WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

A little Story about a Father/Son relationship and baseball.

Dirtbag

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,274
Reaction score
5,146
Some of you may know but i was fortunate enough to get a chance to pitch in the big leagues. I got my cup of coffee and spilled it all over me. About 14 years ago i was given the opportunity to run my own baseball facility and travel teams thanks to a great family who also loved baseball. I spent days and nights in the facility and the field. Weekends traveling all over with our teams. I had no time for my own family let alone my son. I had a daughter who was kicking butt at Volleyball and my son who was trying different sports. He played little league. Tee ball, coach pitch, single a, double a. I had a beautiful facility but my son never wanted to come hang out and hit. He had the opportunity to hang out with high school players, college players, pro guys, and quite a few big leaguers. I couldnt understand it. He never wanted to come hit. I went to as many of his games as i could and watched from the outfield and he showed some glimpses of getting it but wasnt really good. I just loved seeing him on the field.
I played major division little league as a 9 year old. Yep i was good. So i figured my son should be somewhere close right? I went to his first tryout. This is where they told you you made Majors or AAA. I sat on the hill and watched my son tryout. I could not believe how bad he was. Missed flyballs by yards not feet. Infield was god awful. he showed a decent arm. And then hitting. I was so embarrassed. I could not believe this was the son of a "big leaguer." I couldnt believe this was my son....I cried. I cried because I put him in a situation to fail. we get the phone call a few days later and they said he needs to go back to AA. I agreed 100%. I felt so ashamed.
I go out and buy some training tools for the house. and start talking to him more about baseball. He's a nerd so he was enamored by some of the mental stuff I was showing him. Told him its ok to fail. Its all about learning. lets get 1% better everyday. So goes his second AA season and I tried to get involved but the coaches didnt think i could bring anything to the table. Shocked again. I go and watch as many games as i can to get a feel for the league. Saw so many areas of improvement for the league I decided to join the board. This was just after COVID came along and basically ruined everyone's lives. Not mine.
Covid takes a toll on my business. Covid puts me out of business and I am left with nothing but time. My son is now 9 turning 10. They wont let me help coach in little league so I call up my travel ball buddy say hey i need a team for my son. hes 9. Lets start one. HWG. hook up with a cop guy and his adopted son he tells me all about his coaching experience and how he wants to run things. I said listen. I dont care about games. I dont care about wins and losses. I care about teaching fundamental and showing these kids the right way to play the game. How to play catch. How to take ground balls. and the WHY of everything we do. We start with a good group of kids who just want to play and learn. We get beat up some we win some overall i think our first season was a losing season but the kids got infinitely better. But the time spent with my son at both the yard and in the car was priceless. Not only was I meeting my son and learning about him but he was engaging and learning about me. in the matter of months my son went from horrible to good. I couldnt believe the leaps and bounds he made. I was having so much fun being on the field for the first time with him. I was loving being able to teach my kid for the first time. I didnt have 150 other kids to worrry about. I finally had time for my son.
So now I got this new toy. A kid that everyone in little league knows is terrible. But none of them saw how hard he worked. So tryouts last year as a ten year old. I couldnt wait. Im on the board now so i am helping at tryouts. My son goes to the outfield tracks the fly balls throws rockets to the catcher. Comes to the infield where he has just improved leaps and bounds and blows everyone away. He was easily the top 10 of tryout participants for Majors AAA division as a 10 year old. Then he comes to hit. Im like hes gonna bang balls off the wall this is gonna be great. He swings and misses at every single pitch........Talk about shock. HAHA anyhow he gets picked to play Majors skipping AAA and I am so pumped for him. He has a soso year in Little league. He hated little league practices cause they were so boring and told me dad " i only want to goto your practices. You make us better." Dont worry son. Use the extra practices outside travel ball for extra reps. You need to see as many groundballs flyballs and pitches as possible because I failed you. I didnt teach you these last 10 years. Trust me now.
This years little league tryouts, I didnt want to coach him here cause i was spending time with our other team and wanted to sit back and just watch him play, he was dominant. Easily one of the top 3 at tryouts as an 11 year old. This season he did ok by our standards. But with me in travel ball he is excelling. He gets better daily. And the bad days he learns so much. I am so pumped for the kid. He hit his first homer a month ago and has been smashing balls ever since. Today he goes 6/7 2 homers 2 doubles and 9 rbis. Has the day of his life. I got to watch it all. Grand ma and grandpa got to see it all. I saw it with my own two eyes. Covid was the best thing to ever happen to me and my son. We spend so much time together now. We talk baseball nonstop. Hes turning into a baseball rat and I love it. Driving to practice we talk about our goals, coming home from practice we talk about our progress towards those goals, and after games we evaluate. Sometimes its bad. My expectations of him are through the roof and he knows it. I always talk about the wrong things we did but always remember to build him back up with the positives. Today was a great day. Baseball is great. Baseball is such a great teacher for life skills. Baseball gave me a whole new perspective on being a dad.
Dont forget to spend time with your kids. They are so much more important than any job. I am so thankful for covid. I am so thankful for my wife. My daughter is amazing doing her thing playing volleyball and premed at a school back east. But I am so thankful my son didnt give up on his dad. For almost ten years I put other kids and parents and business before him. Never ever will i do something so stupid like that again.....heres a link to my lil mans first home run a month ago to the 2 he hit today making it 5 on the year so far.

