My Little Baseball Stars

Baseball has dominated a lot of our time and discussions in our home this summer. Caleb is a huge sports fan (nothing new to anyone reading this). He pours himself into whatever sport happens to be "in season." Ever since the end of school, baseball has been the dominating sport. He lives it, breathes it, talks about it with whomever will listen and of course plays it any time he has the opportunity. If he can't rope someone into playing catch with him, he wants to play baseball on the wii. Well, this year Aly caught the fever and decided she really wanted to play t-ball. Chuck and I were a bit sceptical at first because not only had she never had any prior interest, she didn't even know how to put a baseball glove on her hand. It turned out to be a pretty good experience, though. She was very similar in skill level to the other little 5-yr-old girls on her team. She did a good job and could even smack the ball pretty hard.She still really enjoyed chatting with the coaches about as well as she enjoyed playing. She would chat running out to her position, talk the whole time she was on the field and still be discussing something as she ran into the dugout. They don't play games, but they scrimmage and that was about as competitive as she wanted to be. Caleb was of course the complete opposite. He played every minute with every bit of intensity he could muster. He really did a good job this year.He played catcher a lot again this year. That is his favorite position because he gets to touch the ball almost every play. I liked watching him in the other positions though(a little more interesting). At that age it's always so exciting (even surprising at times) to see them make a really good throw or catch because they are still learning and most of them are pretty inconsistent. In fact one game he was playing infield and actually made a double play by himself. I about fell over! But then the next game he overthrew, forgot to tag up, and struck out...so inconsistent. That's what makes it so fun to watch.
He did a lot better batting this year. It could be because he's a year older and had a year of experience under his belt or it could be that he stopped trying to imitate someone else and bat the way he knew how. I think he only struck out two times this year. He still really likes Soriano, but I think Chuck finally has him convinced that he has to bat like Caleb Lambert, not Alfonso Soriano. :) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." ~Ephesians 5 1,2
We're sorry Baseball and T-ball are over for this year, but next year will be here before we know it. Mean while, I am getting my fill of baseball from all the Cubs games and updates I hear from our oldest!