Can I share the moment with y'all?

[Big Al]

At my son Nathan's baseball game tonight, his team was facing the toughest team in the league. The other team had their ace on the mound, who probably hurls around 60 mph (these are 3rd & 4th graders, BTW). Nathan's hitting confidence has taken a beating in this young season, as he told me he felt like the pitches were coming faster than he's used to.

So, he was about to bat and I went up to him in the dugout, and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Now remember what I told ya, just go up there swinging. Nothin' to be afraid of.

Jr: But this kid throws FAST!

Me: I know, but he also throws strikes. So you don't really have to worry about him hitting you. Just go up swinging.

Jr: But I'm still kinda nervous.

Me: I know, and that's okay. Just remember: you're as good a player as he is, so you got nothing to fear. So just go up and start swingin'.

Jr: Swing at everything?

Me: Yup. This kid's throwing mostly strikes, so you've got a good chance of connecting. You can do it.

So then I went and sat back down, then ran back over him one more time:

Me: Good luck, son; and remember, ain't nothing wrong with striking out swinging. At least that way, you fought all the way.

So he gets up there and the first pitch, the ball was in the catcher's mitt before Nathan even started swinging. YIKES!

Second pitch, another swing, another miss, but he's getting closer. So I yelled, "Just like the 60 mph cage [batting cage, that is]." It was like a light went on in his head.

Next pitch, foul tip. He's still alive. Only now, he's grinning from ear to ear. It's like, "Hey, I touched it this time! I can get to this guy!"

Next pitch, I mean you could see the fire in Nathan's eyes.

AND HE HIT IT!!!!

Grounder to second and he beat out the throw!!!! His teammates were goin' bananas, cheering & hollering for him! The confidence level skyrocketed, not only in Nathan, but in his teammates who also came up swinging! The other pitcher was noticeably rattled, but he settled down and was able to get the rest of our guys out (Nathan managed to steal 2nd and 3rd, but was unable to score). So, despite the fact we didn't get any runs, at the end of the at-bat, our kids were jumpin' up&down all sorts of excited!!!!

Our guys ended up losing the game, but only by one run. This is significant because, as I said, this is the best team in the league. They're used to winning by ten-plus runs. Our guys gave' em a run for their money.

So after the game, the coach was awarding game balls, and Nathan got one of them for his confidence and his big hit.

We were walking to the car, and I was telling him how proud I was of him, not so much for getting the hit and winning the game ball, but for just going up there and TRYING. He said, "Well, I have you to thank for that. If you hadn't come over and talked to me and gave me the confidence to go up swinging."

I coulda cried. I am not worthy, I'm tellin' ya right now.

So as I was tucking him in bed, I said "Y'know, I would've been proud of you even if you'd struck out. Y'know that, doncha?" He smiled and said, "Yeah." I said, "You know why?" He said, "Because I went up swinging!"

Swingin' all the way, my friends!

Thanks for letting me share.

[Bright Moments]

great moment. it's what memories are made of!!

[Brad]

Brings back a lot of memories with my son. It's something special when you get that hit. Way to go Nathan.

[GA Russell]

That's why baseball is a great game for kids!

[GloriousBlues]

Very cool. I'm a big Nathan fan now.

[Free For All]

[AfricaBrass]

Thank you for sharing that Al!

There's nothing better than being proud of your kid.

That's the kind of lesson that could have long lasting meaning to him.

[wesbed]

This is real life.

[doubleM]

That's great Big Al. Way to be a Dad, and keep swingin'.

[Johnny E]

Thanks for sharing Al. That brought tears to my eyes. I can't wait till Milo is old enough to play baseball. I love how proud you are of him. It's bursting from your post. Go Nathan!!!

[brownie]

A Great Moment in life! Big Al, you have a real talent as a father. And also as a writer! This was one of the best post I have read here in a long time!

Hope Nathan is as proud of you as you are of him!

[Jim Alfredson]

Beautiful post, Al! You're a great father. And congratulations to Nathan!

[Guest Chaney]

What a sweet story!

  Big Al said:

I coulda cried. I am not worthy, I'm tellin' ya right now.

You sound PLENTY worthy to me.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Great story AL!

Helps that the kid's got plenty of practice hitting them greaze-balls off Dad, too!

[catesta]

Thanks for sharing the story, Al.

[Big Al]

Thanks for the good words and wishes, guys. This is the main reason I posted that, because I knew I could share something like that amongst friends. Glad it brightened a few people’s days!

Yeah, I remember driving home last night and telling Nathan that even if he didn’t get another hit for the rest of the season, even if his team didn’t win another game for the rest of the season, last night would still have made this season a great one!

Cheers, and thanks again, my friends!

[JSngry]

YEAH!!!!