 

monkeyswrench

To The Rescue!
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
29,119
Reaction score
82,736
Damn...I sucked as a baseball player. Pops coached, 82, 83 and started 84. He had to split for work. Damn, 40 years, and I can still remember riding to practice in his work truck, and playing catch in the yard.

Memories are the strongest things we have. They'll last longer than our strengths and skills we may or may not pass on to our own kids. Even if they don't share the same strengths, both parent and child will share the memory.
 

Not So Fast

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
1,377
Reaction score
2,040
I had 3 sons in BB, 2 were twins and an older brother back in early 90's, spent 8 yrs coaching them and the twins excelled whilst the older buy was decent, had a great mind for the game, still does.
The twins were really very good and boy did it help having 2 that could pitch. anyways we won the Lake Forest Little League title as 12 years old plus the District 55 City Championship, we went undefeated for about 26 games or so total.
Then as 14 year olds we won the league that year also. Best times of my life or close to it, I was tough on the team but had palyers tell me later that I was their best coach ever, including thier El Toro High School baseball coaches, they went on to win the South Coast title that year and its a tough league !!!
Then they went to Santiago College and became frustrated with all of the shenagians and political crap pulled as you get in older competion. But all in all we had great times and all grew into fine young men, so it was worth it
Moral of the stroy " Get involved with your kids cause the road becomes tough as you age"
NSF
 

rivermobster

Club Banned
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
59,401
Reaction score
59,839
Congrats dad, great story!!! Lots of good times ahead for you both.

Both my son and daughter played baseball (my daughter played hardball with the boys) and they were both pretty good at it!

But, neither of them cared for it to too much.

We tried everything. Music, sports, you name it, we tried it. Nothing stuck until martial arts.

To me, there is nothing better than hanging out with your kids.

You are definitely on the right track.

👍🏼
 

Wheeler

I'm just here to bitch about others negativity.😁
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
24,921
Reaction score
39,176
Congrats dad, great story!!! Lots of good times ahead for you both.

Both my son and daughter played baseball (my daughter played hardball with the boys) and they were both pretty good at it!

But, neither of them cared for it to too much.

We tried everything. Music, sports, you name it, we tried it. Nothing stuck until martial arts.

To me, there is nothing better than hanging out with your kids.

You are definitely on the right track.

👍🏼
Nice story!

I miss Placentia and the tri city area. :)

