That's My Boy

My son Trent has never played on a good baseball team. His team is the one you don't have to try out for, the one that remains open to kids who haven't played much. There is no such thing as a routine play - the easiest pop up or ground ball can quickly turn into an adventure. The bottom half of the lineup does well just to get the bat on the ball, never mind actually getting on base.

Last night Trent's team enters the bottom of the last inning losing 5 to 2. The end of the batting order is due up, so parents begin to gather their folding chairs recognizing we'll soon be telling the boys good game and reminding them it's about getting better rather than winning.

New pitcher on the mound, doesn't look like he has much - it's not uncommon for teams to get away with pitching their third or fourth best pitcher against us. Outfield playing shallow, like 15 feet behind the infield. That way if a ball actually does get out of the infield, the right fielder can thrown the kid out at first.

First batter hist a ball clean over the left fielder's head for a double. The kid has hit some balls hard before, but it only occurs once every ten at bats, so you kind of forget he can do it. Next better hits a clean single to right field. He rarely gets the bat anywhere close to the ball. First and third no outs.

The other team's coach has seen enough. After only two batter and a 5 to 2 lead, he casts off his pitcher to right field and brings in his ace. Tall, left handed, hard throwing, and the attitude that says you'll be going home soon.

The left-hander begins by picking off the runner at first base. One out. Then he strikes out the batter. Two outs, runner on third, and our meager hopes dying fast. But we did manage to get to the top of the order.

Our lead off hitter crushes the ball to left center. Crushes as in the outfielder turns and runs without looking at the ball because he knows it's going to the fence. Inside the park home run, two runs in, still losing 5 to 4.

Next batter takes a mighty swing and rips the ball ... five feet down the third base line. It's perfectly placed ... the pitcher scrambles over, makes the throw, but it's not in time. I quickly look to the on deck circle. That's my boy, watching the play, reacting with a fist pump, and jogging to the plate with two outs, the tying run on base, and all the pressure in the world to get a hit.

It's hard to appreciate what goes through a players mind at this point. You want to be the guy that gets the clutch hit, but you don't want to be the guy that lets the team down. Players secretly fight off the thought that they hope the kid in front of them ends the game with a key hit ... or an out. Anything but making the last out yourself. But you can't be the hero without risking failure.

Trent fouls off a pitch. He's behind on the ball - not sure he can catch up to this guy. He take a ball, fouls off another pitch, and takes another ball. Two balls, two strikes, two outs. This could be it.

Fastball, outside corner, a flash of the bat, and a lightning shot down the right field line into the corner. Stand up triple, game tied. Next hitter knocks a single into left, scoring Trent with the winning run. Joy. That's my boy, so proud of him, so happy for him.

I love that he got such a great hit, but I'm even more proud of the fist pump when he realized he was coming to the plate with the game on the line. He was nervous, but he was courageous as well. That's my boy and God is doing a good work in his heart. That is something to cheer about.

What Do You See?

We have a field behind our church - a good size field, flat and green and recently mowed. In one corner is a backstop - the kind used at a major league baseball park for batting practice. I never see anyone using the field, which is odd in a youth sports crazed town in which an open practice field is hard to come by. Perhaps it's the signs.

Two signs announce that the field is only available for official church functions. I asked around and found out the original signs included a "NO TRESPASSING" warning. Good move - wouldn't want anyone not associated with the church to be on church property!

What do you see? Apparently you can look at a field and see several different things, such as ...

• a blessing to the community
• increased insurance cost
• an open door to undesirables
• something to be shared
• something to be guarded

Another way of asking the question: What do you fear? I fear we've been entrusted with a stewardship from God and we have buried our field in the ground.