Our Awesome All Star!

It has been quite a busy summer with Hank and his love of baseball, one I don't see ending anytime soon. It was a summer of ball fields, heat, baseballs tossed around the house and in the yard, Frogg Togg's, water bottles, ice packs, and lots and lots of sound; bats pounding, "heads up," chattering, laughing, and cheering! Our baseball season began in March with our normal recreation league and playing with Pleasant Grove Eagles in our community. This led to Hank being invited to try out for All Stars...now, for All Stars at 6 years old, I wasn't really expecting a whole lot--boy was I in for a rude awakening. Kelly, as Hank's regular season coach, assisted in tryouts and committed to assist in coaching one of the two teams that Whitfield County represents and sponsors for local district and state tournaments in the state of Georgia. After a very good tryout and ranking fairly high out of the other thirty-six 6-7 year olds trying out for the 7U All Star team, Hank was picked and placed on the #1 team representing our county. As a 3rd basemen on the PG Eagles, we knew Hank was going to be challenged with a bigger and better variety of athletes, with better arms and aim for first base (which is the usual job for this age group--making the out at first)--a challenge we were excited for him to face. Ultimately, Hank took a position in the outfield, a place where he was able to use his ability to catch fast and hard hits and pop-ups and that good arm he has to get it back into the infield. A job that Kelly and I was happy for him to have, to have the ability to learn a new position with new responsibilities. With this team many positive events came about--new players, new coaches, and best of all new friends...11 other boys from all over our entire county. We practiced 4-6 days of week for four weeks; hitting, throwing, running, backing up the infield, swinging from the hips, catching "flies", and falling more in love with the sport. Our first game for district began with playing a team from Boynton-we walked up and saw matching bat bags, a big banner with team picture proudly displayed, parents with all matching and coordinating shirts and clothes, little brothers and sisters sporting their brothers' numbers, needless to say very intimidating! How could a typical All Star team, like ours, have all these things and be so prepared to play in our first All Star tournament? Little did we know...SELECT leagues and teams existed at this age level too as long as they were a true representation of their county. We were in for a big surprise and so were our precious boys, the top kids (for the most part) from our county, we were really expecting to do well. Our season ended after two weekends of play-2 games each with an 0-4 record...not a very good record for district and state for our first shot at a title. 

Here are some photos from the first two tournaments: 

Coach Dad

Proud Momma despite the loss.

New buddy AJ

All Star Wolf Pack

Team outing at Rome Braves baseball for July 4th Fireworks-with AJ

After our long and somewhat short experience with the Whitfield Wolf Pack, we were asked to join team #2, Xpolosion, to play with them in the Rick Honeycutt World Series. This was such an honor and privilege; number one -our cousin Asa is on this team, and two -just because Hank wanted to keep playing. With the addition to team 2, Hank played an additional season of baseball, where his skills and abilities grew by leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, the four games we played with the Xplosion, didn't turn out well either, 0-4...but we don't regret it!

Team prayer before their game

Playing left field for #2 All Star team

Showing off his good batting stance and really making the original Hammerin' Hank (#44) proud!

Sliding in at third

He's just so handsome!

We loved this experience, the experience of being at the ball fields all summer and watching our baby grow and develop into quite the little baseball player...we love it so much, Kelly has signed up to coach a select/travel team. We are now officially a Legend, Hank is player #1, the first picked of seven that have been asked to try-out. Hank and his May 13th birthday has set him up to play 7 year old baseball for an additional season, allowing Kelly to pick 10-12 6 and 7 year olds that can play together for an extended amount of time...in hopes of reaching talent and skill levels of those we saw at District/State/World. We are excited, anxious, nervous, but most of all proud, proud of Hank and his athletic accomplishments (along with all of his others:)). Stay tuned for updates on our new baseball team and adventure!