So, with the annual baseball banquet being held this past Sunday, my son's high school baseball career has come to an end. I know we all say the time flies - but wow does the end of the senior year really come up fast.
From losing a season to injury, to losing a season to - well I'll just say organizational issues, his time on the field has been less than he would have hoped. In the end though it's not always about how much you do on the field, but how you do it that really matters.
Originally he had no intention on coming back to play for his senior year. He was quite comfortable with the decision he had made as a junior to stop playing. He was in a dual admission program, and spent his senior year at the local junior college - so coming back to the high school to play felt weird to him. His best friend came to him one day though, and convinced him that they couldn't leave behind a program that was such a mess.
My son had never been the talker. More of the quiet, lead by example type. This year though he found his voice. He was elected team captain, and took the responsibility seriously. He only had class 2 days a week, so he spent many of his off days at the field to get it in playing shape. More than once he came home with raw bloody hands from working with shovels and rakes for hours. Apparently batting gloves weren't made for that kind of work.
On the field he pushed his teammates to play as hard as they could. He constantly reminded the upperclassmen that the younger players looked to them to see how they should act. He took a lot of the freshmen under his wing and helped them not just with baseball - but with life in high school.
At the banquet he was given the team award for leadership, which was more valuable to him than any other awards given out that night. I liked the head coach's comment, "He made my job easy."
Going forward the kid is not planning to give the game up. He still umpires. He helped coach his younger brother's team to the league championship. He's doing his undergrad in athletic training, and then hopes to specialize in sports medicine post med school. So, his role may change - but the game will still be there for him.
I still get another baseball go around with my 11 year old. The older son and I are coaching him on the league all star team this summer. I've always said he has more athleticism than his older brother. We will have to see how his journey plays out.
So, the baseball season is over. His classes are over. Prom was this past weekend, and graduation is a couple of weeks away. He's grown into a pretty cool person, and lessons taught in baseball paid a large part in that.
For the parents of younger kids, it's not cliche - the time really does fly. One day they are playing t-ball. The next they are 12 battling to play all stars. Then trying to make JV and then V.
All of a sudden you are helping them pick a tux and planning a graduation party. You take a look back and try to figure out how they got so old? It's like you went to bed with a toddler and woke up with a kid heading off to college.
Since I've got a kid who has completed the high school journey, I think I'm entitled to old fart status here. So all you newbies, from an old fart - take the time to appreciate the high school experience. It goes by quicker than you imagine.
I guess I'll add the obligatory pictures...