20230501_073837.jpg
 

BHC Vic

cobra performance boats
Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
25,656
Reaction score
20,214
Pretty similar story for me. I still work 60 hours a week but I’m on a field 15-20+ hours a week. I manage my 9 year old, coach my 7 and 4 year old. I sit on the board and I’m the UIC. I sleep about 5 hours a night but I get a feeling I can’t describe and I sleep well. I do it for my boys but also for all the kids in the league. I feel like all 315 kids are mine and I want to see all of them succeed. Snowed at our umpire training at western regional. District 72’s finest. Believe it or not I’m a decent umpire 😂
IMG_6961.jpeg
20230225_084114.jpeg
 

skifaster

Hard Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
908
Reaction score
422
Pretty similar story for me. I still work 60 hours a week but I’m on a field 15-20+ hours a week. I manage my 9 year old, coach my 7 and 4 year old. I sit on the board and I’m the UIC. I sleep about 5 hours a night but I get a feeling I can’t describe and I sleep well. I do it for my boys but also for all the kids in the league. I feel like all 315 kids are mine and I want to see all of them succeed. Snowed at our umpire training at western regional. District 72’s finest. Believe it or not I’m a decent umpire 😂 View attachment 1225125 View attachment 1225126
@BHC Vic Small world, after reading this and seeing your pictures, pretty sure you were the umpire for my Sons game at Norco last week. We all said You were the best umpire we had all year. My Son is on the Corona Angels. Congrats to You on being so involved and supportive of your kids and the league.
 

jetboatperformance

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
8,537
Reaction score
18,621
Good Job Dad... I'm proud to say I worked hard at nurturing my Son from an early age , He's now a grown man and a responsible hard working family man , he's a HS level educated but self taught amazing machinist and the heart and sole of our business . I remember barking at him as a little kid then I realized I was like my Old man ... That had to change and it did .... He takes good care of me :cool:
 

Motor Boater

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2007
Messages
4,413
Reaction score
3,845
We are deep into club ball. Had 6 games this weekend between my 2 boys. It’s a big time commitment but We love it. There is nothing I would rather do more than watch my kids play baseball. Watching them get better and succeed is amazing.
 

Albert

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2018
Messages
3,497
Reaction score
9,692
Wow what a great story . I got teary eyed reading it. Time is precious . Im fortune to have lots of it and I spend every minute I can with my kids. Glad I read this and congrats on his success and yours as a dad.
 

BHC Vic

cobra performance boats
Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
25,656
Reaction score
20,214
@BHC Vic Small world, after reading this and seeing your pictures, pretty sure you were the umpire for my Sons game at Norco last week. We all said You were the best umpire we had all year. My Son is on the Corona Angels. Congrats to You on being so involved and supportive of your kids and the league.
Wow small world, yes that was me. I manage the Braves so we play you guys again. My team is really young. I brought up a bunch of kids from AA but I’m hoping by majors we’ll be a really good team. Corona has some tough teams this year. I love umpiring but the parents have made it real hard this year. Jr umpires are quitting left and right on me. I’m having to pick up the slack but I’m still having a good time. My boys love watching me umpire too so that helps. Plus as dumb as it sounds I think my wife digs me in my gear 😂😂😂

And thank you for the compliment. I do try hard so I appreciate it
 
Last edited:

FCT

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2017
Messages
1,674
Reaction score
4,347
Awesome! Spending time with our kids for me is the best thing in life. My five year old is in Tee Ball and I help the coaching. I have never played baseball a day in my life and don’t know a damn thing about it but luckily, you don’t have to know very much to help kids in tee ball and they don’t know they can probably play better than me already🤣 the only thing that matters to them is me being there, and that definitely will never change.

On another note, there are so many parents that show up, but do not interact with their kids at all. It is kind of sad to see. They literally sit on their phones and don’t even watch 🤬
 

BHC Vic

cobra performance boats
Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
25,656
Reaction score
20,214
Kind of touching on the wife part and my kids. It’s no secret you guys have told me for years my priorities were mixed up. They were. I can’t say I’d be where I’m at now if I hadn’t put in the time I did, but now I’m making up for it. My wife and I write love letters to each other once a month or so. We both work and baseball and we don’t have a lot of time to just talk. Our love life is better than it’s ever been but that’s where the love letters come into play. Think like notes in highschool. Her last love note said she loves how much time I spend with the boys and how good I am with all the kids. She’s over heard parents talking about me and she’s really really proud of me. She said she knows I’m exhausted but every morning at 330 when the bell goes off I’m up and out the door and she knows by baseballs practice or game I’ll have my second wind. I’ve finally found a pretty decent balance. My kids are always excited to go play ball and it’s so cool when I get home and there they are asking if we can get their soft toss in and asking if I’m umpiring and if they can come watch. Baseball is literally life right now
 

hallett21

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2010
Messages
18,303
Reaction score
23,451
It was hockey for my brother and I. But our dad was there at 99% of the games, practices and at home watching us practice.

