Spring Softball

I guess I didn't blog much at all about our fall sports, so I figured the best place to start with spring sports is softball!  Reese finished up her final t-ball season last spring, and was 100% convinced that softball was the best choice for her.  We waited a bit to see if she would change her mind (Brian could coach her baseball team, he would stay with kids he's coached for a few years, and we think she could show those boys a thing or two on the field), but she wanted to play with "just girls."

Well, it took no time for us to see that she was totally right in her decision to play softball.  She LOVES it.

She ended up on a team with the best coaches, the best girls, and she learns a LOT.  Everything on this team "clicks" and you can see it on how the girls play, how they interact, and by the numbers in their win/loss columns!

Reesie knows what's going on when she's on the field, and she is focused.  She puts in her time in the outfield, but she also loves playing pitcher, shortstop, and third base.

I think one of the things that she loves about softball is that her team wears shorts. Ha!  No, but really, she was never a fan of baseball pants and belts, so I think the right clothes make softball even better!

 She is starting to hot her stride at the plate.  She and Brian have been working on her swing to find something that makes her comfortable!

Last week she hit her first "home run" at practice.  This is one of the best things about her team.  They get so excited for each other when they make big plays or hit well!

She also REALLY loves to catch.  It's probably her favorite position to play.

I think she likes being involved in every play!

And she can gun it back to the pitcher.

Reesie at the Tides Clinic

When we signed Reese up for the clinic, we weren't entirely sure that she would want to go.  She can be hit or miss at times about baseball - she LOVES to play, but she isn't thrilled when she's surrounded by boys.  We have spent a lot of time over the last few weeks discussing the upcoming fall season, and whether she wants to play baseball or softball.  I think that she really would love to try baseball, but the fact that there are only boys playing is really holding her back!

I just can't believe that she's old enough to be pitched to now!  Fortunately for her, she found another little girl to hang out with at camp.

Brian said that they were constantly on the hunt for water and they were probably the two thirstiest people there.

She went through the same drills that Wyatt did.

She loved the pink eye "black" that they handed out.

And then they had to run!  She told me that she's pretty sure that she was the fastest person at the camp...she might be right!

Spring Sports Wrap-Up

Just a few "follow up pictures" to the rest of our spring sports recaps.  I'm pretty sure that baseball will probably go on forever, but rec season is done!

Hudson finished his spring soccer season - he had a lot of fun!

He played in a U6 League - which means that most of the kids were 6 years old!  He even played against a few kids in Reese's Kindergarten class - two years older than he is.

It was hard for his little legs to move as fast as the bigger kids, but he still hung in there.  He really likes playing soccer, and he begged to do it again!

Wyatt played U8, although we tried to move him up to U10.  He had some moments of frustration playing defense all season, but he was still happy that he was able to play.  Plus, he was able to help move the ball down the field to prevent the other teams from scoring. He has tryouts for a select team on Tuesday!

Reese and Hudson both had fun playing t-ball - as always!

Reesie and her BFF Emma!

It's nice to be down two games a week now.  Wyatt is still playing for his Select team and he also made All Stars, so he has at least another month of tournaments and practices and conditioning and pitching!  It sounds like a lot - but he always wants to play.  And the kid has massive amounts of energy to burn!

Reesie Plays Ball

Reese is playing her final season of t-ball this spring.  Tear :(! 

She says she is debating between baseball and softball in the fall, but I have a feeling she's going to pick softball so she doesn't have to be around "dosksting" boys (that's how she's been spelling disgusting, and I think it's adorable).  I can't believe that she's only been playing for a year!

 She obviously takes her at bats very seriously, and she has been slamming the ball to the outfield.  It's funny to hear the reaction from the other team when she gets up and hits it so far!

We tried to convince her to play soccer with Hudson this spring, but she said that she is DONE with soccer.  She seemed to enjoy it when she played, but now says that she is only interested in baseball and basketball!  Ha!

Reesie Plays Ball!

Reesie decided that she wanted to play tee ball this fall instead of soccer.

Apparently she thinks soccer is "really, really boring" and she thinks baseball is "really, really fun." 

She also really likes slugging the ball.  This girl can hit!

 She got the game ball at her very first game, when she caught a pop up and then threw the ball to first to get the runner out. Double play!!!  I don't know who was happier, her or her daddy.

