May 6 – “The Lineup”

We have been attending grandchildren’s baseball and soccer and football and softball and basketball games for some time now.  We are pretty much experts at the grandparent cheering section.  There have even been occasions where I have been asked to play the role of official scorekeeper for one of the baseball games.  That can get really hectic, too.  They have a rigid pitch count system in place that regulates how much any given child can pitch in a week’s time.  It’s all about protecting young arms, and I am certainly all for that.  It just makes it hard to keep up with the actual game action when you are trying to make sure the pitch count is accurate, the correct batter is at the plate, and the runner on second is still supposed to be there.  It’s actually a lot of fun, except when I accidentally skip a guy like I did the other night.  No particular reason.  The kid struck out and I entered the “K” onto the next guy in line’s box score.  Sorry about that. 

The other night we went to watch – just watch – Josiah’s game.  He’s in the year where some of them still hit off the tee while others have to face their own coach’s pitching.  Not wanted to be considered one of the “little guys,” Josiah graduated quickly to coach pitch, and he has been doing really well.  he got hits every time he batted, and even put one into the outfield that resulted in a double.  Pretty impressive, that Vaughan Boy.

After the game we walked with Kel and Christina and their brood to the parking lot and paused by their car to say goodbye.  They all gathered around and Kel calmly said, “Hey Dad, we need you to be the scorekeeper for our next game.  Here’s the lineup card in advance.”  Not an unusual request.  In fact, I was pleased to have it.  I usually don’t get the card until game time when the umpire is saying “play ball.”  Without looking at it, I asked if it was for the next night’s game, knowing we had home group and I couldn’t be there.  He never answered my question. 

Instead he smiled weakly and said, “Just read the lineup.”  I finally took a look at the lineup card.  Jachin was listed first.  Not unusual, although he has been batting in the number five spot.  I reasoned that his coach must want to shake things up a bit.  But as I continued perusing the card, something was obviously amiss.  There was Zakary’s name.  And Micah.  And Caleb.  And Cailyn.  And Josiah.  And Noa.  And Luke.  All listed on the card.  Instead of numbers, their birthdays were listed next to them.  And there it was.  The last name on the list.  Number Nine, as it were.  Birthdate listed as 12/15.  Wait for it.  Who is this mysterious number nine hitter?  None other than … “Player to be named.”  Yep.  The Vaughan Family, LaMarque edition, will be adding another player to their roster come December.  And that, my friends, will bring the tally of Vaughan grandkids to an entire baseball team.  I guess Spring Training will bring a whole new look to cousins’ sleepovers around here.

Mark 12:29-31 says, “’The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.   Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’”

Father, thank you for the exciting surprise news.  Would you let MeeMaw, and PawPaw, and especially our two young ones who retired from the game early, know that we appreciate our heavenly cheering section?  Amen.