Coaching baseball has its high points and low points. We really haven’t enjoyed much of the high points thus far. The first week we were finally able to play games proved to be unfruitful. Our pitchers tossed two no-hitters, but were unable to throw strikes consistently.
After walking about 14 batters between the two games, I was left scratching my head. No one can throw strikes. We lost both games. The boys fielded the ball great that first week, I don’t believe we had a single error. That was unheard of during my middle school baseball games. We were lucky if we got an out an inning via the field. These boys were different (for the most part).
The second week of games proved to be an up and down experience. On Monday of that week, we played pretty bad. We couldn’t field the ball, hit the ball, or pitch the ball. About five different pitchers had their chance and all of them struggled to find the plate. Despite not throwing strikes, we were in the game until the last inning. By that time, everything was a mess.
During that game, the catchers’ gear broke. Our starting pitcher left after he got hit in the arm while batting. The next reliever said his arm was “falling” out of place. My centerfielder was sick. Along with that, my third baseman couldn’t play because he was sick in the morning and showed up late. I don’t know how we managed to finish the game.
Well we did finish that game. The next night was a different story. We took the lead early, but it didn’t last long. Quickly it was 5-2 and it looked like a repeat of the day before. Today would be different. In the top of the last inning we took a 7-5 lead, and if it weren’t for the 5 run limit per inning, we probably would have won.
Going into the bottom of the last inning, we got squeezed. After the game, the first thing said, by one of my infielders, “hHe threw 5 strikes in a row and none of them were called.”
I had to explain to them that we can’t argue with the umpire and sometimes the calls don’t go our way. “Last time I played here, I remember pitching in a close game, and anything that wasn’t down the middle was called a ball.” Needless to say we were not happy, and the winning runs were all walked in. The final score was 8-7.
It was not a long time until the next highlight of the season. About an hour into the eighth grade game, something I’ve only seen in professional games took place. Like Jim Thome, Tyrone called his shot. I looked up from the scorebook to see him, with a slight bend in the knees, pointing his bat to left field. I didn’t even have time to get up and yell at him before he crushed the first pitch almost out of the park. From all my years playing baseball, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone enjoy baseball as much as this kid. During his first at bat, he took two heft swings and missed. Grinning ear to ear after each swing. The next pitch was over his head. Did that stop Ty? Whacked, right back up the middle for a run-scoring hit.
Games like that one make this job worthwhile. This first year coaching has been one of the greatest joys of my life and I hope I can do it for a long time to come.