Your kids will remember that forever. 👍🏻👍🏻
 

Wheeler

I'm just here to bitch about others negativity.😁
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
24,921
Reaction score
39,176
Wheeler you were with the mustangs??? Todd rogers and i go way back. Thats who my son is playing for!
I picked up the wind breaker from a friend and gave it to the girlfriend to wear to the Mustang car club outings. It's been hanging in the closet for years in a garment bag, it's too nice to throw away I figure I'd give it to someone from Placentia someday.
 

skifaster

Hard Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
908
Reaction score
422
I'll share a Father/Son story as well. I'm one of the Coach's on my 10 year olds team. On Friday night, my Dad passed away at 10:40PM at his house. We were all there with him in his house, my kids were sleeping.
My Son had a game at 9AM the next morning. If he didn't show, the team would forfeit as we were already down 2 players and my son was scheduled to Pitch. He didn't want to let his team down so we went.
I told him before the game that he will probably remember this game for the rest of his life. While I was worried that would put extra pressure on him, and certainly wasn't my intent, I wanted him to know that this is an opportunity for a great memory. I told him to just give it his absolute best and not worry about the results. That is all his Papa would want. He pitched 3 great innings to help his team win. Good aggressive at bats, scored a couple runs, and ended up getting the "Bling" (team's version of the game ball handed out after each game). Emotions caught up with him with everything on his mind and he was in tears. Very proud moment for our family and I know my Dad would've been so proud of as well.
 

rivermobster

Club Banned
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
59,401
Reaction score
59,839
I'll share a Father/Son story as well. I'm one of the Coach's on my 10 year olds team. On Friday night, my Dad passed away at 10:40PM at his house. We were all there with him in his house, my kids were sleeping.
My Son had a game at 9AM the next morning. If he didn't show, the team would forfeit as we were already down 2 players and my son was scheduled to Pitch. He didn't want to let his team down so we went.
I told him before the game that he will probably remember this game for the rest of his life. While I was worried that would put extra pressure on him, and certainly wasn't my intent, I wanted him to know that this is an opportunity for a great memory. I told him to just give it his absolute best and not worry about the results. That is all his Papa would want. He pitched 3 great innings to help his team win. Good aggressive at bats, scored a couple runs, and ended up getting the "Bling" (team's version of the game ball handed out after each game). Emotions caught up with him with everything on his mind and he was in tears. Very proud moment for our family and I know my Dad would've been so proud of as well.

❣️🥹❣️
 

Ziggy

SlumLord
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
40,204
Reaction score
45,825
Sports and our children is so important to be involved with or at minimum there to watch & support. Teaching them etiquette and sportmanship.
I've also witnessed "that" parent who is desperately living vicariously through their kid. Not encouraging them but rather berating them....yelling at refs, coaches & everyone around them.
Neighbor of ours had two boys, both talanted baseballers, the younger one an exceptional player. The parents pushed them so hard(not in a harsh way) neither ended up playing beyond High School, fullride scholarships sitting on their dining table. 100% burnout.
.
So, it's super uplifting to read @Dirtbag 's post about how his relationship with his boy has exponentially improved with all the quality time he's put into it. That part is way more successful than the Homers he's hit, albeit, those do add some icing😎😁
 

satellitemike

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
5,210
Reaction score
7,688
Way to to all the dads that put in the time for the kids!
I coached my son for about 6 years and I do miss it but when it was finally over it was kinda nice to get my weekends back, LOL.
 

HB2LHC

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 7, 2013
Messages
386
Reaction score
283
Thanks for sharing. My boy plays 9u travel ball and baseball is life. I always tell him to make sure to have fun and its ok to make mistakes and learn from them. I always do my best to make sure I play catch with him as much as I can. To this day my dad still ask me to play catch with him. He said coaching me in baseball were some of the best memories he has.


