Caleb's Baseball Highlights...

Caleb's Mets baseball season ended tonight. They finished the season 11/11. It was not the best record in the team's history but it was a very successful season for Caleb personally.

When Caleb made the majors last year I just didn't feel like he was ready (as if I know better than the coach!) and I would get so nervous to watch him play the few innings he would be in. But he enjoyed it and that really, ultimately, is what mattered.

This year he returned to the same team and I prepared myself for a repeat of the first year. For the first few games I watched peeking through my fingers until I realized that I could not do that for the whole time he was playing because he was playing a lot more. Then I figured out that I could actually relax because, well, Caleb has become a pretty consistent and decent ball player. (Pardon the blurry picture below... I wasn't expecting the ball to go to him so there was no time to focus but I was thrilled to "capture" a catch.)

He plays the outfield... wherever he is needed though lately it has been center field. He also pinch runs for other players because he is pretty fast. He has stolen quite a few bases this year and he gets so excited after each one that I can't even give him a hard time about the pants I will once again have to scrub clean! (I can tell when he is excited about how he played because he will start joking with me immediately after getting off the field about the laundry work I have ahead of me...)

But his biggest improvement has been what he does when up to bat...he is quite the bunter. A few weeks ago, right after Caleb bunted and arrived safely at 1st base, I overheard one of the dads on our team say, "Caleb lays down the best bunts on the team." Woo-hoo! For Caleb, who tends to blend in more than he stands out on sports team, that kind of comment is HUGE! I am so happy for Caleb because  he really has worked hard and listened to his coaches this season. It has been joyous for me to see his hard work pay off and to know he feels it too.

I have to say that I also love how his teammates are very supportive of one another... they are a great group of kids who clearly take after their parents, as they are a pretty encouraging group as well. One of the 12-year old players came up to Caleb after the game tonight and told him he had done well and that he would be back next year to watch Caleb play... how nice is that!?!  And while there is a lot of joking about the intensity of the coaching staff, they have been awesome with Caleb. I look forward to baseball season next year already! (Yes, Doug, you read that correctly) :o)