Benched

Unable to prove his birth, Forrest has been benched for the all-star tournament. This is not all bad news. He doesn’t have to face all-star pitching (the kid I watched for a couple innings this morning was smokin’), he gets to stay in the dugout, the only place where there is any shade, and parents and grandparents feel no guilt for not being there to watch him not play. However, it was a good season. Few losses, fewer errors, many hits and great plays. I’d forgotten how good twelve and thirteen year olds can play. Forgotten, until early this summer, of my single season coaching stint of the Ferrets at MacDill AFB. My Ferrets won their first game 44 to 8 and believed they were God’s gift to baseball until they lost game number two. Forrest’s team was excellent in all respects. They looked sharp in their red over black jersey uniforms, didn’t sob when they struck out and affected a very good jock walk. They didn’t “hum babe” but kept up a good patter from the dugout and maintained an air of competence and concentration except for occasional quick trips to the concession stand when hunger struck between innings. The parents were a class act as well. No harassing of umps from our end of the bleachers. No shouters or pouters. Just good support. This wasn’t true of all the other teams. As always, many parents and grandparents get too invested in the performance of their kid and the outcome of the game. They forget it’s kid’s baseball and holler invectives at the nearly volunteer umpires. Opposing coaches stepped out of line as well and in one altercation the head ump and coach seemed like they might like to get physical with each other. Our team’s coach was a role model for anyone coaching young kids. First of all, he understands baseball and had these kids doing hit and runs, steals, cutting off runners and making double plays. He never got excited, instead supported, complimented and comforted. He was, in short, terrific and his team lived up to the example he set for them. He was competitive but seemed to see the value in the occasional loss. Forrest had never played baseball until this season. He’s known for soccer and basketball skills. Got recruited as the team only had nine players and needed some insurance. But after a season with Coach Joe he has the makings of a player even though lack of a proper birth certificate has him on the bench this weekend.

Comments

[Kirsten]

Forrest is in deed a team player and supporter. While he cannot play he insists on being right there to cheer them on. And - I have rush ordered the Birth Certificate! :)