The Tangrens

They came back with a pretty one ( If mitts can be pretty)

The day of practice hyrum couldn't wait to go. But a storm was brewing set to open the skies at 5 o'clock, just when his practice was set to begin. I went back and forth about whether Elijah and I would go. When the time came to go we decided to take separate cars ( to the park a half mile away- pathetic!) and if it got bad I'd just take little man home. He was dressed for Hyrum's first practice anyway.

The boys were out practicing throwing the balls around when it started to rain a little

But it didn't last long and we were under the pavilion so practice continued and we stayed. Noah couldn't be left out of the fun. He was dangerous with that bat so it was quickly taken from him and he soon ran off to play on the park toys.

When everyone got there they had a team huddle. Watching their rapt attention I understood better how coaches have a special place in boys lives.

Hyrum's coach is a man in our ward who was in the previous bishopric with Derek and he is soo good with the kids. ( I keep wanting to say boys since I live in boy town but there are three girls on Hyrum's team) He'd called around trying to recruit kids from the neighborhood for his team so there are seven boys from the neighborhood on the team.

They started off just running the bases all together as a team and then they took turns running to the bases and advancing etc with the batting helmets on.

Then he tried putting them in defensive positions but that is still a bit over thier heads so he had the dads play the defense positions and had them each get up to hit.

Hyrum is the only left handed hitter on the team. Derek thought he threw left handed too but I thought he used both. They got him a left handed mitt but now he sees that he throws with both hands. Not real sure what we'll do about that.

Hyrum loved it!

At the end coach had them line up and then he rolled a ball to them which they were suppose to pick up and throw to Derek. We had a few wild pitches. Hyrum was attempting the across the body side winder toss in this one.

Do you see the boy behind him "throwing" as well?

Then after practice was done they got their uniforms. They are the Pirates!

And Hyrum is number 8!

I told him it was great to be eight and he said " Yeah that's when I get baptised!" Smart kid! He just looks like a baseball player to me now.