Lucas loved batting and actually hit several times off of the pitching machine. At least once after getting a hit off the pitching machine, Lucas bowed on first base and thanked all the fans for their cheers.
Lucas did not like mitting aka fielding. It was a struggle for him every game to stand out in the field and be engaged in the game. He sat down, wore his mitt on his head, talked to the coaches, watched balls go by, and even spent a whole inning eating dirt, ewwww!! One game he decided to run after a few balls and after being beat to the ball by his teammates several times, Lucas walked up to the coach and said, "I know what the problem is, the other boys are too fast! They keep getting my balls!" The last game, Lucas stood up and held his mitt the whole inning and he was very proud of his accomplishment. He also fielded several balls during the game, which helped keep his attention.
Lucas loved running the bases too! One game he ran the bases making an Indian noise. Another game he screamed at the fielders on the bag in an effort to scare them out of the way. He was lapped by a teammate running behind him one game. And he slid into home plate, face first about every time he got to "score." He is not fast, but he definitely has heart.
Here are some of the lessons Lucas learned during his Tee Ball season.
- How to cheat at running races to the fence and back. Once everyone is in front of you, turn back and you win!
- How to apologize to your coaches after yelling at them to just leave you alone and let you do it your way!
- How to thank your coaches after every game! (He had some great coaches who never lost their patience and never gave up on teaching Lucas the game!)
- How to buckle a belt (this will be very useful next year for his uniform at school)
- How to shake hands at the end of the game with the other team.
- How to do a 'Go Big Blue' cheer with this teammates after the game.
- How to not critique other players, by saying "they are a clumsy batter like me", for everyone in the stands to hear.
- How to thank his family members for coming to watch him play and cheering him on.
- How to put spit on his pants so that the dirt would stick to them better.
- That when you improve and do your best, you are rewarded with treats from the concession stand.
- How to wear a cup, aka penis shield!
- How to run the bases.
- How to wear a mitt.
- How a pitching machine works
- How to only line up his bat one time before hitting off the tee.
- What's a dugout, uniform, baseline, bases, tee, home plate, etc
- Not to leave his base to talk to his friend on the other team who is in the field.
- How to keep trying!
- How to pray for God's help! Lucas realized that God answered his prayers during that last game in order for him to have the energy to stand the whole inning!
