T-ball!

We signed Owen up for a t-ball class. It's only a class, so we don't have games or uniforms or anything. Owen's friend Tyler is also in the class. Tyler is VERY sports oriented. He is always in 'ready' position, knows how to run the bases (and when to stop), catch using his glove and throw using his bare hand. Owen....not so much.

We all know Owen is active and has an extraordinary amount of energy, but harnessing that energy into something productive, is a whole other story. Obviously, I wasn't sure how this t-ball thing was going to go.

First it must be said that these two guys running this class for twenty 3-5 year olds are the bravest men I've ever met. They are patient and funny and observant and totally there for the kids. They're wonderful.

It's a good thing, because Owen had to be redirected several hundred times. He likes to drag his feet in the dirt to make "smoke". Apparently not a skill they need in baseball. He likes to run the bases....around and around and around the bases. Stopping is stupid. When a kid hits the ball the "fielders" are all supposed to go get the ball. The bigger kids usually got there first, but that didn't stop Owen from wrestling for it until he had to be pulled off by one of the coaches. Every. Single. Time.

When the class wrapping up, Owen was crying that he never got the ball. While he was crying, the rest of the group did a "hands in the middle huddle". Owen missed this and then REALLY started to cry. So the coaches did a huddle with just Owen. Then he didn't want the coaches to leave. More tears. The coaches got in their car. More tears. Owen sat there and screamed "baseball, baseball, baseball" until I said I was leaving. We left and he was fine.

So I guess likes it. I'm not sure. We'll see!


Here he is getting ready to "field" the ball:
Not in "ready" position:

Getting a little direction from the coach:

Look closely, you can see Owen squeezing his way onto the base:
A little video of Owen batting (and then going after the ball):

And on base: