 'stop' hands for Eli. The next hit went directly to the short stop which forced Eli to be the third player tagged out. The teams switched and the coach started calling out positions for the Knights. He joked, "I'm going to call out your position and just run out to the field like you know where you're going." Not so much a joke as Eli ended up running in foul territory near the first base line. Eli was sent to Center Field. The ball never came anywhere near him.

Next inning found Eli at the plate again. I think it was the second pitch he hit this time. He chopped it, but it was still a decent hit. I don't remember exactly how the rest of the inning played out, but Eli never made it to home plate. When the Knights took the field this time, Eli was assigned 'catcher'. It was so fun to watch him get all suited up. He went right to the plate and got on his knees with the glove in front of him, like he knew what he was doing. But he didn't...he'd never been instructed on this position before. (A coach stays there with him to help field the pitches.) Eli did grab a few and toss them back to the pitcher...quite impressive to me.

The whole game found Eli very wide-eyed. He doesn't know his teammates yet and that means he isn't horsing around on the field. It also means he is 100% focused on what is happening and (hopefully) learning all of the ins-and-outs of the game. Loved loved loved watching him tonight. His first 'real' game is this weekend...watch for video footage to follow.

Now on to Mad Dog. She found friends as soon as we arrived tonight. Two or three older girls (maybe 8?) were playing near the field and Maddux went right over to them and asserted herself. They fawned all over her and included her quite nicely, even holding her hand at times. Her audacity floors me. My girl will never meet a stranger, that's for sure!