A Lesson from the Little League Fields I will Never Forget

I learned something this weekend at my son's baseball game.  First, I am a lacrosse guy, which automatically puts me in the anti-baseball category.  I have made it through 2 kids without spending time at the little league fields, not so with number three.  He is in 4th grade and has never played baseball before, in fact prior to Saturday he has only  attended one organized practice.  We thought Fall Ball would give him a chance to learn the game from right field.  Most of his classmates on the opposing team have played at least 3 years of organized baseball.  My son woke up nervous, but determined to play.  He played first base the first inning and did fine, missed a couple, caught a couple a wash.  He came up to us as he was getting ready to bat saying, 'Coach says I am going to pitch.'  I said, 'No way, just go back to the dugout and get ready to hit.'

My wife got nervous, went to the coach and reminded him that he had never played before, this was literally his first time to ever put on a 'cup.'  Coach just said, 'he will do fine.'  Does he know something I don't because I have played catch with the boy in the front yard.  My wife was visibly nervous, went to the other teams bleachers where she knew a ton of moms and although she won't admit it my guess is she was pre-apologizing in case our sin hit their sons.  If she could let them know it was his first time to play, they might night honk at her in pick up line at school.

Well it was a 5-5 ball game.  My son was nervous, but he was not backing down from the challenge.  It almost looked as if he was excited about the challenge.  He was not as seasoned on the mound as the other boys, but he actually had some control, he threw some strikes, he did not hit any of the other kids.  To be honest I was amazed.  He would have had 2 strikeouts if the catcher had not dropped the 3rd strike.  And even with the other coach screaming run to the kids on base, each time my son wound up, he did a great job.  After two innings 10-10 (you guessed it there is a 5 run limit 15-15 final).  I was amazed, and convicted at the same time.

The boy took an opportunity to go do something completely new, with threat of ridicule and failure looming large on the horizon, and succeeded.  How many times have I not tried because I was more scared of failure than excited about a new adventure?  Can't wait till next Saturday.