What can be learned by playing baseball?

Tyler is playing baseball this year and he is really enjoying it.  It has been fun to watch him grow and improve as he learns this fun sport.  He has a great coach that is helping him learn the fundamentals.  He also has a cousin who is a little older than him who is really talented at baseball.  Watching his cousin play has helped Tyler learn this sport better as well.

Lately Tyler has been struggling a little with batting.  He has lacked the confidence needed to get up there and let it rip.  So, he and I have been working in the backyard on some batting drills and also we have talked about being confident when he goes to bat.  My goal isn’t to get him into the MLB.  My goal is to get him to do hard things and know that if he works hard, he will succeed.

Last night he had a game and I asked him before the game, “What are you going to do at the plate tonight.”  If you know Tyler very well, he is a little bit reserved.  However, his answer surprised me.  He said, “If he throws a strike I am going to crush it.”  That type of response is not usually something he would say.  He was totally confident.

He got up to bat and crushed one out to left field and turned it into a triple.  He had a big grin on his face as he stood on third base.  To sweeten the moment, his Granny and Papa and the Dahle’s were there to see it.  (You gotta love family and friends!)

His next at bat he grounded out to 2nd baseman but helped score a run.

In the last inning, coach called him in to pitch to close the game out.  He did a great job and secured the win.

Why do I share this with you?  Well, it is so fun and rewarding  to see Tyler work hard at something and then see the results of his hard work.  I want him to know that if he is willing to work hard, he can achieve his goals.  He will know that he can do hard things.  That is a skill that he will need long after baseball.

--Another proud Dad