Saturday was the Red’s first baseball game.  Coach Jesse was so excited to kick off this season.  About an hour before the game we started dressing the Reds in their uniforms.  Since moving up a rank to rookie machine pitch something new is required…..a cup.  This piece of equipment is vital to keep baseball players from any…..injuries of such.  This would be Lil’ Reds first time with this new uniform adventure.

After we dressed them, Eli couldn’t get over this new-found trinket.  He thought it was hysterical that he could hit himself there and not feel anything.  Soooooo…..we thought it best to have a sit down before we left to discuss the do’s and don’t of wearing a cup. 

Do’s:  A “must” layer to wear under your uniform to protect your privates.

Don’ts:   do not show, hit or draw attention to your cup!

We kept it pretty simple.  When we arrived the team hit the field for warm ups and then it was game time!  In rookie machine pitch the kids are still pretty new to the ins and outs of baseball.  They don’t seem to run the bases backwards as they did in t-ball but they are still pretty green.  Coach Jesse placed them around the field in positions.  Since Andrew is the oldest and most experienced (2 yrs in rookie) Coach thought he would do best at 1st base…..with no instructions.  Andrew has never played 1st base before and I thought to myself, “well, this could be a good thing.  All the balls will be thrown to him every time and maybe this will help him to pay attention”.  Paying attention is rather hard for Andrew at times.  Last year in Rookie he spent most of his time playing in the dirt in the outfield.

The first ball was hit and thrown to 1st base to make the out.  Here it was…the first moments of the game, and Andrew was:NOT paying attention.  HA!  The coach quickly came over and explained to Andrew how 1st base actually works….that every ball will be thrown to him!  After that, he seemed to get it and did pretty well!You can see just past Andrew, Eli is standing on 2nd base.  Eli took it upon himself to have the title of “Heckler”!  He spent most of his time taunting the players that made it to second base.  Saying things like “we’re gonna beat you bad guys”! Or screaming to the batters “you can’t hit the ball”. Coach realized what his son player was doing and made his way over to keep an eye on things.  After his Dad/buzz kill was close, Eli settled down.  Since his tongue had been caught, he took to a new interest…..HIS CUP!!!!  I guess our little sit down didn’t go so well after all.  The boy couldn’t keep his hands off of it, hitting it, and tapping it.  I was in a tough spot, should I yell out to him and draw attention or pretend like I didn’t see anything?!  I decided with the latter.  Finally the inning was over and the team was off the field! WHEW!

The Reds both batted pretty well and Andrew even slid into homeplate once (by hitting his knees and slumping over almost like he tripped). The next inning the team was switched up and things went a little more smoothly.  They were all getting the hang of things!

The Rangers had a great first game and Sissy Lou kept herself entertained by playing in the mud!All I can really say to wrap this story up is….should be an interesting season!