T-ball: Opening Weekend

These pictures will probably be worth millions someday – so bookmark this post!

Miles had his very first T-ball practice last weekend. I see it as a simple beginning to a lucrative career in the MLB. Baseball has grabbed on tightly to Miles’ attention and doesn’t appear to be letting go anytime soon.

The league Miles is a part of is comprised of 3-5 year olds.  It’s obvious that a couple of kids understand a few of the basics, though sadly, a large majority of the kids seemed to have just had their first exposure to the game.

For about 45 minutes, they were shown how to hold a bat, how to swing at a ball sitting on a tee, how to run bases, and shown how to stop/pick-up a ground ball and throw it back to the coach.

The skill range was wide…  I’m still not sure why I’m surprised by that!  This is a 3 year old league! Some parents didn’t know which side of the tee to put their kid on. There seems to be an attitude of letting the parks system teach the sport, rather than parents teaching their kid the sport and letting the team atmosphere and coaches refine the talent. Am I weird in feeling that way? Either way, Miles is very lucky to have such an involved father –and he knows it!

Miles WHACKED the ball off the tee and into the fence, catching the attention of many! Dad was so proud.

Next, the kids ran all the bases,  one kid at a time.  Parent volunteers were requested to stand at each of the bases so that the kids knew where to run and could be directed where to go next. Again, to my surprise, this was a tough task.  A couple little boys wouldn’t even run the bases by themselves. Parents had to run the bases with their kid.  Sorry, I don’t have pictures of this as Nate stood at third base and I stood at first.  Miles had no problem sprinting around the bases on his own; he’s had plenty of practice while camping, in our living room, and following each of Nate’s softball games.

Finally, practice ended with grounders.  The coach would roll the ball to each kid and have them throw it back.  Miles did well. Fielding grounders is not something we’ve done a lot of yet.  After the practice, Nate added to the new skill.  Miles now shuffles his feet to line up with the rolling ball.  His feet no longer cross over one another thereby reducing his potential for tripping.  Go dad (and Miles)! Nate’s trying to make sure Miles is learning each skill correctly so that it doesn’t have to be fixed later :)

Unfortunately, Miles missed T-ball this weekend as we were camping with friends from out of town.  I can testify to the fact that Miles got a lot more practice in than his league’s 45 minute timeslot.  In fact, he even wound down Sunday afternoon watching the White Sox/Brewers game on TV.  This is where he learned that the pitcher carefully peers over his shoulder at a runner on first base who’s trying to steal second.  The pitcher needs to be ready to throw the runner out if he takes off running.  Yes.. you’re right. Miles not only noticed it on TV, he interrogated Nate as to what the pitcher’s purpose was, and spent the next 30+ minutes or so practicing in the living room with “ghost runners”.

Ey, ey, ey!  Baseball is taking over my summer!

Posted in: Baseball,Chicago,Miles