No Turning Back

No Turning Back
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

What defines the summer ,more than anything else, to Michael and Alex is the pool; it opens in at the beginning, closes at the end and they are always there for both. When they think back ,they will remember the blue water surrounded by the green trees; they will remember the snocones and hotdogs, but most of all they will remember all the times they jumped in the pool, recklessly and especially the times they did it with their brother.
R.A.Patton (6.16.2006)

Lead Off Hit

Lead Off Hit
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael has been hitting surprising well lately. 3 games ago he hit a deep out field fly ball. Deep. He did the same thing in the last game (although I missed it because I was with the Cubbies). Tonight he did not hit an outfield fly, but still had two impressive hits. In the shot you see on the other side he was the lead off batter in the game; this was the first pitch in the game, he swings and boom! A solid hit right up the middle. Not dribbling on the ground, or limping to the outfield, this puppy sailed at eye level just hard enough so that no one would catch it.
RAPatton (6.15.2006)

Lead Off Hit

Lead Off Hit
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael has been hitting surprising well lately. 3 games ago he hit a deep out field fly ball. Deep. He did the same thing in the last game (although I missed it because I was with the Cubbies). Tonight he did not hit an outfield fly, but still had two impressive hits. In the shot you see on the other side he was the lead off batter in the game; this was the first pitch in the game, he swings and boom! A solid hit right up the middle. Not dribbling on the ground, or limping to the outfield, this puppy sailed at eye level just hard enough so that no one would catch it.
RAPatton (6.15.2006)

I may not be able to teach your kid to catch, but I am organized!

Focus
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

These have been busy days. We had two games scheduled on Saturday and Sunday plus another on Monday. It felt like it was all baseball, all the time! One thing that is kinda of funny about coaching Alex's team is all the parents seem to love me. It seems like they all appreciate me making their kids run; I guess they are not told that enough. Plus, when we are up to bat, there is no wasted time. Our bench is a machine! No one goes through a batting order like we do. I may not be able to teach your kid to catch, but I am organized!
RAP (6.14.2006)

Number One Fan

Number One Fan
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

With most kids after a game you would talk about how well the hit or fielded, but with Alex I am most impressed with his leadership. He and his friend, Matthew, had the entire Cubs bench chanting for their current player at bat. Now that is team solidarity unlike I have ever seen.

It started a few games ago here and there, but last week a team copied us and for the last 2 games it has been for about 80% of our at bats. The two kids that start it, the ones you can hear the most are Alex and Matthew. The other kids don't always follow, but most of the time they do.
RAP (6.07.2006)

Game of his Career

Happy Boy, up close
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael had his best game ever on Saturday. He went 4 for 5 and had the best two hits of his career. His first hit sailed about 5 feet over the short stop's head. It was the single best hit he had ever had... until his next at bat. His next hit was a deep fly ball to right field; he has never hit a shot like that in a game so he was very excited.

On top of his fine performance at the plate, he also fielded very well when was at pitcher and first. In both cases he accounted for 2 of the 3 outs those innings. It was a very special game, the likes that most likely won't be repeated any time soon, but who knows? Maybe this is the start of something. At the very least Michael had fun doing it!
RAP (6.05.2006)

Yee Ha!

YeeHa
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

A return to the pool implies a return to the diving board for our little daredevil. As usual Michael attacked it with glee. Initially Alex wanted to go off the diving board, but once out there backed off in fear. He has done it in the past and clearly some part of him wanted to do it, so I was going to make him do it.

It took several attempts lots of tears and about 45 minutes, but eventually Alex forsake the hard way and chose the easy way. Afterwards he said it was easy, but that does not matter. Alex has a tendency to be dominated by fear and we must work that out and teach him to be in control of himself.
RAP (6.01.2006)