Oliver's first game in Little League was Sunday 9/9/12. His team with head coach Linda Colfax and Coach Mark Lorenzen is the Pirates! This, a nice coincidence for Dexter's middle school team is the Panthers so both boys have black caps with the letter "P".
While Dext has been the old pro in the family playing baseball,T-Ball, and Little League for several years and now with Presidio- Oliver has gotten a later start to join an organized league. Due to the popularity of baseball after the Giants won the World Series, his parents could not sign him up for Little League as easily as they could Dexter- one of the benefits of having local Major League teams that were then awful.
Big O was excited leading up to the game. On Saturday the family found a large grassy area in the Presidio to hit balls off a tee and to play catch- also getting his necessities in order: baseball pants, a cup (no, that is not a gas mask and you do want to tuck all your particles within it).
The coaches set a nice tone welcoming the children- this group all about eight years old, distributing nice black (with yellow lettering) tops and caps. Oliver was the smallest of the Little League guys and was quiet and tentative at the beginning.
In this division- Farm league the coaches pitch overhand and no score is kept during the four? inning game proceeded by one hour of practice. Every child ends up believing their team won, still in a reality where what is, is what you wish it to be.
Did Ollie have fun? Yes. How did he do in this game (Pirates-Cardinals)? Great, or favoritism aside, he played like all the games played in our apartment lobby meant something. Four at bats, only five pitches swung at with four liners back up the middle. All hits! Safe! Our lobby is built for 10 foot throws so Oliver was great at throwing the ball ten feet- unfortunately on this actual field, 30 feet might have been better for the team. He's got something to work on, certainly. On balls hit toward him, he was able to find them, eventually.
What still has Oliver grinning is that Coach Linda said that a tradition she began last year was the issuing of a game ball signed by the teammates. Oliver was awarded the first game ball of the season for his effort. Surprised, he nearly choked on the cup he was drinking out of. He tried to keep the joy we knew he was experiencing underwraps, and he kept a pretty good poker face. But go ahead and ask him about this honor and prepare to listen.
poker face of joy/pride
Here's to you #5
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