GetAttachmentThumbnail
 

BHC Vic

cobra performance boats
Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
25,656
Reaction score
20,214
Thanks for sharing. My boy plays 9u travel ball and baseball is life. I always tell him to make sure to have fun and its ok to make mistakes and learn from them. I always do my best to make sure I play catch with him as much as I can. To this day my dad still ask me to play catch with him. He said coaching me in baseball were some of the best memories he has.


GetAttachmentThumbnail
Small world again. My buddy johnnys son Nate is on that team. Think he hit a homerun yesterday. Kid is a stud
 

HBCraig

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
9,412
Reaction score
12,619
Some of you may know but i was fortunate enough to get a chance to pitch in the big leagues. I got my cup of coffee and spilled it all over me. About 14 years ago i was given the opportunity to run my own baseball facility and travel teams thanks to a great family who also loved baseball. I spent days and nights in the facility and the field. Weekends traveling all over with our teams. I had no time for my own family let alone my son. I had a daughter who was kicking butt at Volleyball and my son who was trying different sports. He played little league. Tee ball, coach pitch, single a, double a. I had a beautiful facility but my son never wanted to come hang out and hit. He had the opportunity to hang out with high school players, college players, pro guys, and quite a few big leaguers. I couldnt understand it. He never wanted to come hit. I went to as many of his games as i could and watched from the outfield and he showed some glimpses of getting it but wasnt really good. I just loved seeing him on the field.
I played major division little league as a 9 year old. Yep i was good. So i figured my son should be somewhere close right? I went to his first tryout. This is where they told you you made Majors or AAA. I sat on the hill and watched my son tryout. I could not believe how bad he was. Missed flyballs by yards not feet. Infield was god awful. he showed a decent arm. And then hitting. I was so embarrassed. I could not believe this was the son of a "big leaguer." I couldnt believe this was my son....I cried. I cried because I put him in a situation to fail. we get the phone call a few days later and they said he needs to go back to AA. I agreed 100%. I felt so ashamed.
I go out and buy some training tools for the house. and start talking to him more about baseball. He's a nerd so he was enamored by some of the mental stuff I was showing him. Told him its ok to fail. Its all about learning. lets get 1% better everyday. So goes his second AA season and I tried to get involved but the coaches didnt think i could bring anything to the table. Shocked again. I go and watch as many games as i can to get a feel for the league. Saw so many areas of improvement for the league I decided to join the board. This was just after COVID came along and basically ruined everyone's lives. Not mine.
Covid takes a toll on my business. Covid puts me out of business and I am left with nothing but time. My son is now 9 turning 10. They wont let me help coach in little league so I call up my travel ball buddy say hey i need a team for my son. hes 9. Lets start one. HWG. hook up with a cop guy and his adopted son he tells me all about his coaching experience and how he wants to run things. I said listen. I dont care about games. I dont care about wins and losses. I care about teaching fundamental and showing these kids the right way to play the game. How to play catch. How to take ground balls. and the WHY of everything we do. We start with a good group of kids who just want to play and learn. We get beat up some we win some overall i think our first season was a losing season but the kids got infinitely better. But the time spent with my son at both the yard and in the car was priceless. Not only was I meeting my son and learning about him but he was engaging and learning about me. in the matter of months my son went from horrible to good. I couldnt believe the leaps and bounds he made. I was having so much fun being on the field for the first time with him. I was loving being able to teach my kid for the first time. I didnt have 150 other kids to worrry about. I finally had time for my son.
So now I got this new toy. A kid that everyone in little league knows is terrible. But none of them saw how hard he worked. So tryouts last year as a ten year old. I couldnt wait. Im on the board now so i am helping at tryouts. My son goes to the outfield tracks the fly balls throws rockets to the catcher. Comes to the infield where he has just improved leaps and bounds and blows everyone away. He was easily the top 10 of tryout participants for Majors AAA division as a 10 year old. Then he comes to hit. Im like hes gonna bang balls off the wall this is gonna be great. He swings and misses at every single pitch........Talk about shock. HAHA anyhow he gets picked to play Majors skipping AAA and I am so pumped for him. He has a soso year in Little league. He hated little league practices cause they were so boring and told me dad " i only want to goto your practices. You make us better." Dont worry son. Use the extra practices outside travel ball for extra reps. You need to see as many groundballs flyballs and pitches as possible because I failed you. I didnt teach you these last 10 years. Trust me now.
This years little league tryouts, I didnt want to coach him here cause i was spending time with our other team and wanted to sit back and just watch him play, he was dominant. Easily one of the top 3 at tryouts as an 11 year old. This season he did ok by our standards. But with me in travel ball he is excelling. He gets better daily. And the bad days he learns so much. I am so pumped for the kid. He hit his first homer a month ago and has been smashing balls ever since. Today he goes 6/7 2 homers 2 doubles and 9 rbis. Has the day of his life. I got to watch it all. Grand ma and grandpa got to see it all. I saw it with my own two eyes. Covid was the best thing to ever happen to me and my son. We spend so much time together now. We talk baseball nonstop. Hes turning into a baseball rat and I love it. Driving to practice we talk about our goals, coming home from practice we talk about our progress towards those goals, and after games we evaluate. Sometimes its bad. My expectations of him are through the roof and he knows it. I always talk about the wrong things we did but always remember to build him back up with the positives. Today was a great day. Baseball is great. Baseball is such a great teacher for life skills. Baseball gave me a whole new perspective on being a dad.
Dont forget to spend time with your kids. They are so much more important than any job. I am so thankful for covid. I am so thankful for my wife. My daughter is amazing doing her thing playing volleyball and premed at a school back east. But I am so thankful my son didnt give up on his dad. For almost ten years I put other kids and parents and business before him. Never ever will i do something so stupid like that again.....heres a link to my lil mans first home run a month ago to the 2 he hit today making it 5 on the year so far.

