So this season I took a break from coaching for my nephews even though I would help my nephew (Matthew) from time to time. I have grown tired of coaching the little leaguers, not Matthew, but the other kids attitudes made me not want to coach. Yet, for by nephew Matthew and a couple of other kids and to help out my brother in-law, Steve I reluctantly agreed to help when I could. To give you an example of why I was so over burnt out coaching for the older kids, two players actually said that they didn’t want to pitch for no other reason then they just didn’t want to and one of the players actually showed up to a game without any equipment (glove,bat,etc.). I was god smacked and just thought about when I was there age and if I told my coach I was not playing or I forgot my equipment what would have happen to me. It’s for this reason I was so not into coaching or giving my time to them.

But, Aiden was starting his first year of t-ball and he was super excited to start playing. So much so that during the winter months he kept asking me when the snow was going to melt so he could play baseball. He really wanted me to coach, but I didn’t want to take on the responsibility of being the head coach, but I wanted to help and so I signed up to be an assistant coach. This was the first time I had coached t-ball in almost 8 years, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I would soon find out. I realized quickly that just having a practice where the kids weren't acting crazy and they actually participated in the drills was a super accomplishment. It was great to see Aiden interact with all these new strange people and get to like his newly formed teammates. It was also fun for me to get to know all these new players and help in developing them into liking the game of baseball as well as learn a little something. Coaching wasn't always just fun, it did have its moments. I still am trying to figure out how to get the kids to stay in there defensive position without all of them chasing and fighting for the ball, but after dealing with the older kids and there piss poor attitudes this was a welcome change. It was also a great experience because I got to see baseball at its rawest form. By that I mean I got to see the joy and excitement in the players eyes from doing the simplest things getting a simple hit or just hitting the ball, catching a throw from another player, or just running around the bases the right way. It made me appreciate this game so much more and brought me back to why I began playing in the first place. It's those little things that we forget the smell of a new glove or freshly cut grass, getting your uniform for the season and putting on your new hat. Having people cheer for you when you get up at bat and the feeling you get when you hit the ball square off your bat. What made all that much sweeter was watching and coaching Aiden.

Since the day he was born I was hoping and waiting for the day that you would play baseball. I always said that if you didn't play or try to play that I wouldn't be disappointment (which I know now is a lie) but luckily I never had to worry about that because your first word other then ma ma and da da was baseball. So when you signed up for t-ball this year it was such a proud moment for me and I too couldn't wait for the snow to melt and see how you would like this game that has become so ingrained into my being. We had the typical father son coaching experience. I tried to give you your space and not play favorites (except when it came to taking picture). You didn't always want to listen when I told you how to do something or ran a drill with you, but I would just pass you off to the other coach and you would listen. For the most part you were wonderful. You hated playing defense (like most everyone else) except when you played 1st, which (being a 1st baseman made me ecstatic). Because of this dislike for playing the field it was harder to get you motivated to get in position and to always be paying attention. Yet, for the most part you were exceptional at the games I tried to get you to pay attention and when you were in the dugout I tried to get you to sit and not fool around like the other kids. For the most part you exceeded my expectations except for when there was a bee in the dugout, then you all were like screaming banshees. You were a really good hitter and hit like the veterans on the team. When it came to transitioning from the tee to live pitching you didn’t miss a beat and you usually got at least one hit being pitched to in your three at bats. I was very proud of you and I can’t wait to watch you grow as a baseball player. I hope that you might find baseball to be the outlet it’s been in my life, but if not I just hope you enjoy the years you play.

I have to thank the whole team for renewing my spirit to keep coaching, You made me see how simple things like hitting a pitch or throwing a ball to first and making a play or that elusive pop fly. It culminated in our last game of the year. You all played at your best not one of you fought after a ball, we made like four or five outs and even caught a pop fly. As far as hitting everyone was also on the top of there game. Aiden, had his first game where he hit off the pitcher all three at bats, and Rose (a cute as a button girl who always wore two pink batting gloves and so sweet) who struggled to hit off live pitching (so much so that her mom bet her $5 dollars if she got a hit and I actually felt sorry for her) finally managed to get a hit off the coach. In fact all the kids got at least one hit off live pitching and I was so excited for each one of them. I think I might have been even more excited then they were. It just felt good to get back to the basics and fundamentals of the game and seeing the excitement and joy of making a good play or getting that first hit just gave me a renewed spirit and I have to thank Yankee Propane T-Ball Team to thank for that.

So I’ve been coaching in some capacity or another for seven years now and it wasn’t till this year that I can say it was a pleasure each and every time I came to the ball field. Each year is different but at this level there’s usually some constants: The kids are going to lose there attention at some point and you usually have one or two unruly kids that usually lead to chaos and a total team breakdown. You try to keep them motivated but when you have ten kids wanting to only hit and not much interest in fielding. Or when they are on the field all the kids wanting to play positions where they get the ball its hard to find ways to keep everyone motivated to focus on what they are suppose to be doing. Yet this year was an exception each and every kid for the most part came to the field ready to play ball and actually took little coaxing to focus on their particular jobs. I couldn’t believe how easy my job was this year and what a pleasure it was to focus on the fundamentals because my usual job of trying to coach while baby sitting was nonexistent this season. To top this my sister in-law Andrea decided to coach as well as long as I was the assistant coach so I was excited to have her there. The reason she decided to coach was because Kevin her youngest was so excited about playing that he started practicing weeks before with his two brothers. Her initial reservations of him being to young and not completely ready for playing on a team were quickly vanquished by his excitement and determination. So with having my nephew, and sister it was just bitter sweet because It was also Aiden’s last year of T-Ball.

