Baseball Season 2011

If you have been wondering where we've been lately, we have spent all of May and June and half of July, if we make playoffs, at Carrolton Boosters Ball Park at the Fly. We spent so much time there this summer that I don't worry anymore when 5 disappears. He wanders off to find a more interesting game to watch, then runs back to report the exciting plays. 6 is accustomed to spending hours in a stroller and/or being handed off to whomever is willing to hold him for just a little while so I can cool off. 123&4 all played this year and of course were in 4 different leagues, so 4 different teams, 4 different schedules, and 4 different sets of practices. Needless to say, NOCC swim team had to go. There was no way to be at NOCC and the Fly every afternoon for June. Maybe next year. Maybe.

1 is on the Pelicans, named after the old Tulane team. His coach, Mark Latham, is incredibly patient with the boys and has coached them to success. They are the #1 seed in the 9/10 league going into the double elimination playoffs. He has really enjoyed learning to play catcher this season and has survived being hit a few times with the ball. Due to his April birthday he is the youngest on his team. In fact, his best friend plays in 2's league as well as a good bit of his HNJ classmates. He is learning a lot about team spirit and that no matter if you are the best, worst, or somewhere in between, all players are important and need to play their best to have a successful team. As successful as they have been, it is still pretty painful to watch. Let's just say that more than once, the bases were loaded on walks.

2 is on the Bulls this season. Paul Hutchinson is the head coach and Dad is the assistant coach and team pitcher, as 7/8 is still coach pitch. This fact alone makes the games much more exciting and action packed. He has really show his natural athleticism this season, and has wowed more than a few coaches and other dads. His age sure does show. Next season should be interesting to watch as he is an 8 year old. Many of the parents assume that he plays on the travel team. Fortunately, we didn't know about the tryouts for that until it was over. He gets on base every at bat and is capable of throwing a catchable ball from 3rd to 1st as well as stopping most balls that come his way. When his mind is in the game he can really play well.

3 is on a team with 8 other HNJ classmates in the 5/6 softball league. Their team name is Best Friends. Jenny Babineaux and Barbara Manzanti are the coaches. She played really well the whole season and made the all star team. After the 3 inning all star game, there was an awards ceremony to give out trophies. She then decided she wanted a McDonald's celebratory dinner. Mmmm. During her best game she got 10 girls out. The rest of the time she keeps her coaches amused with her chatter and smack talk. She has even been know to coach her teammates on how to play softball with comments like "C'mon, you HAVE to call time" Or "If you play 1st base, then you HAVE to catch the ball, silly" Of course the most important part of the whole experience is the team drink after the games. It is amazing what kids will do for 4 ounces of red cream soda.

4 had her first team experience this summer as a member of the Jets in the 4 yr old T-Ball league. Her best bud from LRSH, Patrick Landry, was also on her team and seeing the to two of them together was pretty cute. Mickey Landry was the coach and the kids learned to bat, run the bases correctly, and not all chase the ball by the end of the season. I am pretty sure she was the only kid in the league to play in a skirt and sparkle shoes for most of the season. After the last game, trophies were given out to all of the players and they had a team swimming party at the Landry's house. She had such a good time this season that she asked if she could play soccer too, but only if they have team drinks too.

5 didn't play this season, but as I already mentioned, he is very comfortable at the ball park. He has come to call any fountain drink over ice a team drink. DH wants to let him play t-ball next summer as a 3 1/2 year old. I'm not so sure about that.

I'll post an update as the playoffs progress and we see just how far the Bulls make it as well as how the Pelicans hold up as the #1 seed.