Well, son made his first college pitching appearance on Sunday!
What crazy emotions to go through. He’s been fortunate to be a starter in his HS career, so being a bullpen parent was a new experience. You’re sitting there cheering for the team and hoping everyone plays well and the pitching is solid …. but, you also know that if the starter does well your son may not get an appearance! It was like having the comic devil & angel sitting on your shoulder. One is telling you to cheer on the team and the other voice is saying “…would giving up a few runs really be that bad right now?”
Talk about conflict!
Well, on to the game. The team won the first 2 games.
Lots of excitement, grand slam in the first game, 5 HRs total in the series. In Sunday’s game we did have some pitching challenges. At the top of the 6th inning we are down 4-2, there is 1 out and bases loaded. Time called. Their #2-4 hitters are looking for their next victim ... pitching coach comes out, signs to the pen and yep, you guessed it, son gets the call!
Blood pressure immediately rises and an “Oh my God” escapes my lips.
So, here goes. 1-0 count and son gets a pop up to right field. Good right? No,not really.
Since this hitter always pulls the ball, they had a serious shift on. RF can’t get back in time. One run, bases still loaded, still only one out. THEN, #3 hitter comes up, strikes out swinging, 0-3 count. #4 comes up, strikes out swinging 2-3 count.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Crowd goes wild and I take my first breath since son stepped on the mound.
The bats stay quiet, so son comes out again for the 7th now down 5-2. He looks calm (unlike Dad & Mom
) and gets to work. Good stuff, ends with 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 errors, 2 LOB. Bats now come alive and we put 5 runs on the board to go up 7-5.
8th inning, 3 up 3 down!!!
Whoopee we go into the top of the 9th with the lead …. just 3 outs away.
Wish the story had ended here..... But nope, more fun to come. I expect to see one of the closers coming out to finish the game …… instead I see son jogging back to the mound!
Starts off with a hard ground ball to second, but wide throw leaves us with a runner on. Next batter takes son’s first pitch for a double!
Son leaves to make way for that closer with a 7-5 lead. In all, a good start and two very proud parents!
What happened next was exciting but not pretty.
We went into the bottom of the ninth actually trailing 8-7 having just given up 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 error. But the story has a happy ending.
Our #4 hitter leads off with a walk and #5 comes in to hit a monster walk-off homer.
Priceless.
(
Disclaimer: The above story was told by a pitcher's parent.
Not to be taken as a complete account of the game nor of all those who contributed!
)
Let the games begin! 
