Our little star

I know I am late on this post, but better late than never.  Addie started T-Ball this year.  I - being "in the sport" know that it is best to play for the team you want to keep playing with - right off the bat.  That way, you know the coaches, they know you, and you develop in the position you want to play.  If you are always the "new kid" you will have a hard time playing, say, short stop, if you want.  Anyway, the competetive fastpitch travel team in town is the Mustangs. 

We went to the first meeting at their indoor training facility and my jaw dropped to the floor when we walked in.  Yep, this is the place to be.  I asked them "Do you think this is right for Addie, she has never played before, and doesn't know what this game is about".  Oh yes, this is where she should be.  Ok, I am thinking that the other kids are 4-5 years old, first year players and all learning together.  Man, oh man, was I ever wrong.  These girls are 3rd year players, most of them 6 - there is one other almost 5 year old (her dad is the WingNuts manager) and she is great.  They are making plans, sometimes turning doubles.  Upset when they miss a throw (or catch) and hitting amazing well.  Thankfully it is still just T-ball, or they may be bunting and stealing.  This league is serious about softball.  Then there is Addie.  She doesn't seem to have the attention span these girls do, she ran towards 2nd one time, and many times the ball rolls right by her while she is digging in the dirt. 

Her wonderful and patient coach is repeatedly telling her that her glove belongs on her hand - not her head.  And one night we watched her scoop up a hanful of dirt (while playing 2nd base) and Aaron and I both said "what is she going to do with that?" when she proceeded to dump it on top of her head.  yep.  I hope that someday this will all just be funny, and that she wont be 16 on the field with the game tied, 2 outs and the winning run up to bat - drawing with her toes while the ball rolls by.

The better pictures are on Aaron's camera, I will probably never get around to posting them here, so here are 2 pictures I had on mine.

Here is Addie warming up with her team.  They even have bags with their names on them and their own practice ball.

Here is Addie batting.  I would like to say that she hit this ball shortly after this picture was shot, but I don't think so by the looks of it.

The good news is that Addie says she really likes it.  And she adores the coaches.  The other girls haven't made many comments about her skills, and as far as I know, no one has mentioned her speech.  I think this experience has been good for her.  And we see her improve with each game.  She only has 2 left, and she is sad about that.  And she asked me to teach her to pitch - that should be fun. : )