My son who is now a 07 grad-6,2-225lbs RHP has always loved the GAME. Since T-ball,coach pitch,little league and school ball, he,s never waivered from baseball.
I remember when he was 9 yrs old. We lived in the country and there was no one around to throw with. He would take the ball and throw against the house, bouncing it off the drive for hours. My wife would say the constant Thump,Thump,Thump became soothing {like a ceiling fan}.
Almosy everyday,he would, at least let me get in the door and get my shoes off,before he would he come with catchers mitt,ball, and glove in hand asking "Dad, To tired to catch?" "No son, give me a minute and I,ll be there." I replied.
In the backyard we would go- Laughing, throwing and talking about the upcoming season. My son was the chubby kid. The kid no one thought much of when it came to baseball. This never stopped him.Even when the coaches put him in left field{we all know what that means}, he still loved to play and pitch.
Through the years we threw ih the backyard and dreamed of the SHOW. I myself, being a highschool pitcher,knew a little about the game but knew I couldn,t show him what he needed to get to the next level. SO- we went to college camps. The coaches would look at the tall, skinny kids and say "This is what we look for in pitchers." My son would just stand there-never hang his head and kept on pitching.
At 13 my son started to get a good sense of pitching and the strike zone. When he was 14, highschool coaches would come to me and say"What was that last pitch?" "Slider" I would reply and walk away.
At 15, we moved.Luckily it was one block from the baseball field. Again-Almost everyday when I came home from work- "Dad, To tired to throw?' No son "Give me a minute and we,ll go to the field."
Since those days my son has gained All state every year,led his team to the playoffs every year and was MVP this past season. His fastball is 88-90MPH, a unhitable curve,and a change up that,s decent.
Today I was watching the college regionals. My sons summer team had practice at 6.00.It was 2.00. With gloves in hand, he walks in the den and asks "Dad, To tired to throw?'"No son, give me a minute."
I,m 50yrs old with bad eyes-kinda afraid to catch him now-but I do it anyway. While throwing today he asks me;"Dad, when I,m 22 and in the SHOW, when I come home, will you still throw with me?' "Son, I,ll never be to tired to catch!' I relied.
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