Well done dude. Well done
I'm fortunate to have coached both my son and daughter. Daughter is playing D1 softball and the boy will be on a baseball scholarship starting in the fall. I'm blessed.
It's a tough balance as i coached travel ball for them both and it took time away from them as I had to share time. But, I made it work. I never played at your level but did play with the Bluejays and Ranger affiliates but didn't last.
I just didn't trust other coaches to coach my kids so I did.
I am proud though because they are good kids

There's a mixed bag of dads that either complain nonstop about palying time or don't say shit and let them compete.

Keep doing what you do @Dirtbag
I can tell you that no matter how bad things get with your son you will always be able to talk baseball with him. Always.

_ 4-15-23(2).jpg
HB[1] (64).jpg
 
Last edited:

Englewood

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
3,901
Reaction score
6,393
My son currently plays for Wow Factor National 12u...It's a grind...It's Love/Hate for sure. I'm so over parents and drama. I just want to watch my son play baseball.
 

HBCraig

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
9,412
Reaction score
12,619
My son currently plays for Wow Factor National 12u...It's a grind...It's Love/Hate for sure. I'm so over parents and drama. I just want to watch my son play baseball.
Wow Factor is legit. My bad ended his travel ball days with CBA Marucci
 

OldSchoolBoats

No Bad Days
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
16,813
Reaction score
25,274
Awesome story Marcus, love hearing about kids having success and developing as players on the field. Baseball is mentally tough on kids, but ultimately is great for character development. Learning to fail is GOOD!! Seeing his HR's is awesome man and must be so cool for you to see the hard work and time you spent with him, paying off.

Baseball is life over here too with our 8u and 12u travel teams. Heading to Vegas this weekend for a Perfect Game tournament with just my 12u son and I. Wouldn't trade these times for anything else!!

Let's gooooooooooo!!!

20230312_152932.jpg


20230311_212131.jpg


20230310_095820.jpg
 

Dirtbag

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,274
Reaction score
5,146
Awesome story Marcus, love hearing about kids having success and developing as players on the field. Baseball is mentally tough on kids, but ultimately is great for character development. Learning to fail is GOOD!! Seeing his HR's is awesome man and must be so cool for you to see the hard work and time you spent with him, paying off.

Baseball is life over here too with our 8u and 12u travel teams. Heading to Vegas this weekend for a Perfect Game tournament with just my 12u son and I. Wouldn't trade these times for anything else!!

Let's gooooooooooo!!!

View attachment 1225762

View attachment 1225763

View attachment 1225764
so cal bombers have always been a great organization.