We started the season with only one practice before our first game and we thought we would have our work cutout for us. We were a young team we had two four year olds (Maeve Conlon and Kevin Cushing) and one player (Okan Isik) that never played before. Yet after the first game we realized we had something pretty special in this team. My initial concern was having Izzy (Sarki), Kevin & Aiden on the same team. Izzy & Kevin were really close friends and Aiden & Kevin are partners in crime with my son leading the charge. So I was concerned having them three together that they would become disruptive and cause problems with the entire team. Yet, I have to say other then Aiden having to be talked to periodically to focus on baseball and not on Ironman and Transformers the fact that they were so close was not an issue.

Our other concern was Maeve “Peanut” Conlon . She was this little bit of thing that didn’t speak til the last game (even though according to her mom talks a mile a minute at home) and I actually think that most of our bats were bigger than her. She was very timid and I was afraid she would not be mature enough to handle T-Ball or didn’t have the skill and could get hurt. Surprisingly her timidness was not an issue she was the cutest thing and listened to all my instruction and tried really hard each and every game. I made her season early on as I took a special interest in giving her extra attention and help and when I discovered she couldn’t hold up any of the bats I gave her a wooden bat that was extra small and Aiden was to big for. She had such a smile on her face that it made me think of my sister and her love of baseball and how much I missed her. She did have difficulty in the field but all and all she tried really hard and was so cute to watch play. She also made this face (her Angry Face) when I wanted her to focus and I knew she was ready to hit. When we started to pitch to everyone we weren’t sure Maeve was ready for that, but after the second time doing this we decided to give her a shot, at first she had a tough time but by the end of the season she had hit twice being pitched to. The funny thing about this is that the first time she got a hit being pitched to I was so excited and let out such a yell that I actually scared her.

The other little one my Nephew Kevin played the entire season like a veteran. He was super excited to play baseball like his older brothers and cousin Aiden. He originally wanted to coach the team do his vast experience telling his brothers what to do, but like a month before signups he started practicing and showed a definite interest in playing, so with a little apprehension Andrea let him play. Yet to are surprised he had a decent arm, played first and actually caught some of the throws to him (grounders mind you but even thats a huge accomplishment) and hit the ball really good. He did at times play the tired card when he didn’t feel like doing something, but a quick reminder that if you wanted to be on the team you had to do things for the team he was back on track and didn’t have to be spoken to again. I think my favorite moment with him was the last inning of the season. Andrea had informed me near the last game that Kevin had begun practicing being a catcher (trying to be like his brothers Matthew and Stephen who are both catchers). I suggested that he actually catch the last inning of the season. We usually don’t have a catcher in T-ball so I thought that doing it the last inning would serve two purposes: 1.) It wouldn’t hold up the other team. 2.) Being the last inning of the season no other players could complain or pester us about wanting to catch like Kevin. I also thought and told Andrea that’s she’s the coach if she wants her son to catch she lets her son catch. I thought she decided to pass on my suggestion, but come the last inning of the last game Kevin came out decked in full catchers gear he looked so adorable and proceeded to get behind the plate in a semi crouch. He was actually really good knocking balls down and even managing to catch a few. Some of the player complained (including my son Aiden) but being it was the last inning it went over with little objection or complaining.

Then there was Aiden, this season was particularly exciting for me because this year he was the veteran rather than the rookie. I stressed upon him the idea that he was the leader because he was older and had to set an example. He didn’t always stick to that idea, but I was super proud of him this year considering the distraction he had with Kevin being on the team. I do have to say he never had to get be told to be in the ready position He always was in that position (not always paying attention mind you) when we were in the field whether he was playing 3B or 1B he was always ready to get the ball. His hitting was exceptional this year he killed the ball every at bat. When being pitched to I think he only had two games where he had to use a tee because he didn’t hit it in in the alloted three pitches. He even hit into the outfield on a couple of occasions and on his last at bat of the season he almost killed the pitcher (me his father) with a line drive that whizzed by his head. It was also tough for me that last at bat. I usually don’t get over emotional about him growing up and not being little ( I know that its part of the deal and that’s why I try to make the most of every single moment I have with him) but on his last at bat when he got into the batters box and did his little focus dance (which I also explained is now his routine each time up) that this was his last at bat at the T-Ball level and next year he would be a Rookie got me a little choked up. So it was bitter sweet when he almost took my headoff with a line drive, to kind of bring me back to reality. I even made sure that I went over to him and congratulated him and we gave our patented Aiden Power fist bump.

These are few of the many memories of this amazing season and I have many many more that I could go on and on. but I’ll wrap this up with one final highlight. I think it was are 6th game. and I was pitching to our team Izzy Sarki came up to bat. I think it was the first pitch but he hit a line drive and drilled me right in the head. Luckily I wasn’t hurt but everyone had a good laugh after seeing I was O.K. I even made light of it as on his next at bat as he got into the batters box I went and got a batting helmet and wore his entire at bat which he thought was funny. I was trully honored to be an assistant coach for this team and I don't think I'll see a team that was so well behaved and cohesively a team and where there to play baseball for a long time to come.