Day 182: You're Out Of Your League Kid (But You'll Do Fine)

It's my favorite time of year!

It's Fall Ball season!

Fall baseball is my favorite baseball season (and thus, my favorite sports season). The season is shorter, so there's less time to prove more to yourself and to your teammates that you're ready to move to the next division up come spring. The days are shorter too, so most of the games are played under the lights on the nicer fields. The games are intense, the playoffs are even more intense, it's just pure excitement for both kids and parents alike. And this year, both kids are playing (in different divisions). 

Calen's first practice was tonight. He's been assigned to the River Cats (all Cal Ripken teams are based off major league teams in the spring, and minor league teams in the fall), and though we're a little disappointed that it wasn't our beloved Bulls team that we played for last fall, it still seems to have a good coaching staff and group of boys. 

What shocked me today though, was that Calen wasn't put in the same division (Rookies - lowest other than Tball) as last year. He was drafted up two divisions to Double A, in which the vast majority of players are older 8's, 9, and even a couple just-turned 10 year olds. 

Calen won't even be 7 1/2 until the end of next month. 

So at first I'm super stoked that my kid worked hard enough to be drafted up, that hot damn, all that work in the back yard has paid off! And maybe he's paying attention more than I thought he was! But then the adrenaline dried out and I'm left thinking "Oh my gosh, my kid is going to be eaten alive by these older kids." How in the hell is a 7 year old going to keep up with kids that have two or three years extra experience than him?!

So we rolled into practice today with our heads held high, but inside I was nervous. Sure enough, he's the only 2nd grader, playing with 3rd and 4th graders. One kid is a good 8 inches taller than him. 

But, he kept up with the kids. The majority of them are definitely more skilled than him, but not so much that he will get squashed out there like a bug. He has a lot of room to grow in this division and really, Calen is the type of kid that cannot be the oldest or most skilled kid on the team, as he requires the peer pressure of older kids around him to perform at his best. Otherwise, he flounders and screws around. 

So despite the odds, had a decent first practice, got along with the kids (and knows one from last fall) and I really think he's going to not only keep up with these older boys, but learn a LOT from them. 

Go River Cats. 

Practicing pitching (in his old Bulls uniform)

Pin It