Joe its so funny. I coach games from the dugout. I am teaching our dad coaches how to coach on the field. but mostly i want to be in the dugout so i can teach the boys at all times especially after an at bat or something strange happens on defense. the best thing i ever heard happened after my sons second HR last Sunday. We have a great relationship with the boys. We talk a lil shit back and forth to each other just like pro ball haha. One of them lil sons a bitches comes back to the dugout after the HR party and goes," o look Jake, you made yur dad cry again." I laughed so hard. Lil peckerheads.
 

Englewood

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
3,901
Reaction score
6,393
The moments I’ve had w my son and baseball will forever be engrained in my memory.

My son was playing 8u travel ball and hit a walk off home run in the ship. To this day it is one of my favorite pictures of all time. You can see the happiness on his face. Watching him round the bases made me cry.
FE0AF5B0-0D9B-4EF2-8854-AF142FB52978.jpeg


Just prior to that pic, he was in a little stars game (8/9 all stars) and we were down 4 with 2 outs in an elimination game. I told him “Son, I want you to know I’m so proud of you. We are chasing 4 runs right now. I want you to do me a favor. You can’t win the game with your at bat. Go up there and make them remember your name. Show them what you are all about”

He said “I got this Dad”. He one-hopped the left center fence on the first pitch for a double.

If he never goes past 12u baseball, I’m fine with it. Those memories alone make the early mornings and long drives worth it.

3381513F-EF5E-4B7E-804C-124B4347E897.jpeg
 

WildHorses24

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2009
Messages
1,487
Reaction score
1,594
@Dirtbag Great story! You give lessons?! 😃;)
I think my proudest moment was watching my son struggle with epilepsy/seizures during games and coaches passing on him or sitting him. He loved/loves baseball and it broke his heart, finally started playing with the HB Hammerheads a couple years ago, got his meds on track and seizures under control and he's absolutely balling now!
We played the 11U Mustangs back in February, are there multiple 11u teams? My son was the starting pitcher in that game and had a no hitter if I remember right.
hh.jpg
 

Flying_Lavey

Dreaming of the lake
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
21,221
Reaction score
18,873
Man... I'm super jealous. My girls all love cheer. I dont have the knowledge or aptitude to help coach or anything, and I can't go to all the comps because they are such long days that the babies (2 and 4) can't hang and it's really rough on them.

I'd LOVE if one decided to want to play softball or any ball sport really.
 

rmarion

Stop The Steal
Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
13,934
Reaction score
33,853
DB

Love it!!!

Enjoy it and I know you are..

I coached all my three sons teams in every sport... thru H.S.... coached Hockey from Tournament thru High School...

Loved the time spent with my 3 sons..
 

HBCraig

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
9,412
Reaction score
12,619
Man... I'm super jealous. My girls all love cheer. I dont have the knowledge or aptitude to help coach or anything, and I can't go to all the comps because they are such long days that the babies (2 and 4) can't hang and it's really rough on them.

I'd LOVE if one decided to want to play softball or any ball sport really.
My kids didn't have a choice, it was softball and baseball. ;)
 

OldSchoolBoats

No Bad Days
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
16,813
Reaction score
25,274
Man... I'm super jealous. My girls all love cheer. I dont have the knowledge or aptitude to help coach or anything, and I can't go to all the comps because they are such long days that the babies (2 and 4) can't hang and it's really rough on them.

I'd LOVE if one decided to want to play softball or any ball sport really.

Wife was booby feeding at comps all the time when our daughter cheered. We flew our 1 year old to Dallas for NCA and he also went to Florida.
 

THE WIDGE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
1,203
Reaction score
672
Great story Marcus, congrats! Making memories! Here’s an oldie, I’m #16 bottom middle, Marcus is behind me over my left shoulder. Marcus was a stud pitcher! Memories with your buds and dads.
 

