Last night I was able to sit outside, enjoying a warm spring evening. It was made even better because the reason for my outside sitting was to watch my oldest son play baseball. Perched on the bleachers, me and many other parents looked on as our kids played a great game on a beautiful night. It’s been a long time since we felt this part of our normal routines. It is a happy glimpse into getting back some of the parts of our lives that were put on hold while we battled (and still do) a pandemic that needed our serious attention and consequently, our inaction.
At almost 12, this is my oldest son’s last year to play in his local little league. His heart is at home on those ball fields and I am so glad he has this chance to play again. His heart. He has the biggest heart for many things, but for this game especially. My son is one of the smallest kids in his age group. He always has been. He will likely be a classic “late bloomer” just like both of his parents. The kid is all legs and arms right now and you can see the stretch that will come at some point, but even so, being the small guy around age 12 isn’t always the easiest thing. He handles this issue with humor, and with a sense of confidence that puts me in awe some days. And he holds his own, walking in the middle of all of his much taller friends, jostling around between them, laughing, talking, striking cool guy poses. The group of boys he plays ball with and holds friendships with are his guys and they have his back, even if they all spend a fair amount of time razzing each other. They are loyal friends and again, I watch with awe sometimes, because my oldest son has always found his way easily through social interaction, and building friendships. He is easy going, open, accepting, and secure. I so admire that.
But, when they get out on the baseball field, the game is ON! This kind hearted creature lets out his inner competitor something fierce. Last night I watched my boy pitch four innings, and it was a great showing. He ended the game with a walk off run, tagged first base, pumped his fist in the air the way he does when he can’t contain it anymore, flung off his helmet and jumped into the air to celebrate. He does love to win. He loves to compete. He had a very good game last night. Of course it is so fun to watch those types of games.
More impressive though are the games when it doesn’t go that way. When he’s on the pitchers mound and he’s hit a funk and maybe the bases are loaded and he has to try to pitch his way out of it, or two kids just hit home runs off of him. Because that’s baseball, and sometimes it goes that way. It’s nice when it goes the winning way, but that’s not going to happen every time. The best show of a person is how they handle adversity, and when these young men do that, while playing this game, it really is something to be proud of. When I watch my boy get beaten down on that field and still walk out on the field the next inning, those are the moments, I know that this is more than a game. He is learning how to keep his chin up when the going gets tough.
After winning games and losing games, one thing remains for my boy. He has so much heart. He shows it in so many ways, but especially out on the ball field. He works to the end, he doesn’t give up, and when his team gets that win, or that amazing play, or he gets that third strike out, it is clear that to him, the bad moments are worth it to get to the good ones. He has a competitor’s heart, but more importantly, and what I know will serve him well in this life, is that he is a good sport. Here’s to sports and good sports and getting to watch them play.
- Photo by Sean Coughlin
Rachael Coughlin 