Anna Catherine's first t-ball game

April 28, 2008---Anna Catherine's first t-ball game was Monday night. She plays on a co-ed four-year-old park and rec team. She had to sit out last year because her birthday was three weeks past the deadline. There are 11 players on her team and there are six four-year-old teams in the park and rec league. They will play each team twice. There are no winners or losers and only two innings in which they do not keep score or record outs, errors, etc. Everyone has five chances to hit the ball off the tee. If the child is not successful after five attempts, the child automatically goes to first base. They are only allowed to take one base at a time (unless it is last batter, then everyone runs home) and stealing is not allowed. The purpose is to teach these first year players the concept of hitting the ball and running the bases in order.


Watching kids this age play ball is so entertaining. Tonight two different boys ran off the field in the middle of the game to give their parents hugs. Another little boy who wasn't on either team ran onto the field during the game. You usually get two types of fielders---the one who stands there and never gets a ball unless it lands directly in their glove and then there's the one who goes after every ball hit, even if it is on the opposite side of the field. It's so funny to watch these kids running around like little chickens with their heads cut off. Anna Catherine did very well. It took five swings for her to hit the ball the first time. She was watching us instead of watching the ball. I also think she had a little stage fright her first time up to bat. However, she hit it on the first try in the second inning. She was a great fielder. She played second base in the first inning and let one ball get past her. In the second inning she played third base and stopped two balls. Anna Catherine had a lot of fun and that's all that matters.