Knights Win! Knights Win!

Eli's game was at 4PM today. He had the opportunity to get a full night's sleep, suffer a few lack-of-toy/privilege consequences, and take a nap all before he had to leave. The hope was that this game would go much better than yesterday's.

Lehr and Eli went to the game first, leaving Maddux and I behind. Lehr said Eli apologized; nothing fancy, but he did it. They had their pre-game practice and the game started on-schedule. Eli got on base each time he was up at bat (a total of four times). He played left field, catcher and then held his own at third base for the last two innings. When Maddie and I got there, Eli was up to bat and had to use the tee for the first time. No worries, as he hit a line drive getting him to first with time to spare. (Each kid gets five pitches; if they miss all of them, the tee is used.) The next time he was up to bat, he took a ball to the face.The pitch hit his bat, bounced off of his helmet and then his nose before hitting the ground. He recoiled but then took his position again immediately. The coach ran to him right away, but Eli proved to be one tough cookie and didn't require any reassurance. Another single. (Daddy was the first base coach and he said that when Eli got to the bag, Lehr asked him if it hurt when the ball hit him. Affirmative.)

The game ended with the Knights on top, and guess who got the game ball!?!? Apparently before we got there, Eli made his first out this season. He was playing third base when the ball was hit in his direction. My boy ran to the ball, stopped it, picked it up, and then ran right to tag his bag. When I heard about it I suddenly realized that pride thing that parents feel. That out was ALL Eli and NONE of us. We didn't yell from the stands to help him make that play. We didn't stay up last night practicing that strategy. It was the result of him paying attention during practice and staying focused during the game. I'm still in awe. Eli also got his first star for his hat. I'm not sure what specifically the players do to earn stars, but he now has his first. This day totally made up for last night's meltdown. Who knows; maybe this game was a result of what happened last night. Maybe 'This great moment was brought to you by tantrum at 6:30'. Either way, life is good.