Thursday, June 30, 2016

BASEBALL! - June's Photo Blogging Challenge

For most of the last 9 years, our family's sports life has been dominated by soccer. So much soccer. In the last couple of years, though, our kids have been branching out. This month has been unusually consumed by baseball. Very fortunate for this blogger, seeing as how P.J.'s theme for this month's challenge is "Baseball".



Pretty sure I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again. I am so glad we live so close to the capital of Indiana. We have the opportunity to do so many things we otherwise would not get to do. For example, this month we were able to go cheer on our high school's baseball team as they fought their way to a state win. The game was held in our city's minor league stadium and drew a crowd bigger than most minor league games. Our unranked home team was playing against the #1 ranked team. It took extra innings, but in the end our team, full of talented teens with whom my kids attend school, WON!


As I mentioned in at least one previous post, Turken is our only child playing baseball. His team has done very well this season (#! in the league) and was playing for the championship. This, of course meant a longer season than normal, which meant lots of extra practice time for him and lots of extra time to kill for Cuckoo and me. We played some 1v1 baseball. It's not nearly as fun as it sounds, especially when you play with a tennis ball because we didn't have a baseball in the car. (Tennis balls hit by a 6 year old go faaaaaaar.)



When playing defense, my boy takes "down and ready" seriously.


Never underestimate the power of the fans. For the final championship game, the teens skipped soccer practice to cheer their brother's team on. They even made signs.


But most of the credit has to go to the coaches. The success of a team full of 8 year olds is dependent on the ability of the coaches to teach, encourage, and inspire their athletes. We had the best ones in the league, and their number of wins reflects it.



Throughout this month, my kids were surprised many times with my knowledge and understanding of the game of baseball. I really blew their minds when the pitcher in the high school game balked, and I could explain to them what it means.

Thanks to my dad, I spent many nights at baseball games throughout my childhood. Between watching my brothers play, taking the hour-long drive to Cleveland to watch our hopelessly terrible Indians play, or using his season tickets for the newly opened minor league field in our home town, I got a good education on the ins and outs of baseball. I don't mind at all that I finally have a kid who loves the game.

How about you? Has your month been taken up by any baseball? Do you even go to baseball games throughout the summer? What's your favorite baseball food? (Mine is Cracker Jacks. Love that stuff.)

If you have a hankerin' to join us in the challenge this month or in future months, head over to P.J.'s blog. Next month's theme will be announced on July 1.

Have a lovely day!

14 comments:

  1. What? There is baseball FOOD? And you're telling me this NOW?
    Hahaha, I'm the Euro kid here, and we don't have a lot of baseball going on, so my post will be a little bit different.
    I love the enthusiasm I can feel from reading this! Your having baseball in your blood and practicing with your kid, even if it's a tennis ball, is great!
    I especially loved the older kids supporting and cheering on the baseball players! An audience that believes in you must be powerful!
    Congrats on your underdog team's win!!! Way to go!

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    1. Ha! There absolutely is! There's even a song that names some of them. Look up "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". :)
      The crowd can really help a team, no doubt.

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  2. It's so important to have the kids involved in sports. I so remember. I've gone to so many games back in the day. It was wonderful. I'm glad you enjoy it so much. The kids know that.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. I really do enjoy watching my kids play. Of course, I enjoy watching just about any sport, whether my kids are playing or not. :)

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  3. Love your pictures but especially the one of the coach and player at the end as they are such an important part of the game. You've made me really want to visit the USA again just so I can go to a baseball game.

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    1. Thank you!
      There's nothing like a good baseball game. :)

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  4. All your photos are great as I can feel the enormity of the game baseball in your images, especially the first one of the field. I also like the last one which includes the shadow from the fencing around the pitch I can see people are really into their game. You did a good job with the photography of the sport.

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  5. We're ALL about the baseball at our house now. No soccer, just baseball these days. Glad your family is enjoying the season!

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    1. We are! Just went to a minor league game on Friday, which included a celebration of the 20th year in our "new" stadium. Hope your boys are having a great season!

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  6. What great photos! You capture the feeling of the game well.

    Baseball food? Got to be hotdogs and peanuts in the shell (from Peterson's Nuts only).

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    1. Thank you!

      I don't know why, but hot dogs at the ball field are just better.

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  7. It's pretty clear from your photos and text that your enjoyment is all tied up with your love of family, special memories from your childhood and making new special memories with your own children. I found the whole post touching. :)

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  8. I'm trying to catch up on comments from the past two challenges!

    Great work on this one. I love the sign one of your older kids made for his brother. Classic. But unless I somehow missed it ... how did they do in the championship? Did they win?

    As for your questions. I've kinda been to a game or two this summer ... well, I went to my 51st last night. I planned on making this a summer of baseball and have succeeded in doing so. It's been pure bliss for me. And ballpark food ... hot dogs!

    Great work for the theme, though! I really like the low perspective shot of your little one running to the base.

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