After 22 years and three sons, I realized on our drive home from Jupiter last night that we were done with travel/showcase ball. I have three sons who all played to some level and it has been a huge part of our lives for two decades. From coaching to being a fan/dad, it has been the driving force for our springs through fall for 22 years.
It began with a state championship for a bunch of kids from a little league in Toccoa Georgia and ended on the biggest platform the same way it started. Youngest son, 2019, pitched against Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team yesterday in first game of World Championship. Was supposed to only throw enough to get by and be available for first round of playoffs. Ended up pitching a complete game 87 pitch shutout, 2 hits, no walks, 8 strikeout game topping at 87 after way too many innings this year, my fault and no one elses. With over 50 pro scouts watching at one point he did what he does. He hit his spots and threw 5 pitches for strikes only throwing 5 pitches in the fifth inning.
He will now put the ball down and not pick it up until January. Ready for whatever the future holds, whether it is UT in the Summer or getting drafted. We ended this journey of our lives with great joy and passion. I told him when he got out of the car that this was the biggest game he had ever thrown to this point when it comes to possible results and he performed.
Thanks to everyone here for being part of this journey. Along the way this has been a great resource, release place on bad days, friendships made, and the team he ended up finishing with was the team I found on here 11 years ago looking for a team for my middle son to play WWBA with. We hear this all the time but this site is a great place for baseball parents.