Finn's First T-ball game

So, Finn's disorganized team, The Padres, had their first game this weekend.  His "coach" is just one of the YMCA employees and so she had other things to do on Saturday and couldn't be at the game.  So, Finn was nervous and upset his "coach" wasn't there and spent the first 10 minutes crying.  Finally, I got one of the dads who was helping out come over and talk to him and encourage him to come play.  That worked like a charm and Finn was off to "Play Ball!".  Unfortunately, both teams were very disorganized and everyone only got one at-bat and one time in the field.  But it was good for a couple of reasons.  First, the dads were just as frustrated with the disorganization as the moms and so by the end of the game 3 dads had committed to be the team coach--Wahoo!  Second, the kids got some experience and we now know that things can't get worse.  At least I hope not.  Anyway, practice this week was SOOO much better with a dad coming in with a practice plan and the kids all engaged and playing.  Shew!

Finn at bat.  He can really hit it off the tee.  He's still working on coach pitches--but I'll be honest in that I think he's coaches are still working on how to throw the ball to the kids.

Kai also had his first game on Saturday.  His team is the Twins.  I didn't take any pictures because they all would have had a fence in them as we were behind an actual baseball field and they actually played real ball.  The kids all got 7 pitches, they were allowed to throw "outs" and run doubles or more (at Finn's age everything is just a single), but they weren't keeping score or track of things.  Just playing by the "rules".   If you actually counted things, Kai's team would have one.  The first inning all of the kids hit the ball and got on base.  Kai got tagged out at 3rd, but there was really nothing he could have done--the bases were loaded and he had to go somewhere.  The second inning Kai's first hit resulted in a foul ball and then he unfortunately didn't get another hit.  He was upset and spent 10 minutes crying, but we finally got him out on the field again and he got to play "pitcher" and that seemed to cheer him up.  At one point I considered showing my kids the scene in "A League of Their Own" where Tom Hanks says, "There's no crying.  THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!"  But I guess it's not necessary any more.  I hope we're done with the crying.  Two baseball games, two boys crying.  It has to get better!