Gotwood, you never fail to put a smile on our faces. lol.
FF, it's really a shame that there are players who pack it in and leave the "TEAM" without sticking it out to the end. Lack of commitment really churns at me. Here my son's season ended this week and he told me afterwards he wishes he could go 2-3 more weeks.
Congrats on Eric making All-Stars. He is very deserving of the nomination. Just think how close he came this summer also to signing on the dotted line...?? wow...so close. I know he is excited about getting to Tampa and helping them with another solid, winning season. I know they had a lot of pitchers get drafted during the draft. Do you know how many actually signed?
Son had a fulfilling summer. Played on a team that battled to the end for the playoffs but missed it by 1 game. He too made the All Stars but didn't get to pitch due to inclement weather. He was just honored to be selected and be there (or that's what he told me while I'm thinking he wishes he had gotten in for his 1 inning..lol)
PG had told me during the spring that son would find the summer with many opportunities and offers, and not to sweat it any. His encouragement was golden given that son went through the spring injured and didn't play. So this summer was actually filled with a handful of schools looking for pitching next year. Son was not anxious once about what schools would come look at him or call. I was a frazzled piece of nerves! Just comes along with being a Dad I suppose. There were a couple of very good schools in NC that had some very serious interest but apparently some recent legislation to out-of-state waivers being taken away has hurt all schools in that state in many ways. So needless to say they went away rather quickly, unfortunately.
So it's the last game of the season with son on the mound. He starts after 4 days rest. Pitches the 1st inning and gives up 1 hit (which later scores with an errant throw from the catcher and 2nd baseman who tried to throw the runner out at third). Lightning blows in and we have about an hour delay. Son starts 2nd inning striking out the first 2 batters. Has the 3rd batter 3-2 and throws a beautiful curve knee high. Ump calles ball 4! Son is 1/2 way to the dugout and mumbles to himself "that wasn't a ball" and the Ump (who is every bit of 4ft tall and has a HUGE Napolean complex) yells at him to "get back on the mound!" What do you think happens next? Guess. You're correct, the strike zone gets about the size of a rubix cube and he either has to throw it right down the shoot or he walks 'em.
To compound matters, the HC comes out and tells him that he is pitching terrible (1hr rain delay and a Ump squeezing him), and proceeds to tell the catcher (rising Sr for Florida State) that he's calling a horrible game) and then walks off. That inning was the end of the day for son. And thankfully so.
Lessons learned? Do things differently to stay game-ready during a rain delay, and how to battle when you know that you're being squeezed by a Ump that has a complex.
Overall, it was good getting to watch son pitch after the spring he went through and not having watched him pitch since last summer.
He was signed by a very enthusiatic and energetic coach at a solid and very competitive NAIA program in south Georgia called Brewton-Parker College. Located 10 min outside of Vidalia, Ga and yes, home to the famous Vidalia Onions!
A Southern-Baptist college, they finished the 2010 season as Co-Champions with Lee University and made it to the Nationals before being eliminated. Here's hoping for a injury-free season!
YGD
