The Game

I want to be sure to document one particular night of 2023 before we become fully entrenched in 2024 (I'm not there yet.)

The beginning of 2023 started out pretty rough for the 9 year old grandson.  He had stepped back from travel baseball into town baseball, mainly due to confidence issues.  He approached the game with a general lack of commitment as he grappled with changes in his family, finding appropriate role models, and just struggling with structured play vs. building forts in the woods. Much of his angst was fueled, as it is for many 9 year olds, by how much of summer vacation should be given up to adhere to any kind of schedule?

Then Jack experienced a sudden and unexpected loss.  He lost the grandparent with the greatest love for baseball and the one who called Jack "one of my people."  PaJim passed away suddenly in June.  Jack held his feelings very close to the vest on Jim's passing.  He was not able to share any thoughts on Jim for quite some time.  This turn of events further complicated Jack's relationship with baseball.  There was a month and a half left of baseball and Jack showed up at some games just to show up and other game times were passed totally because building the fort in the woods took priority that day.  Occasionally we saw the kid who loved to swing the bat and play with his teammates.  It was a surprise to us all when we learned his team had made their way into the championship game with one of the best records in the town. 

This is how we arrived to the hot, muggy, gnat-filled evening of of July 28 for the championship under-the-lights game.

We weren't out of the car yet when we were abruptly run-down by our 11 yr old granddaughter. She was very hot-under-the-collar and animated. Before the door was fully opened, I heard "Mario has been mocking Jack all the way through warm-ups.  He says he can't hit.  I want to go on that field and punch him, but Mommy won't let me."  Any motivation I had to join the group on the sideline was gone.  I asked how Jack was doing and she responded "He's just taking it.  He's not saying a word.  He should punch him.  Teammates should not be like that."

We got settled in our seats, settled Emma Tyson, and eventually got much of the same story from our daughter.  She felt very badly for Jack and hoped the game went well and was over quickly.  

The game began and Jack started in the field.  He appeared focused and had a few really good plays. His team got their chance with the bat and soon it was Jack's turn.  He stepped up to the plate with his bat and after a couple of balls sailed by him, he connected with the ball and hit a solid double.  I looked skyward and thanked PaJim for helping Jack save face in his first at bat.

That first hit, after Mario's barrage of criticism prior to game, launched an epic night for Jack.  His team was on a roll.  Hit after hit brought the runners home.  Their fielding was championship quality and the pitching was great.  The momentum continued and Jack got a hit every at-bat that night.  Singles, double, and a home run.  Jack was a man with something to prove and his actions spoke much louder than his words would have. They certainly were much more effective than his sister's fist might have been.  It was great to watch his confidence increase as the game progressed. They won big that night.  The town championship was theirs.  

The team gathered for the trophy presentation and all of the parents crowded around for pictures.  We, as the the grandparents, hung back to congratulate Jack later.  As he came away from the crowd, he had a smile like none I had ever seen from him.  It was a smile of humility, satisfaction, accomplishment and an appreciation of the magic he had just experienced.  He had been awarded the game ball!  

Championship night will be a favorite lifetime memory for Jack.  Right now he remembers a magical night.  In time, he will know that Mario's words helped fuel his desire and competitiveness to silence his critics.  He dug deep that night to find his confidence.  He could only do it himself.  It is most meaningful because he did do it himself.  No one else can find that for you.  

The story, of course, continues as he is just 9 years old.  Later last summer our daughter got a call from a baseball coach.  They saw a need for a level of play which would enable kids with talent to play at a higher level while gaining the confidence they need through additional coaching and mentorship.  They were asking Jack to try out.  He easily made the team and has enjoyed his winter team time with the group in batting cages and doing inside drills.  He has new friends, friends from school and prior teams and speaks most often about his good friend, Mario. Seriously. 

Life is a journey.  We all get to our ultimate destinations in different ways.  Life throws us some pretty wonky curve balls and fast balls.  The deeper we have to dig within ourselves to navigate the bases and get to our ultimate home base, enables us to gain needed confidence to find peace, accomplish goals, or move on to the next challenge.

And always remember, a magical night guided by those who have gone before us helps keep that fire fueled.  

Play on!