Baseball REALLY teaches life lessons.

So here's my Zachary.  Number 7.  He's been playing ball since I can even remember.  We tried having him play with Legos, trains, and trucks.  He would play with them for a minute, but would then try to find a ball.  He and Tom started playing catch with each other as early as when he was 3 years old.  When Matt was old enough, the two of them played ball together.  It didn't even matter if it was a baseball, basketball, soccer ball, or football.

He was so excited to start playing T-ball at age 5.  That is when we first met the Liotts.  (Anthony and Zach have been teammates and coach Liott has been Zach's coach since T-ball!)  Then it was on to Coach Pitch.  Finally, at age8 he was able to try out and made the 8 year old Travel Team.  He was pitcher and first baseman and was nominated, along with Dylan Simerson, to the All-Star Team.  He was dog-piled after he pitched the final play in the Bensalem Tournament.

The next year Zach was placed in Center field when the coaches saw he could throw from center field to home!  He was moved to 7th in the line up. The team steadily improved and friendships/camaraderie strengthened.  They won the Upper Morelend Tournament and played in the championship game of the Aston-Middletown Tournament.

This year was a bit of a different story for Zach.  For the first time in his life/career (I know that seems a bit silly for a 10 year old) he struggled.  He struggled at the plate.  He just couldn't hit the ball!  He was placed in the A/B hitting rotation, which meant he only had 1-2 times at bat.  It also meant he wasn't able to play the outfield, which is where he really shines.

His struggle became our struggle.  His heartache became our heartache.  We talked and talked and talked with him about what was going on in his head.  We just didn't understand.  Then one day he came to us and told us he didn't want to play baseball anymore!  That came as a complete shock to us.  How could he want to give up on something that had meant so much to him?  That's when Tom and I decided this was a great opportunity to teach Zach some life lessons.  We were going to let him learn that baseball really can teach you life lessons.

Life is HARD!  We all have to do HARD things.  Life in NOT about quitting when it gets HARD.  Zach excels in math.  We asked him when high school math becomes a bit challenging, what is he going to do?  Is he going to work hard and study or just give up?  His response: "Math will never be hard"!  We presented  more scenarios like hardships in jobs, college, mission, marriage, etc.  Nothing was getting through with this kid.  We talked with his coaches, we had him practicing with teammates who volunteered to pitch to him.  Matt pitched to him.  I pitched to him.  We were willing to do anything to help him.  We were willing to do anything to get his mental game back on track.

I just wasn't about his swing.  It was about his confidence and fears.  He had to lose the fear of being hit by the ball (which he says was his biggest fear) and gain the confidence in knowing he could really hit the ball!  Simple, right?  I wish!  Before District games started, I took Zach and his friend, Bradan, to the batting cages. (An air-conditioned batting cage was something they could do without breaking team rules!)  He struggled for a bit and then his friend mentioned to him not to "step out".  He listened to his friend and WHAM, hit the ball!  He then hit it again and again and again.  The change on his face was relief, glee, and joy!  He knew he had it back.

And he had it back.  He went on to have a hit in every District game.  He was proving his way back into the line up.  He made some great plays both at the plate and in the out field.  So after it was all said and done we talked with Zach about the lessons he learned this season.  He was finally able to see how prayer, hard work, persistence, practice, practice, and practice pay off.  And that's what baseball is able to teach a 10 year old.  Prayer, hard work, persistence, and practice pay off no matter what the trial may be.  I hope Zach can always look back and remember this life lesson.  

But what would a blog post about Zach's season be without a few pictures?

Zach and his teammates celebrating after a Travel win!

Zach with his good friend, Lucas.

Boys will be boys!

Zach getting instruction from 1st base coach, Coach Johnston.

Zach doing what he does best: throwing from center to home!

The gang enjoying hot dogs after a game!  

Great job, Zach.  We are so proud of all your struggles and successes.  We hope you can read this someday and remember the lessons this baseball season has taught you.  We hope you can use these lessons learned in your life always.  We also want you to know we will always support you in any struggle you may have.  We love you and see your great potential in life.  

P.S. This message is also for Matthew, Allison and Sara.