Season in review ... from a mom's perspective

Well we finished our last high school baseball season with one son and finished our first high school season with our youngest son. What a spread of emotions, ups and downs, and husbands inner child reading it's ugly head.

What did I find the most valuable from the season....I saw the great love and respect my sons had for each other. The day my youngest threw his first high school game I was very nervous. After he faced the first batter and struck him out I heard this loud roar and my son on the mound turned and saw his brother standing there with half the Varsity team cheering him on. They gave each other a nod and Colton kept pitching. My boys go to different high schools and I did not remember telling my oldest that his brother was pitching but he knew and he brought all the boys that had watched Colton grow up to the game.

My oldest son sat at the kitchen table with me and his father looking at the offers that he had to sign early. It was Wednesday and we had to make a decision. Next thing I know he gets up, goes and gets his brother and leaves to get a burger. They come home an hour later and Justin had made his decision. At the last game that my oldest played in they were knowcked out of the play-offs. He was bummed but I also think he was ready to move on. His brother walked up to him on the field and handed him his college baseball cap. What a great way to see your sons seasons beginning and ending.

My son had set some pretty hefty goals for his high school season. He had been scouted pretty regularly by proscouts his junior year so no surprise at the amount of activity at high school games his senior year. He had a stellar season with a 12-0 record, ERA of .40, struck out 156. Also had a 4.70 batting average. Our team also is in one of the most difficult leagues in the state with 2M plus students. I was so proud of him. He signed an early LOI with a team going to the CWS this next week. Exciting time for him. He was a little bummed not to hear his name called on draft day but that turned around substantially when three upperclassman contacted him to room with them. Now he is counting the days until he leaves for school.

I was prepared by this website as to some of the ups and downs of the draft, however, it still stings when you have been given lots of indications of where you will go. Don't know if there is anyway to avoid that though. There is a reason for everything.

A fun thread and some great posts so far.

Allaboutbaseball, what a neat story about your two sons! The relationship they share will be one of the great treasures of both their lives, long after baseball playing is done.

LHPitcher, your son sure did have a wonderful season, congrats to him! While I imagine the draft outcome must have been disappointing for him, with his ability we would all guess here that the scouts must have been sure he was going to college. And I hope he loves it!

My RHP son finished his soph year of college, and while he expected to have a stronger year than last year, he continued to be inconsistent, with a few great performances, a few bad ones, and only about half as many innings pitched as he expected. I can say, it truly was a character building season for him - and at times, for me! Twice when I did not make it to Away games, I looked at the boxscore online before I heard from him, and involuntarily burst into tears at his performance! (I'm so glad that no one reads THIS forum but us moms, haha...) But there were also a few games where he did very well against some of the best teams they played.

I've heard the phrase "it builds character" many times, but I really could see the good side of his struggles, watching him battle and keep working hard, continue to respect his teammates and coach, and keep believing in himself. He does love his college team and enjoyed his year of college in spite of some on-field disappointment. He is playing on a summer wood bat team that he really enjoys also, and has pitched in relief just once since he just finished recovering from his injury (he did well).

Julie

FBM - Very good idea!

Julie - I think you've summed up my feelings as well. I've shared some of these thoughts in a thread in the KY forum and actually was just discussing some of them today with a friend as well.

I don't think this past year (freshman at a JUCO) was what we expected. Recruited as an OF, ended up becoming primarily a pitcher, followed by his requesting to RS for the season.

However, with that said, I've shared that I think I consider it a great year. I think he does as well, or at least a good year. I think my son developed as a baseball player by learning many things on the field - especially being able to return to and improve his pitching. Made more new baseball friends that he will always feel close to I believe. Got a year of education under his belt and made the Dean's List for the year! Trust me, if you saw his grades during HS, you would understand what an accomplishment that was!

Also, he's going ahead and transferring to a four year school where everything seems to be a very exciting fit! That school probably wouldn't have come into play if things from this past year had gone differently. So, he and I both have a lot to feel thankful for and I do!

LHPitcher....thinking I should know too.....but we just moved here last year.....sounds as if your son has a very promising future in baseball....and it's exciting to know he is "local"......

Lafmom, Dean's list....way to go....congratulations to M, and no doubt in my mind....he has a great 4 years ahead of him too....

I've nothing to contribute about son's first year as a baseball college player.....it was a tough year for him, as well as us. Difficult to have your son hurt, and be far away......and unfortunately....too many other posters were in the same situation this season.

I've enjoyed this site so much the past year....as FBM says....vicariously....reading your posts....we have still stayed in the game, and cheer for a lot of ballplayers....

Next year ladies!

Okay, I deleted my last post because I was all messed up on who I thought LHPitcher's son was ... sounded an awful lot like a player from son's high school. But since the player I was thinking of is not a LHP, I must be all wrong. Oh well, my bad. Sorry

FBM - That's too bad! I thought it was a neat story and a very nice post!

