Eli Morgan. Cool dude. Funny guy. Winning little-league pitcher.
After years of playing outfield and second base, Eli this year began to practice pitching with his dad in the backyard. Every few days, I'd notice the two of them -- Eli working up that pitching stance; Steven squatting, ready for the fastball. Eli, foot in position, pivoting, lifting the leg, arm back, arm moving forward, releasing. Growing rapidly, changing drastically, getting stronger; the fastball burns. And every so often, a change-up added to the mix to shake things up a bit.
Left field is his position. Nine times out of ten, you'll find him there. But he has this love affair with the idea of pitching, and several times this season his coaches have let him pitch when his team appeared to have a win pretty-much secured.
Tonight was a different story. Eli's team, down 10-4 at the bottom of the third inning, prepared to take to the field for the start of inning four. I noticed Eli run onto the field, but not to his usual position. To the pitcher's mound, instead. The team was down, and Eli's coaches put him in to pitch.
Excitement (and much nail-biting -- from all the parents, not just me) ensued. In the next two innings, Eli walked one (maybe two) and gave up only 2 runs. His team rallied back, hit the ball, stole bases, ran-down the opponent, and beat the Oakland Athletics 13-12. And Eli, as pitcher, officially "got the win."
A 12-year-old outfielder's dream come true.
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4 comments:
Wow, I can almost hear "If you build it, they will come" whispering from this blog. I have fond memories of baseball too. My brother played all his life. He got all the athletic ability in the family, I received absolutely none! What a great day for Eli. I can't believe that he is already 12! They grow so fast.
How exciting. Zac has been goalie a lot this season and being the mother of the goalie or pitcher is a little scary. Also I love the way you described it. Yeah Eli!!!
When I was younger and Laura and I were children I did not understand my Grandmother Russell's fascination with baseball. Nor my brother Daniel's. Anyway she would sit on the edge of her chair and even move the phone (back in ancient days with cords) to watch a game and still talk to one of her sisters (Laura and my great aunts) who dared to call during a Braves' Game! Later in life I was her caregiver and sat through many a 13and 14 nighter. I learned when she was young that her Mama would sit and do her needlework while my Grandmother and her sisters sat with their father at Rickwood Field to watch the Birmingham Barons in the 1920's. Now I am certain she watches with relish from Heaven as her great-grandson makes her proud...and me, too. Love, Uncle Buddy
Way to go Eli! I love when my kids do well... and Eli's one of my kids.
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