Can't Stop Smiling

WOW! How can I even come close to describing the events of tonight?!!! Let me just begin by saying that this is one PROUD MAMA typing this post.

Garrett's baseball team made it into the play-offs. Their season started off great. They were winning every game. Then they played the TIGERS. We had a terrible night and none of our boys could hit the ball. They beat us for our first loss. Later, the Tigers lost to the Angels for their first loss and we were once again tied for first. We then went on to win every other game until we played the TIGERS again. We were down by two runs, we had runners on 2nd and 3rd base with two outs. Garrett was up. The poor kid struck out! We lost our second game of the season and Garrett cried. He felt so bad. Then Garrett really stepped up his practicing. He would go to practices and games 30-45 minutes early and have Russ or I pitch to him. On the days that he didn't have games or practice Russ or I was out throwing to practice fielding or pitching to work on his batting. Russ and I threw so much this season that Russ has major inflammation in his elbow and I have major inflammation in my shoulder. We are a mess. Anyway- back to the story... The Tigers lost to the RED SOX and we were once again tied for first place. Anyway, we then lost to the Angels and then to the RED SOX. OK, so that was a really quick recap of a really long regular season. Then came the play-offs...tonight.

The TIGERS played the Mariners and we played the RED SOX for the first game. The TIGERS won 7-2. They were going to the championship game. We were playing the RED SOX on the other field. We were up first, one hit no runs. Then the RED SOX were up and scored 1 run. We were down. We eventually tied it up. Then in the top of the 6th we were able to score 4 runs which made the score 5-1. However, the Red Sox were up last. They suddenly started hitting the ball. They scored two runs and had players on the bases. We were able to hold them and won the game 5-3. Garrett hit the ball all three times he was up and got one single to right field, flew out at the fence in left field (his buddy, Teagan, caught that ball), and hit one to the short stop and got thrown out at first. But all in all they were great, solid hits and we were so proud of him. I said to my mom, "I don't really care about this next game. Garrett had a great game and hit the ball so well. I am really proud of him". My mom, knowing my competitive nature all too well, said "You do too care about this next game"! She was right, but I was still thrilled that Garrett had played such a great game. Anyway, we walked over to the other field for our second game of the night... The Championship!

The Championship Game: BLUE JAYS vs. TIGERS

We were up first. We got a couple of hits, but left runners stranded on the bases, no score. Then the Tigers got up. Their first 4 batters all got on base and three of them scored. We were down 3-0 after the first inning. We got up, had a few hits (Garrett was one of them), but no one scored. We held the Tigers in the second inning. In the third inning we scored 2 runs and the Tigers were unable to score. We were losing 3-2 at the end of the third. About this time my mom said she wasn't sure she could handle anymore of the stress. She kept threatening to leave and just have me call her when it was over. However, she stuck it out. We then scored one run in the 4th to tie the game 3-3 and were able to hold the Tigers. Then in the 5th one of our guys, Clint (who broke out the back window of a Dodge SUV with a home run last week), hit a home run to put us ahead 4-3. But, then the Tigers answered with a home run of their own to tie the game 4-4. Top of the 6th. Last inning. Kaleb gets a hit and is able to get on first. We have two outs. GARRETT is up. I think my mom and I were going to throw up at this point. Because- if you remember, he was in a similar situation the last time we had played the Tigers. First ball comes across the plate. Strike one. The second pitch is thrown. Garrett belts the ball TO THE FENCE right in the gap between left and center field. Kaleb scores. Garrett ends up with a TRIPLE. We are going absolutely nuts. I cannot stop screaming. I think my mom was glad she stuck around!!! The batter after Garrett strikes out and the top of the inning is over. The tigers have last ups. They get a guy on base, but are unable to score. WE WON 5-4. Garrett was up to bat 6 times tonight, hit the ball every time he was up, drove in the winning run, had good fielding, and was given the GAME BALL by his coach. It was an amazing night for him. He didn't stop smiling until he fell asleep... and neither did his DAD!

Russ and I complained a lot this season about our aching joints. Man- I will have shoulder surgery if necessary to help Garrett have another night like he did tonight. He is such a hard worker. He is so self-motivated. He hustles all the time. He has really had to earn a position on this team (you would not believe the politics behind these little league teams). We are so proud of him. His confidence level was soaring tonight and we couldn't be happier as parents.

I also want to thank my parents who supported our boys through their very LONG baseball season. It really meant so much to Garrett (and me too!) to have them there tonight. Thanks for all you do!