LadyNMom - My heart does go out to you. I do think you've probably had the biggest challenge as a mom this past year. There are very few parents who's sons go completely across the country to school - that requires a lot of courage on their part and a parents! Then throw in an injury and surgery!!!!

However, with all of those challenges B has faced, he's grown and matured further into a young man. He has a coach who so obviously believes in him and is anxious to get him back out on the field. You know I believe everything has a reason and I'm sure looking back you'll be able to see so many lessons and blessings that come from his year! Best of luck for a fantastic year for 06-07!!!

quote:

You know I believe everything has a reason and I'm sure looking back you'll be able to see so many lessons and blessings that come from his year! Best of luck for a fantastic year for 06-07!!!

As usual, Lafmom has said it in much better terms than I ever could....so....I would like to say "ditto"!

Thank you everyone...what a blessing this thread is to me.
I feel so personally proud of your sons and the way they are handling themselves. "The fruit does not fall far from the tree"
My son has had it rough, also. Funny thing, he'll be a senior (College) next year and this is his first summer ball experience (injuries).
He told me yesterday that he was going to have a hard time going back for his senior season, after experiencing the good coaching and team chemistry he has now. My comfort is knowing that these last three years have built the character he'll need to handle it the way he should and will.
I wish you and your sons the very best 06-07!

Catsuremom..you have a PM

Injuries seem to be a common theme this year.
My son had a great fall in his freshman year at JUCO level. He was anticipating the spring but kept having this nagging, intermittent pain so saw a doctor while he was home for Christmas. MRI was inconclusive so he decided to do the therapy the doc suggested and just play.

His velocity was way down even coming back to begin the spring and he lost his shot in the starting rotation. He was perfect in his first two appearances but then had a rough game. Had one other inning where he gave up runs but blanked the opposition in all other appearances...but those appearances were few and far between.....and the pain got worse.

The team did well losing only 6 games all season and ending up ranked 12th but they were two and out in the play-offs.....and it was home and surgery.

It was a week ago today that he had arthroscopic surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff and the head of his shoulder bone tucked in since it was popping out (and was the likely cause of the tear).

He had his first real independence away from his somewhat over-protective mother and became a team motivator, a decent student, and an active student doing shows and mascoting on campus. He developed a fan club for his music and made some friends who will likely still be friends years from now.

He is looking forward to going back.....although he has mentioned a little apprehension about whether he will get his arm back......and is enjoying the summer with his band doing shows around Dallas/Fort Worth.

And mom survived the year without too much trauma

luvbb, back at you, and thank you.

My son just finished his jr (high school) year so we're going into the "heavy" time for recruiting. He had a good year-1st team-all district and I'm proud of the job he did on a not very strong team. With that being said, I find myself having doubts about this whole next step. He's very focused on what he wants and I'm not positive it's what's going to happen for him(meaining where he'll end up playing.) I've tried to say "What if this doesn't work, what other schools do you want to consider,etc."
It's not a good feeling and I find myself absolutely obsessing about this!! He's got it in his mind, he wants D1 and that's it-guess July will tell us more.
He's playing on one of the big teams here for the summer but they're only letting him pitch which is hard for all of us (but I think the hardest for mom and dad! He's our HS 1st baseman (and a good one!) but he loves to pitch...) We screwed up because he's playing on his HS team as well (trying to keep everybody happy and it's about to blow up on us.) He pitched 5 innings on Wed and just dominated-12Ks. Get home to a message from summer coach that he's supposed to pitch today (two days later!) Of course they wouldn't let him when they found out about Wed. We went to the game anyway-of course 6-7 college coaches-how many at the HS game? Right-none! So we have to tell the HS team he won't be pitching and I know how that's going to be received but there's just not a choice in our minds. He's rescheduled to pitch Sun. so hopefully will be a good outing-his first with this team was just ok(which dad let him know about but that's a whole other story!) Right now, I'm just a bundle of nerves and can't decide if I'm going to enjoy this summer or not

ORmom,

I think you are in good company; many parents whose sons have successfully found a good college fit, comment later about what a nerve wracking process it was.

You said: "he wants D1 and that's it-guess July will tell us more".

In my opinion that sounds about right, though others may have other views. If he believes he can play D1 and that's what he really wants, why not keep working hard toward that for at least the next few months? As you said, what happens in July and August (and into the fall) will start to give him an idea of whether it is looking realistic. Giving up on the dream before you even know what is possible will almost ensure that it is the impossible dream, if that makes any sense.

Sounds like he is doing the right thing by deciding to only pitch for one summer team, also. Exposure to the college coaches at his select team games will be a good thing!

I would guess most of the moms here have felt the anxiety you described at times. It sounds like you have done your best to find out about the process and help your son get into the right situations. Now you just have to try to let him take care of business on the field, while you watch, enjoy, and applaud!

Good luck, and keep us updated!

Julie