Baseball

I really don't understand Soccer. I find my mind wandering during most Basketball games. Football is so incredibly confusing, I still am not sure how you get a first down. But Baseball I get. It could be because I started playing in second grade, and played until the boys started getting better than me, around age 12. It could be because my Dad took just me to a Tigers Game that he won free tickets to, on a Sunday. We skipped out on the last hour of church and told the Bishop we were going to a Tigers game...and the bishop totally approved! It could be that the Detroit Tigers were SOOOOO good in the early 80's that Baseball was the game that everyone in my high school was watching. I remember all of those years leading up to the World Series in 1984, and everyone in my house screaming when the Tigers really won! That's me on the far right on one of my first teams. We had to make our own team T-shirts. Pontiac City never had fancy uniforms. We also played in the street all the time growing up.
This is Kelly Kilgore, and my brother David, and I have no recollection of who that kid is with the mitt, but this was one of our street "pickle" games. It's how we practiced throwing and catching. We also actually played games in the street, and never broke too many windows. "Car" was a very familiar shout that often interrupted a really good base hit....It's funny how I don't think I would let my kids play in the street...Maybe parents worry too much these days....

So Clint has also discovered baseball. We went through the gamut of sports with Clint. Soccer and Basketball have too much contact competitiveness. Both of those sports just really stress him out because he is not aggressive. My friend told me she thought Clint would be great at Baseball because it is much more mental, and you just have to focus on your one job. You don't have to take anything from anyone. You just have to play your part.

We tried T-Ball when Clint was younger, but he just wanted to look and clouds and watch the bees fly by. But now he is doing really well. There are some kids on his team that have been playing forever, and they are amazing. But Clint is doing pretty good. He hits the ball hard, when he hits it. He plays short stop, second base, and right field. He throws pretty well, and can catch. And he loves his coach. And I know what is going on, and I usually get caught up in the game. They have a LOT of practices, but I am glad that he has found a team sport that he really does like. And I have re-connected with a sport I had forgotton that I loved! I was practicing throwing and catching with Clint outside in the street in front of our house when my neighbor Jim came out and asked if I played Softball in High School, because I was pretty good! I told him I was good when I was 10. But there is no way I could have kept up with those girls in High School. But it was really fun to remember that I really do love Baseball!

It's too bad we don't have a REAL team here! ;)

(That is Clint and his friend Michael pictured above.)

Writing this post has made me feel so incredibly nostalgic, especially since I added the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack to it. I am glad I grew up right outside of Detroit...and even though it freaks me out a little when I go visit my parents in my old neighborhood, I am grateful for the childhood that I had there. I am missing my family tonight. I have a really good one.