April 30 - “And the crowd goes wild”

It’s the last inning.  Home team is behind by three runs, but the best part of their lineup is coming to bat.  An inner hush permeates through the clamor of the crowd’s obligatory cheers of encouragement.  Tension mounts.  The first batter makes an out, but the next two find their way to base.  In fact they make their way all the way home to score.  Another out.  Tying run now on third.  The next batter hits a squibbler to the pitcher. And the race is on.  The runner on third streaks for home.  The batter scurries toward first base.The pitcher fields the ball, turns toward first, and the race is on.  It will be a close one.  And ... it’s the pitcher.  The pitcher wins the race. Out by a half stride.  Visitors win.  And the crowd goes wild ...

Nope.  Not an Astros game.  That was but a sample of the excitement to be found at Luke’s t-ball game last night.  Add to that ending key plays like when Luke, playing second base, fielded a grounder and tagged out a runner coming into second base.  Undaunted, the runner continued toward third, but Luke would have none of that action.  He tagged him a second time, a few steps from the base.  The runner continued, so Luke did, too.  He ran the kid down and tagged him out a third time.  Sometimes we just have to make sure, you know?  Luke was on that Visitors team.  A narrow 15-14 win with all the excitement of a major league game.  And the best part?  The kids seemed to be really having fun.  Even the tiny catcher who refused to wear the helmet ... or his glove ... or stand anywhere near home plate.  Kudos to his coach, however.  He came out of the dugout, called the youngster over to his side by the fence and stood with his arm around him for the duration of the half inning.  Hey, it can get lonely inside that monstrous headgear.

The plan was to sneak into Waco for two great nights like this one.  Little League baseball at its finest.  Tonight is Caleb’s game.  However ... Caleb is in the midst of recovering from a severe allergy reaction to the season, some horses ... just a preponderance of attacks on his immune system.  The reaction led to an eye infection, and he is now quarantined for 48 hours.  Stay inside.  That might mean no game for him.  The 48 hours technically extend into tomorrow, but the doc said he would call to check on him, and left him with a “we’ll see how the medicine helps him.”  There is also a chance of rain today, though, so there is also that.  Sigh.  The perils of outdoor sports.

Matthew 6:14 says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Father, protect these little guys as they learn and play the greatest game around.  Amen.