Back of the line, Chase!

Thursday was picture day and when it comes to posing for the cameras, Chase is a show-off!  Sometimes though, it's tough to get a good picture because he doesn't understand to look at the camera, instead he chooses to look at mommy or daddy.  Jennifer wasn't sure if we had any good pictures with the league's photographer, so we hired a professional photographer (Debbie!) to take Chase and Kira off to the side for individual sessions.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Kirsten weren't at practice at the beginning, so Uncle Chewy was in charge of Kira too.  I have to tell you, I am so impressed with the progress Kira has made from the first week to today.  She is hitting the heck out of the baseball and she has become a great fielder too to go with her strong right arm.

The Orioles started out in the infield, running the bases.  Of course, Chase wanted to be the first one to run.  The coach asked the boys where first base was and Chase looked confused and pointed to third base?!  I think Chase is having a hard time translating the field we have setup in the backyard to the one he plays tee ball on.  After getting correct, the coach said "Go!" and Chase ran down to first base.  After the third kid went, Chase scored by touching homeplate.  He was then told to go to the end of the line, behind about 10 or so kids.   Four people later, Chase is running again to first??  He came around to score and Jennifer and I noticed he just started to hop in front of kids in line he was so anxious.  We told him he had to wait his turn and go to the back behind #8 and another mom turned to us and said, "He's sooo cute."

The players got into their semi-circles and I helped the coach by rolling grounders to half of the kids.  Chase and Kira did pretty good in my group, Kira showing her alligator chomper on top of the glove.

Next, the kids went out to the outfield to hit.  Chase and Kira both hit really well off the tee.  I thought it was funny that Chase wants to put the ball on the tee (like he does at home) instead of letting one of the parents do it.  He ended up hitting a couple hard groundballs to the right side before it was Kira's turn.  Kira hit the hardest off the tee of any of the kids in our group, impressive!

It was then time to go in and scrimmage the Blue Jays.  All the kids went into the dugout and I drew an on-deck circle to teach them that there is only one hitter allowed beyond the fence when it's the Indians time to hit.  I showed them that they should take practice swings in the on-deck circle to warm-up before it's their turn to hit.  Chase hit a little dribbler back up the box and hustled it out to reach on a single.

After the game, we all formed two lines to tell the other teach "Good Game!"  Following the handshakes, the Orioles came together and gave out a "1-2-3 Orioles!"  Kids are having fun and learning, that's the most important thing!