Back To The Ball Fields

Baseball and softball seasons are in full swing now. Let me translate... we live at the ball fields most nights of the week. But it's fun so I can't complaiin. Nathan moved up to the 9-10 yo. kid pitch and Allison moved up to the 6-7 yo. machine pitch. This is Nathan's first season with kids pitching to him off a mound. It's quite an adjustment but he's starting to come around. I'll tell you what.. the fields they have put my high-school field to shame! Nice mound, grass infield, dugouts, unreal. They've both had a couple games and are enjoying the season. Allison is hitting the snot out of the ball and Nathan has scored a couple runs. The highlight for this season so far is happening at home though. I've been pitching whiffle balls to the kids which lasted about 15 minutes before they were bored. So I taught them how to play long-base baseball (only one base and home plate...and you can throw the ball at the runner to get them out) and introduced them to the "ghostie" runner. We've played each of the last couple days in the yard and they've been asking to play even more. What a sneaky way to get them to work on their hitting, fielding, throwing, and rules of the game. I only wish I'd thought of it earlier. I couldn't even count how many hours I spent playing the exact same game in the back yard while growing up.

Allison hamming it up before the pitch...

Nathan's first game...

Nate up to bat...

3rd Annual Has-Been Whiffle-Ball Tournament

Today was the 3rd year of the all day whiffle ball tournament at Joe McDaid's house in Ithaca. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me so I don't have any pictures. But it was great to see a bunch of old high-school friends and have a little friendly competition. In the end, the Founding Fathers took the crown again and our team ended up in 2nd place for the second year in a row. Congrats guys!

Play Ball!

This is Allison's first year playing softball (tee-ball). She is having a lot of fun and is doing pretty well. We just learned they're going to take the tee away and do coach pitch for the next game. If they don't hit it then they'll let them hit off the tee. Ally shouldn't have any problem hitting pitches. We've been practicing in the yard lately and she's got quite the power swing and a strong arm for a little girl! Here are a few photos from a recent game...

Nathan's first baseball game...

Nathan had is first game of the season tonight. He plays for the Royals. The bats were hot but the gloves and arms weren't. We had some trouble getting the other team out a couple times. But everyone had a good time and for some reason we got ice cream after the game (it was only about 50 degrees out!) Nathan got to bat twice and had two nice hits right up the middle. He played P and 2B. Here are a couple pictures... pictures of Ally's game coming soon!

Ball field, sweet ball field (our home away from home)...

Now that the weather has broke, it's time to lace up the cleats and hit the diamond. A new twist this year is that both Nathan AND Allison are playing ball. Nathan didn't play last year and is in the last year of machine pitch. This is Allison's first year in T-ball. They both seem to be having a blast and Mom and Dad get to spend some quality time at the little league fields. But I'm not complaining... at least we'll get to be home one night during the week :-)