inspiration

Hang in there and keep working. I have seen things change for players and quickly. It is not guaranteed to go well, but without a good attitude and a never-say-die approach and hard work, it is bound to remain disappointing.

I know several kids who did not even make it on the team as freshman who later became successful high school players through sheer force of will, hard work, determination, and a never give up attitude. I think their love of the game allowed them to overcome these things. Also, and maybe more important, after the initial failure, they quit playing like there was something to lose and thus let their natural abilities take over.

My sister is going through the samething with softball. All I would say is stay in there. I had a time when i was tired of playing and i didn't give up just keep trucken and work hard.

Best of luck.

I've always thought baseball is exactly like life in that you're going to be taking 7 hard knocks for every 3 triumphs. I barely played at all in my first two years of highschool but ended up getting a scholarship to one of the best schools in the country and having a pretty good college career. I've seen guys who walked on to college teams and ended up being stars. You never know when somethings going to click. Just keep the head down and work is the advice I would give.

R.A.

reality check.

Does he really have the aptitude? Is he going out for the team because he loves the game, or because he wants to please mom or dad?
There are alot of other sports and activities in HS besides baseball. Maybe it's time to to explore other avenues.

I have a student who also plays softball that has Lou Gehrig's Disease. She is currently starting but her "bad days" are getting more frequent. She won't have very many more "good days." She is struggling now but did hit a major double the other day against one of the top pitchers in our state to win the game. After having her in class, I don't think I'm going to have very many "bad days" in education.

We're down to our last game tomorrow. Mine is a freshman with an August birthday, didn't play much the first 1/2 of the season.

But after spring break, he's starting and starts maybe 5 games in a row but they d.h. him.

Then, the other kid's back in there for 2 games and he's back on the bench.

But now, he's starting again and they're letting him hit, so you never know what the coaches are going to do.

What I told him when he wasn't playing: keep working hard, because you're working for next year's spot also. You'll be back next year an inch taller and 15 lbs heavier. Work in the offseason to become a standout, not just another player.