Spring Baseball

Eli had his first baseball game of the season this afternoon. He was all excited, getting dressed in his pinstriped pants before we left the house. His team this spring is the Braves, which is an easy one for him to relate to (obviously).

Maddie and I watched as Eli played outfield in the first inning. He got to the ball first one time and threw it, but the play was done already, so no defensive points. The next time the Braves were in the field, Eli was placed at short stop. WOW! By far the biggest position he's ever played. I did worry about it because the other team had quite a few sluggers. (I wasn't sure Eli would know to hold his glove over his face or drop to the ground if a line drive came for him.) This time around a ball came right for him (on the ground). Eli dropped down and trapped it with his glove, hand and knees. He stood up, ball poised to be thrown to second. Once he saw that the runner was already there, he whipped around to third, but that runner was safe as well. So no play, but he stopped any further play....I'll take it! For the third and final inning, Eli was behind the plate as catcher. He was in this position several times last season, but today he was just not feeling it. There was some new equipment to wear, so I think part of the problem was Eli couldn't see very well, nor could he bend down with the leg protection. Mostly he stood there and the ball went right past him. Who knows...maybe the excitement of short stop ruined him for a more stationary position.

Eli hit the ball (from pitches) all three times at bat, but he also got out at first all three times. He and his new coach have not yet found a good connection; sometimes it takes Eli all five pitches to get a hit. And at home, he always pulls to short stop or third base when I pitch, so I don't think there is necessarily a magnet for Eli at first base... Either way, he either needs to learn to hit to a different spot or run faster if he wants to make it on base. The great new is, every time Eli came back to the dugout he had a HUGE smile on his face and he told me, "Mommy, I crushed it!" Life is good.