Freshman Baseball 2022

Austen didn't have enough to do this spring with a full course load of school and a robust spring soccer schedule that takes him out of town a lot to play. So he decided what's one more sport and thought he'd try out for the freshman baseball team. He just wanted to prove to himself that he could make it. Approximately 40 kids tried out for an A and B team where they only had 28 uniforms so kids were going to get cut. Austen didn't think he'd be one of those kids who were cut but he was vying for the A team even though the B schedule (which was posted beforehand) worked out much better with his soccer schedule. He thought he had a good chance at A and it was between him and his really good friend for the starting shortstop position on the A team. But, before the coaches decided A and B teams, Austen had to tell the head coach that he had to miss a practice to fly to Arizona for a soccer tournament. Never mind that he delayed his flight so he could make a 5:30am practice on Friday before a 4pm soccer game in Arizona but he still was missing a Saturday practice and had to come clean with the head coach about his double athlete life. The coach understood but told him he'd be benched for missing. Austen expected that and was prepared for that but when the rosters were released the next week what he couldn't understand was how many kids on A shouldn't have been on A. Neither he nor his friend made A as the shortstop. He made B. 

The B coach (whom I love) used to be the assistant varsity coach but was going to retire and then got called back because they didn't have a Freshman B coach. He told Austen he should have been the starting shortstop but had no input into the rosters. Austen actually really liked his B team since they had several A caliber players and won many games as the B team but what he was really relishing was that the A team was losing - every game! 

It's been nice to watch him have fun in his last season (he thinks) as a baseball player. He's been a strong shortstop making some great catches and double plays. His hitting is crazy. He's hit the top of the fence for an almost home run but just wants to swing at everything now (a few years ago he barely swung the bat at all). His coach (again, whom I love) has to tell him that he has to be a bit more selective because while he makes contact with every pitch they can end in weak grounders or pop ups (his hits lately) if he tries to get them all. I think it's good advice. Did I mention I love this coach? He's stern but very positive with the boys. I think it's exactly where Austen is supposed to be. So while sometimes it bothers him that he'll never have a real shot at the A team because of soccer (he thinks), I know he's having a good time with his teammates and he really likes his coach too. That worries me a bit though when the coach tells him that he's going to tell the JV coach all about him and I ask Austen, so did you say that you're not playing next year? Of course he didn't. Keeping his options open, I think. Goodbye spring break! Maybe.