Bugs in the Garden/Baseball

It is already July 2011, and I can't believe how quickly the summer has gone.  A lot of first time things have been going on, but the one most fresh on my mind is Ty and baseball.  He decided this year that he wanted to go out for baseball.  There were 15 boys between 10 and 12/13 on his team.  Being from a small town, that is a big team.  Since we have been traveling and seeing the country a lot, this is his first year ever playing ball.  A lot of kids on the team have been playing for quite some time.  They started in T-ball and went through coach pitch and now are pretty efficient fast pitchers.  Ty didn't get a lot of time in the games, but he improved more each time.  He had a lot to learn in just a couple of months.  Next year most of the starters will move up to the next level and that will leave more room for the rest of the boys to get more game time and improve.  Last night was the final game of the season.  We had three straight nights of games for the tournament.  The games got tougher and tougher.  Their final opponent was Gresham.  This was the first team that they played against in regular season.  It was a close game right down to the last inning.  The score was tied at the bottom of the sixth.  The bases were loaded.  We needed just one base hit to win the game.  After what I am sure was a "no pressure" talk from the coach at the dugout, he steps up to bat.  The bat connects with the ball and he could have brought them all home.  When the third base runner crossed the plate, the entire team came out of the dugout and onto the field.  It was the best game of the season.  I didn't even like baseball until Ty started playing.  Now, I am really hoping that he plays again next year.  He got two medals last night.  One for first place in the tournament, and the other for first place in the regular season.  His team was undefeated all season.  I just wish Ty would have gotten more time in to play.

I did learn a lot watching the games this year.  Some quite commical and others just informational for next time.

1. Goodeye:  means that the batter didn't swing and the umpire called a ball.  You might think it is two words    but really it sounds like just one.
2. If you don't know the players name, it is perfectly acceptable to use the number on his jersey in place of his name.  ei. If you don't know the name of the player with a 26 on his jersey you would say,  "Way to go two six"  
3. "Give it a ride" does not mean get on your bike, but instead is called from the stand or encouraging team mates to let the batter know that they would like him to hit the ball with his bat.
4. "Make some music"  I heard this one for the first time last night, but it basically means the same as #3
5. Sunflower seeds are very important, and might be considered a meal as long as you can get a hot dog from the concession stand for dessert.
6. Lawn chairs are way more comfortable than bleachers.  
7. If it is a night game or late in the evening remember to bring a blanket or sweatshirt to fight the chill.
8. I really have no idea what the problem is with the coach when he stands by third base....but I am not the only one that notices.  Apparently the team is concerned because when they get up to bat they look at him to make sure he is ok, then nod and go to the plate.  No words are exchanged, but apparently the team realizes that the coach will be ok.
9. After a game one night I figured out number 8, I think.  I was trying to weed the garden some and there were bugs and before I knew it, I looked like the third base coach.  I was swatting at my arms and legs and head.  I don't know if a batter could have walked by and known that I was ok or not.  Maybe they need to spray a little something around third base.  Although, it doesn't seem to affect the runners.  Maybe they aren't there long enough to be bothered?
10. Just this moment, my 11 year old informed me that there is not a bug infestation on third base, and that you only have to know about 4 signals that the coach is giving.  They make it look so complicated to confuse the other team.....and me.  LOL
11. The cage behind home plate is just a simple suggestion to the ball.  I can't say that I blame that ball for wanting to get out of the game so bad.  It gets thrown at over 30 miles and hour, gets hit by a bat, flies through the air again, and gets caught or rolled around in the dirt.  That doesn't sound fun to me.  
12. If a child happens to "capture" one of these escape balls, they are able to turn it in for the reward of a small piece of bubble gum.