Attachments

  • D471F29F-B731-4126-AE7B-F4D1CDEB41D8.png
    D471F29F-B731-4126-AE7B-F4D1CDEB41D8.png
    2.5 MB · Views: 48

Dirtbag

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,274
Reaction score
5,146
@Dirtbag Great story! You give lessons?! 😃;)
I think my proudest moment was watching my son struggle with epilepsy/seizures during games and coaches passing on him or sitting him. He loved/loves baseball and it broke his heart, finally started playing with the HB Hammerheads a couple years ago, got his meds on track and seizures under control and he's absolutely balling now!
We played the 11U Mustangs back in February, are there multiple 11u teams? My son was the starting pitcher in that game and had a no hitter if I remember right.
View attachment 1225915
I dont do lessons for money. I was given the information for free and am glad to pass along anything i have learned to todays youth at no charge. Yes we have a navy team and a red team. we are the red team
 

Dirtbag

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,274
Reaction score
5,146
Great story Marcus, congrats! Making memories! Here’s an oldie, I’m #16 bottom middle, Marcus is behind me over my left shoulder. Marcus was a stud pitcher! Memories with your buds and dads.
hookin up after all these years has been great Widge! cant wait to see what your boy does!
 

Flying_Lavey

Dreaming of the lake
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
21,221
Reaction score
18,873
Wife was booby feeding at comps all the time when our daughter cheered. We flew our 1 year old to Dallas for NCA and he also went to Florida.
With 2 competing we are usually there from around 8am to 3 or 4 and with nowhere for the 4 and 2 year old to rest or nap.... they become quiet the handful. Specially when the 4 year old is autistic and verbally impared.
 

BHC Vic

cobra performance boats
Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
25,656
Reaction score
20,214
Far from a home run but I’m so proud of this kid. He turned 4 in Dec so he’s the youngest player in single A but he works so hard. My other two could take it or leave it but all this kid wants to do is play ball. He had a better hit after this but I was too slow with the phone.
 

THE WIDGE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
1,203
Reaction score
672
hookin up after all these years has been great Widge! cant wait to see what your boy does!
100%, always good seeing you after decades. I hope so too, hit a 300’ plus line drive bomb this past week, and he’s my height at 12 lol.
 

ChumpChange

Commercial Banker
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
10,438
Reaction score
12,819
At the field right now keeping score. Son just belted this one.
3E720621-3E68-40CD-A979-B127A3A06F7D.jpeg
 

BHC Vic

cobra performance boats
Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
25,656
Reaction score
20,214
Hey @Dirtbag any chance you can get me the contact info for the coach of the 10u Allstar team? Trying to set up a couple scrimmages. I’ve got one with la Verne and working on upland. Trying to get as many as I can
 

Badchoices03

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2018
Messages
3,332
Reaction score
7,986
My son never showed interest in baseball or any ball sports for that matter....all his friends play baseball and they have convinced him to give it a shot...he is 12 going on 13 and only played one season of teeball back when he was little....I personally dont know much about playing baseball because I never did growing up....I am SUPER worried about signing him up so late in age, kids at his age have pitching coaches and custom bats and batting cages in their backyard....I don't want him to be "that kid" on the team that everyone laughs at....but I also dont want to tell him he cant play....
 

Dirtbag

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,274
Reaction score
5,146
Hey @Dirtbag any chance you can get me the contact info for the coach of the 10u Allstar team? Trying to set up a couple scrimmages. I’ve got one with la Verne and working on upland. Trying to get as many as I can
vic sorry i just got this and YES ill grab it! and dm you. What little league are you with?
 

Dirtbag

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,274
Reaction score
5,146
My son never showed interest in baseball or any ball sports for that matter....all his friends play baseball and they have convinced him to give it a shot...he is 12 going on 13 and only played one season of teeball back when he was little....I personally dont know much about playing baseball because I never did growing up....I am SUPER worried about signing him up so late in age, kids at his age have pitching coaches and custom bats and batting cages in their backyard....I don't want him to be "that kid" on the team that everyone laughs at....but I also dont want to tell him he cant play....
BC03,

What is the absolute worst thing that can happen? He fails? Part of life and just another lesson along the way. Dont worry about all the other kids. Sign him up. Play some catch but a $100 net and and $10 TEE AND A FEW BALLS AND LET HIM START WORKING ON HIS SWING. then you can start flipping balls to him to work on contact. then head down to the local field and throw some pitches at him. Its never too late!
 

Dirtbag

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
3,274
Reaction score
5,146
vic check private messages for info!
 
Top