The Last Season

Eli had his evaluations for Spring ball today. Evaluations for his last season in the Shetland league. His last season of not being the little kid. Eli has participated in four seasons already; this one will be five. He's only missed one since he's been eligible, so we feel very comfortable in this league. So comfortable that I'm already getting nervous about next season. (Sooo silly, I know.) Next fall (or spring...whenever he plays again) he will be with big kids. Seven to nine year old kids. My little boy is little, and it will be very obvious next season. Probably as obvious as it was when he started baseball a few weeks after his fourth birthday.

This season will likely be his last chance to play the 'big' positions for a while. Last season was the first time he got a chance at it, and this will be his only other chance before he's thrown to much bigger wolves. But if the last two and a half years have taught me anything about Eli, it's that he's all heart, and his heart will get him through any new curve balls thrown his way.

Regarding his evaluation today, he did great. He hit a couple, caught a few pop flies, and totally sailed the ball to first three times in a row. Obviously all of the extra football practice he's been doing in the front yard has strengthened his throwing arm!