Opening Night

Two down, sixty-one to go.
That's how many baseball games I entered into our family calendar a couple of weeks ago.
Essie's playing this year, so that makes three teams we get to cheer on.

I think we can get to all 63 games as long as our coaches don't schedule any practices.

So last night was opening night. As it happened, both Bran and Hud threw the first pitches in the opening games for their respective teams. And as it also happened, both games started at the exact same time.

Daboo and I started off at Hudson's game, because he had informed me the night before that I'd seen Branson pitch plenty of times. Not having played fall ball, this was his first kid-pitch game ever.

A new era for us with this one on the mound

Man, those pants are white

Cappy and Corbin watched Bran's team during warm ups and then for the first inning or so. Pretty soon we started zigzagging fields and crossing paths, trying to catch both our boys with any hint of action.

Bran in his windup

The socks produced instant team camaraderie

At one point I called Corbin to check on Bran's game.
"He's walking up to bat."
"So is Hud!"
"Ok, he's got a full count."
"So does Hud!
Pause. "Struck out."
Pause. "So did Hud."

Both teams did fine, one win and one loss, but the best part is that it's over. The first game, the first time on the field as a newly-organized team, and an opportunity to get the jitters out.

Essie is a Phillie this Spring, and she's not about to be outdone by her older brothers. She's SERIOUS. And she's got us seriously grinning from ear to ear.