Play Ball!

Jackson's 3rd baseball season has begun! Our team, the Round Rock Express, played their first game yesterday. Most of these boys have been together for the last year and it's great to see some familiar faces again. More than half of the team goes to Jackson's school, so he's lucky to be playing with some of his best friends.


Jackson has really gotten fired up about baseball recently so we've been playing catch in the yard almost every day, and we usually visit the batting cages over the weekend. He is really improving!

Jacks started off the game playing 3rd base.


When Jackson got his turn at bat, he was ready. We'd visited the batting cages that morning, so he was warmed up and feeling good.



For those wondering: yes, that's the magic bat. The 2nd bat we have bought for him this season, because we purchased a new one to better fit him after his 2nd grade growth spurt, but then our league changed its rules to allow the use of "big barrel" bats (wider at end so supposedly a better chance of hitting the ball). And these BB bats are NOT cheap. For the size he needs, since he's so big...we're talking $250-$300. For an 8 yr-old. To play a GAME. Seriously? Anyway, we lucked into one on sale and we had a coupon...but still, we are going to take VERY good care of that bat. Oy.


Now a word about Jackson's previous batting success. In his first season, he got ONE hit in the very last game but got out before he got to first. Last season, he again waited until the last game to show us what he could do, getting 2 hits in that game but never making it past first. (And, the joke is on me because before that last game, I said to him, "Jacks, I'll give you $20 if you get a hit," going for the last kind of motivation we hadn't yet tried but never dreaming it would work. Well, it DID...and I owed him $40 after that game. LOL)


Well, the first pitch was a strike. But on the 2nd one, he got a good, solid hit and took off running! (He's #26...his choice, since his birthday is 6/26.)


He got to first and then the first baseman didn't catch the ball, so Jacks was told to keep on going!


He made it to 2nd!


Then unfortunately, the next 2 batters struck out (we already had one out). But we're so proud of him for the great hit and getting as far as he did!

Later in the game, Jacks got a chance to play catcher.


And he played a bit of outfield behind first base, too.


The boys didn't win, but they played great and it should be a fun season. Go Express!