visit my website www.robynrittersimon.com

visit my website www.robynrittersimon.com

Friday, July 23, 2010

Day 96: It's Over


After ten and a half grueling months of High School baseball we closed our run tonight at Jackie Robinson Stadium at UCLA. Whew! I don't know whose more exhausted, my two teenagers or me? We started back in September 2009 with games all over the County -- I mean as far away as Lancaster and Acton ... we never had a break.

Pictured here is the Palisades High School American Legion Team. What a great group of young men and ball players!

I love baseball. Maybe because the hubby played in High School and that's where I fell in love with him, or maybe because I still remember my grandpa Joe coming over when I was a little girl with his transistor radio listening to the Dodger games on the radio, drinking his Coors beer. The sound of the radio announcer calling each play, the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowds... it all brings up memorable memories.

I have been watching my three sons play this game for 14 years. That's a lot of games and a lot of years. Brandon started playing TBall at 5 years old and he's 19 years old now and is still playing ball. He plays for Willamette University, his college team. No small task. Only 6% of the boys playing baseball in High School continue on to play the sport in college. That's a very small percentage and only the committed make this cut.

Pictured above is Brandon pitching this summer as he rejoined his former travel team for a game at Pepperdine University.

As parents and players you have to be committed to play any sport and especially baseball. The games run a minimum of 2 hours with an hour to an hour and a half practice/warm up prior to each game. And then when it's a home game you're looking at another 45 minutes easy for the boys to clean and prep the field. So there were many, many days where I would be at the field for at least 4 hours. This game is not for the impatient.

Pictured to the left is Harrison on the mound during American Legion with his brother Spencer backing him up at second base.

Harrison & Spencer had a great run these past 10 months, but I think everyone is ready for a break, a rest and
some rejuvenation. We'll be back at it in September so just less then two months from now.

Pictured to the right is Spencer at bat during American Legion.

As I say with baseball.... there's always another game! Play Ball!