 Actually, the happiness level was probably equal.

 She really likes playing anywhere in the infield!  She knows where the plays are with each batter, and she really wants to get them out.  She takes tee ball very seriously.  

 And she was able to play with her best friend Emma, which made this season even better.  Brian is going to take the softball world by storm when his tee ball team of four girls gets to softball!

She had so much fun playing tee ball, and I know that she can't wait to play again in the spring.  And she moves up to softball next fall, which she is very excited about!  I'm not sure I'm ready for it, though!

Tee Ball's Over, Too!

Reese ended her tee ball season two weeks ago (I know.  I blog about all the latest information).

She had so much fun playing tee ball this year.  She is eligible to move up to softball in the fall.  I'm not getting in the middle of the "discussion" she and Brian are having about whether or not she's moving up!  I'd love for her to play more tee ball, but I know she wants to play with girls and not the boys!

She is my lightning fast girl!  At her team's pizza party, another mom walked up to her just to tell her that she loved watching her run because she is so fast,  and she wished she was as fast as Reese is! I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous of her speed, too!

She played second and pitched, and managed to get two outs in her final game!

Love that her trophy has a ponytail on it!  She came home and made a space for it immediately.  She's very proud of that thing - but we are much prouder of all her hard work and effort!

Can't wait to see what she chooses to do in the fall - soccer or baseball?  Guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Game Ball x2!

Reese had two games last week.  I missed one because Wyatt had a school musical, but she had a great game!  I'm glad I was able to be there on Wednesday though, because she got the Game Ball!

This wasn't her getting the ball...she just needed a hug from "Dada" during the game.  Yes. She still calls him Dada.

Obviously there was much excitement about her Game Ball.

Way to go, Pieces!

Wyatt got the game ball at his game on Saturday.

Two interesting facts about the game:

1.  He lost a tooth in a piece of taffy while he was in the on deck circle.  This caused quite the commotion.

2.  In the final inning of the game, he was catching and his buddy, Will, was pitching.  Brian and Will's Dad both tried to tell them that the bases were loaded and there was a force out at home.  They BOTH shouted back, "WE KNOW!"

And then it happened, the ball was hit right to Will and he threw it back to Wyatt for the force out.  They were so excited.  I don't have a picture of their reaction, but it was basically something like this.

(source)

They wanted their picture taken together after the play!

When I asked Wyatt how he and Will knew there was a force out at home, he said, "Mom, me and Will like to watch lots of games and highlights so we know how baseball works.  That's why screen time is a good thing sometimes."

And after Wyatt got the game ball, his best buddy Aden picked him up to celebrate.  It is so fun to watch these boys be friends.  They're starting to learn when they each need an arm over their shoulder after a strike out, or when they need to be left alone after a strike out, and when to celebrate each other's big plays.  Aden turned a double play and Wyatt jumped on him by the dugout.  So fun!

We have a tee ball game and a tournament game for Wyatt this week - he had a skating lesson last week and I'm hoping he's back on the ice soon!

Also, I may or may not be ready for some down time!

Tee Ball Girl

Reese is having a lot of  fun playing tee ball this year. The weather has really gotten in the way of practices and one or two games, but she is so excited on her game days!

She loves to run the bases - but this girl is fast!  It's hard to get her out - unless she hits the ball directly to first base.

 She is getting good at catching and learning where to make plays.  She tried her best to get this one.

 This picture of her taking off from home plate cracks. me. up.  Goodness gracious, is she ever intense about running the bases.

She got to be pitcher at her game last week, and she did an awesome job!  She even managed to get two outs!

Of course, how could you have a bad game when you've got the cutest cheering section ever?

 Even when they're being a little silly.  Or in Hudson's case, stuck in baby jail (yes, that's what we call the stroller for him).  Wyatt prefers to run off and play with his friends during Reese's games, and Hudson doesn't really tag along.  Reese and her friends actually play with Hudson, so he doesn't really run off during Wyatt's games!

 I can't believe how close we are to the end of baseball season - the extended winter weather, lots and lots of rain, and cancelled games have made for a slower season than usual!  Of course - it just means summer's on horizon.  I should probably start looking at camp schedules!