We just wrapped up the Spring AA baseball season, and Caleb's team ended on top once again just like last Spring! It's amazing the progress that they all made from last year to this year (as in, they would actually catch the balls some of the time). We lost just one regular season game and won all of the tournament games, but the season was not without its struggles.
Caleb was old reliable when it came to hitting, and you could always count on him for a solid hit to advance the runners. In fact, he never struck out. However, as I mentioned earlier, the kids on all the teams have improved, and there were several instances where his hit was caught for an automatic out or the other team was able to beat him to the base with the ball resulting in an out. Those first few times the umpire called him out, he was mad. No, he was fuming. Like any good "Type A" person, he hates losing. One time he threw his helmet on the ground and then kicked it for good measure. His coach (and his parents) did not like that too much, and he ended up benched most of the rest of the game (though he was allowed back in the game just in time to hit the game winning RBI). We have been trying to instill in him two things: 1) at some point, you will strike out or get out - even the best players in the world do not have a perfect record (far from it); and 2) it's more important to know how to handle losing or failing at something (and gleaning whatever wisdom you can from your failure) than it is to win. The improving capabilities of the opposing teams provided a good opportunity for us to reinforce these life lessons. So though it was painful (and embarrassing for mom) at times, this season has been good for Caleb. And all the winning has been fun for us all too (especially after the Fall's win-less season). While he's continued to hone his hitting and catching skills, he's also started to develop a healthy measure of self-control - a skill that will serve him well even when his ball-playing days are behind him. I couldn't be prouder. Even if he had struck out at every at-bat and his team lost all of their games this would still be true.
Caleb's love for baseball has not waned, so I am sure that we will be back on the field come next season in the hunt for yet another championship ring to add to his collection...
