Baseball again!

Haven't talked much about Jack's fall baseball season. It has been kind of strange,,with an erratic schedule, Jack being sick or otherwise missing last weekend's games, and the overall quality of play being shaky.

And Jack struggled at the plate the first few games, and I'm not coaching, so it is all a different vibe from the summer.

But it was an awesome weekend. Yesterday, things started to turn around for him at the plate. We had been practicing some, swing and stance and stuff, and he was looking a little more comfortable at the plate. Had a good at bat which resulted in a hard groundout to the right side, moving the tying runner over in the final inning in a game we won 3-2. Today, with only nine guys available, Jack played the whole game, made a couple of fielding plays and a throw home.... And in his first at bat, lined a double down the right field line, the best hit - and first double - of his career. Reached base each of his next three at bats, too, with a liner to center and a pair of grounders. 3 hits. A bust out game! Said a friend, and it's true.

After the game, I told Jack how great he played, how proud I was, and got a big grin. Then he went off to a birthday party, baseball probably largely forgotten. (Funny, because yesterday, walking home, same thing happened...Emily was praising him for moving the runner over, Jack smiled, then spotted a squirrel and started chasing it. Already moving on.)

Funny thing is, I mean, I'm proud of Jack anyway, all the time. Every time he's at the plate, in the field, being nice to Kate, helping around the house. Guess it's easier to get excited about a hit in baseball or something in public, but it's not a new feeling. Maybe baseball just reminds me of it.

Weather was nice this weekend. Sunny, warmer than you would expect, clear. Great weekend for baseball.