Last night was SS's final game at our home Little League fields. All 3 of our kids played here, the girls are already done and aged out. SS was our last kid (by default. DD12 is the same age but softball All Stars started 2 weeks before baseball did this year so she was done 2 weeks ago). It was such an emotional night for me. We have been a part of this organization for 7 years. I served on the board for 5 of them. Positions ranging from Head Scorekeeper to VP and then as President. There are over 700 kids that play there. It was such an amazing experience for our family. We have made life long friends there. I truly don't know where my kids would be if we didn't hand them at bat at age 7 and send them out on to that big scary grass diamond. It changed the direction of our lives forever.

DH is out of town, he wasn't able to go last night. Before the game SS was laying on the coach talking to me about how he misses his dad (he's been gone 2 days) and that he wishes he was able to be there. "I just play better when dad is there". (awe) So I tell him that I record every at bat and send it directly to dad, and that he stays awake during his games even though he is 3 hours ahead of us and his game didn't start until 8pm our time. So it's almost like he is there with us. Then he says "I really want to hit a homerun one last time there". Oh boy. When he TRIES to hit it out, it never works out well for him. He has been on a really awesome hitting streak (4 homeruns in the last 6 games). SS is a little guy. 14 kids on the team, there are 2 that are smaller than he is. DH is not tall, BM is SHORT. SS is not going to be a big kid. Somehow that kid can crack the ball like no ones business.

The team we were playing last night, we played the night before and beat them 13-0. So our manager made the decision to have the "subs" start this game (he does this a lot to make sure they have a memorable experience too. It's All Stars anyway, so none of them are bad players). So SS didn't get an at bat until the 3rd inning. I'm behind him recording. BM's dad and SM are sitting next to me (no, BM didn't try to show up). Gpa says "I hope hit launches it over the fence". Yeah... me too Gpa. Me too. I'll be damned if he didn't do JUST THAT! I am so happy he was able to have that ONE LAST TIME to round out his Little League career. The crowd went wild and as he rounded third base and trotted to home, he put his left hand on his heart and pointed at me with his right hand. That kid. He melts my heart.

We leave for Cooperstown a week from tomorrow. One week of tournament play in New York (we live in Cali). It can't get here soon enough.

Just had to brag on the boy for a minute. I am done now.