[sheldonm]

  Big Al said:

Thanks for the good words and wishes, guys. This is the main reason I posted that, because I knew I could share something like that amongst friends. Glad it brightened a few people’s days!

Yeah, I remember driving home last night and telling Nathan that even if he didn’t get another hit for the rest of the season, even if his team didn’t win another game for the rest of the season, last night would still have made this season a great one!

Cheers, and thanks again, my friends!

Great story , Al; thanks for posting!

[Aggie87]

Very nice story, Al! That's some bonding that will stay with you both for the rest of your life.

I'm helping coach my daughter's kickball team right now (i know i know, kickball you say, but it's an organized league, and very popular with girls here, they even have adult leagues). The team is all beginners, 6-8 years old, but they're having alot of fun, and learning to work together as a team. It's fun for me as well, and while we haven't had any special moments like you did, I would regret if I didn't try to be as involved in my kid's lives like this as they grow up.

[Big Al]

Kickball league? Now THAT sounds like a blast!!!

[Jazzmoose]

Thanks for that, Al. It's been a rough week; I needed some positive vibes!

[jazzypaul]

I hope when I find a woman dumb enough to be my wife and give me children that I can be half the man that you were in that moment, Al.

[Jazz Kat]

  Big Al said:

At my son Nathan's baseball game tonight, his team was facing the toughest team in the league. The other team had their ace on the mound, who probably hurls around 60 mph (these are 3rd & 4th graders, BTW). Nathan's hitting confidence has taken a beating in this young season, as he told me he felt like the pitches were coming faster than he's used to.

So, he was about to bat and I went up to him in the dugout, and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Now remember what I told ya, just go up there swinging. Nothin' to be afraid of.

Jr: But this kid throws FAST!

Me: I know, but he also throws strikes. So you don't really have to worry about him hitting you. Just go up swinging.

Jr: But I'm still kinda nervous.

Me: I know, and that's okay. Just remember: you're as good a player as he is, so you got nothing to fear. So just go up and start swingin'.

Jr: Swing at everything?

Me: Yup. This kid's throwing mostly strikes, so you've got a good chance of connecting. You can do it.

So then I went and sat back down, then ran back over him one more time:

Me: Good luck, son; and remember, ain't nothing wrong with striking out swinging. At least that way, you fought all the way.

So he gets up there and the first pitch, the ball was in the catcher's mitt before Nathan even started swinging. YIKES!

Second pitch, another swing, another miss, but he's getting closer. So I yelled, "Just like the 60 mph cage [batting cage, that is]." It was like a light went on in his head.

Next pitch, foul tip. He's still alive. Only now, he's grinning from ear to ear. It's like, "Hey, I touched it this time! I can get to this guy!"

Next pitch, I mean you could see the fire in Nathan's eyes.

AND HE HIT IT!!!!

Grounder to second and he beat out the throw!!!! His teammates were goin' bananas, cheering & hollering for him! The confidence level skyrocketed, not only in Nathan, but in his teammates who also came up swinging! The other pitcher was noticeably rattled, but he settled down and was able to get the rest of our guys out (Nathan managed to steal 2nd and 3rd, but was unable to score). So, despite the fact we didn't get any runs, at the end of the at-bat, our kids were jumpin' up&down all sorts of excited!!!!

Our guys ended up losing the game, but only by one run. This is significant because, as I said, this is the best team in the league. They're used to winning by ten-plus runs. Our guys gave' em a run for their money.

So after the game, the coach was awarding game balls, and Nathan got one of them for his confidence and his big hit.

We were walking to the car, and I was telling him how proud I was of him, not so much for getting the hit and winning the game ball, but for just going up there and TRYING. He said, "Well, I have you to thank for that. If you hadn't come over and talked to me and gave me the confidence to go up swinging."

I coulda cried. I am not worthy, I'm tellin' ya right now.

So as I was tucking him in bed, I said "Y'know, I would've been proud of you even if you'd struck out. Y'know that, doncha?" He smiled and said, "Yeah." I said, "You know why?" He said, "Because I went up swinging!"

Swingin' all the way, my friends!

Thanks for letting me share.

Sounds like an episode from Highway to Heaven!

[PHILLYQ]

Great story, Al, thanks so much for posting it.

It's really heartening when you teach your kid something like you did and they appreciate it too. Sounds like you're doing a great job as a dad and you have a great kid(They frequently go hand-in-hand!).It's great that you are involved in his team, also. From what I see, kids sports has become a battleground in some places for frustrated parents. Great to see someone giving the kids positive reinforcement. My son is 12, and every now and then he shows me that he actually was listening when I droned on about life, etc.

[Jazz Kat]

Good he's loyal to his father. I used to WALK the bases in spite of my father! No joke.