hshuler posted:My son just completed his first season of high school baseball and boy was I surprised. I've heard a lot of horror stories about high school ball and understand that some are very true...but that wasn't our experience.
Our coach made it clear that he was going to play the best players and not keep anyone who couldn't help the team or would be a distraction. My son got a chance to compete for a spot and ended up starting, as did two other freshmen.
The seniors accepted and mentored him and they formed a tremendous bond. My son was injured in his very first high school at bat and the next day a senior picked him up and took him to and from school because he was on crutches. Because he doesn't have a license this continued throughout the year.
The boys constantly went to dinner together, hung out together and truly had great chemistry. This led to the first outright region championship in ten years and a 28-2 record.
They road the momentum into the playoffs and won the first three series before losing a sudden death game last night. After the game, the kids spent over an hour on the field. Honestly, it was very hard to watch because the pain was evident.
I said all that to say, I love travel baseball. I coached travel baseball - but I have a new appreciation and respect for high school baseball. It was a great experience! The brotherhood, the comradery, the school pride and community support was amazing to watch and experience. We drew nearly 2000 fans at the last two home games.
I know it's not the same everywhere but that was a lifetime's worth of memories all wrapped up in one season.
#BoyWasThatFun
Great post! The pain when it ends is absolute evidence of the extent that HS baseball is very special.
Fortunately and unfortunately, I have been in that moment/hour as a coach quite often in recent years. About five years ago was one that stands out the most. I've told this story here before...
After an emotional home playoff loss with a particularly close senior class, we, too, spent a goo hour or so just hanging out on the field grass. Lots of swollen eyes... think it was allergy season. Eventually, they all made their way up the hill and out of our little sanctuary.
So, then it was time to go through my cleanup routine and afterwards, I sat in the dugout for a while for some of my own reflection. A lone car made it's way down the hill and one of the seniors had returned. This player was by far the least talented of the group, virtually no playing time, pretty much a bullpen catcher. Not very good at that, either. But absolute top notch attitude and character kid. When the other coaches said we needed to cut bait before each of his seasons, there was no way I was going to support that. Anyway, he walks into the dugout and sits down. I asked why he came back. "I'm just not ready, coach... I love baseball." I always knew he still enjoyed being around the guys but didn't realize to what extent the game and HS baseball meant to him.
He went on to a UC where he thoroughly enjoyed club ball and was an academic standout.
Congratulations to your son and his team... not just for the W's.