Rookie Stage Fright

This season our t-baller is Audrey. Luke had no interest in playing baseball this year because he "hated" t-ball (his words). But he does have an important role this year with his rookie sister - motivational speaker, pinch-runner, and dug-out stand-up comedian. Let me explain...

Audrey supported her brother for two years by going to every game and kinda watching when he batted, so she was really excited to be on a team this year. But things didn't start out smoothly when her and assistant coach Daddy got to the first practice and discovered she is the only girl on a team of 12 (the commissioner will be receiving a letter from us) and she proceeded to hang on Daddy's neck and wouldn't let go. I received a call 15 minutes into practice and was told "Things are not going well. Please come get her." Luke and I headed over to the practice to find Audrey playing in the Jeep and Ben helping with practice. I did what any mom who paid $50 for tee ball would do: bribed her with ice cream. And it worked. We made an agreement, she would get ice cream if she participated in everything the team was doing, which meant by that time in practice they were going to take turns batting while everyone else was in the field. But only on her condition that I had to hold her hand and she was not going to run the bases after she batted. So we stood in the infield, me with her glove on and holding her hand. She batted and like she said, she wouldn't run the bases so Luke was her pinch-runner. I went to the store and got chocolate ice cream, she was happy and said she would go back.

The morning of the second practice she told me she didn't want to go. When Ben picked her up at preschool they talked about it and she told him she had stage fright. We don't know where she learned that term, but it definitely helped her to express how she was feeling about practice. Luke also had Cub Scouts that night so Ben took him to that and I talked bribed Audrey into going to t-ball. I did not want her to quit because she really looks like a natural when she bats. I also told her the story about how I did dance class when I was her age even though I did not want to, but Grandma T made me and I was really happy she did. Honestly, all I remember is getting the Ken doll, but we won't tell Audrey that, yet. The deal was she had to participate in EVERYTHING the team was doing and then we would buy her some candy or ice cream. And guess what, she practiced with the boys, even rolling grounders back and forth with a teammate, and she was really good at it. So good, she had grass stains on her knees. And she had fun, which is the important part. She was clinging on me at times and made me run the bases with her when the coach had them doing running drills, but it was progress.

I am super happy to report that at her practice last night she did not hold Ben's or my hand at all after the warm-ups and stretches, she did everything without one of us right next to her. It was awesome. I think she felt much more comfortable and part of the team. Luke was right there with encouraging words and while the Leopards (I forgot to mention her team name) were scrimmaging the other team who practices at the same field, he was in the dug-out throwing out jokes with the boys.

Stretching before practice begins.

Doing trunk twists to warm up.

In the middle of all the boys.

Base running drill. She looks happy! That's her coach, by the way. Former Hawkeye FB player, Matt Hughes ('94-'98)

 Here is her schedule if you wish to cheer for her and the Leopards. All games are at 5:30.
May 3 on American Legion field (Near the Penn Meadows field on Penn Street, East of Hwy 965)
May 6 on Penn Meadows 6 field
May 13 on Penn Meadows 4 field
May 17 on Penn Meadows 3 field
May 20 on Penn Meadows 1 field
May 31 on Penn Meadows 4 field
June 7 on Penn Meadows 4 field
June 14 on Koser field (located across the street from Penn Elementary)
June 21 on Penn Meadows 1 field