Play Ball

Zane has grown up watching baseball since he was a little tiny peanut. We told Zach's parent's we were pregnant by sending them an Albert Pujols shirt. There was a Cardinals game on TV in the delivery room for heaven's sake. He sings take me out to the ball game with the line 'root root root for the Cardinals.' Go Cardinals was one of his earliest phrases. So it's easy to say he is quite the baseball fan and started asking to play tball last summer. We decided to give it another year in hopes that his attention span might increase slightly in a year.

 Zane celebrating the Cardinals World Series win in 2011!!!

Zane loving his first T that he got for his third birthday!

 Of course Zane has an amazing memory and has been asking when baseball will start since we told him he was going to have to wait until spring time. We signed him up in Jan. for spring t-ball. We have taken two exciting trips to the sporting good store and I think we are finally completely outfitted for t-ball. Zane has been practicing religiously in the backyard, working on batting, catching, fielding ground balls, all the things a good baseball player needs to know. He has mastered the art of loading up all his equipment into his new baseball bag which is an very important skill to have as well. Anytime Daddy isn't home, and he has to put up with my less than stellar baseball skills, he makes sure to show me which hand is my glove hand and which one is my ball hand. He talks me through the batting process, "ok mom, bend your legs, keep your eyes on the ball, bat up, elbow up, and swing." He, of his own accord, developed a high kick/step with his hitting process, not unlike Albert Pujols of yesteryear. Zane's a great batter, but like all four year old baseball players could use some work on catching. But we are getting there.

 

 Zane, being the son of a neuro nurse, has grown up with an intense fear of head injuries, hence loves his new helmet. I have suggested he wear it all the time, probably a great idea.

Yes, he has little miniature cleats. Something about seeing him lase up the cleats made him seem so grown up. Right up until the part where he couldn't actually tie them, then he seemed completely four!

A few weeks ago we found out that Zane's first baseball team was going to be called the Little Rascals, perfect if you ask me. We asked him what number he wanted and his exact response was, "maybe 500, or 16." So we went with 16, that's as good as any number I guess. Their colors are throw back Cardinal blue (which they are calling N.C. blue, but we all know it's Cardinal road game blue circa the 80s) and red which is also perfect. Since found out he was going to be a Little Rascal we of course had to watch the movie. Zane loved it, but was confused as to why the kids weren't playing t-ball in it.

After all of this build up, lots of waiting, and preparation yesterday was Zane's first official practice. We met everyone at a park in a near by housing addition. It was a great set up with a small little playground for the younger siblings to play on. I took Rowan to the park while Zane went to practice. I watched most of the practice from a distance and my take away was that Zane is easily the tallest player by a couple inches and I'm guessing one of the oldest. A few times I looked up and he was running off to I don't know where. I have since heard that he had run straight past first base, which will happen when first base is being marked by someone's mom sitting on the ground. Zach was assistant coaching and loving every  minute of it. Zach's response upon getting into the car after practice was that he was not concerned about Zane's ADD at all, so I'm taking that a good sign. He waited his turn, listened, and I from all accounts had a great time as well.

 Everything loaded up in his baseball bag, ready to go! He's so big in these pictures.

Rowan meanwhile was lost without his big brother, wondering around the playground confused about what to do next. He kept pointing over to where Zane and Zach where, "my dadda, bobo, right there." It was kind of sad, I knew he really wanted to be part of the fun, but that's how it goes when you're the little brother. Rowan does have his own little glove and has started batting off Zane's old T when Zane is practicing at home. It's all very adorable and all very boy, as are all things at my house these days. Why do I feel like I have years of baseball practice in front of me. We marked our helmet and bat with Korenak so we are set for a few more years!

Little Ro practicing, rocking his new GW shirt, thanks Aunt Abbey!