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!

Postponed til Next Week

Oriole Fans were disappointed that their favorite new team was postponed on Thursday due to inclement weather.  Chase was very sad that he wasn't able to put on his jersey this week. :(

Next week is a big week though!  The four teams in this instructional league have to show up 20 minutes early because it's picture day!!  Chase is going to have his very own baseball card!

How old is Chase??

As we arrived to the park, the skies were gray and it was drizzling.   I was a bit concerned on whether or not Mother Nature would cooperate and allow us to watch some tee ball, and for the most part, she did!

Different from the previous two weeks, the Orioles started out in the outfield hitting off the tee.  Chase was the second to hit and he started out using a different bat than his own.  He hit a couple nice balls, displaying the beautiful left-handed swing.  About halfway through, Mommy brought him his bat to hit with.  He took a few more off the tee and grabbed his glove and headed out to shag.

There was no coach present at this point, which was a bit off.  So pretty much all the parents policed their children.  Chase did a better job this week having fun going after the balls, but not upset like last week if someone else got it.  I had him go up and give one of his teammates a five for a nice play, and Chase went up and smacked the kids hand without saying a word of why he was giving him a five.  I then explained to him he has to say "Good Play!" so his teammates aren't thinking he just smacked them for no reason.

The biggest part of any team sport is doing your own part and working well with others.  That's the biggest thing he can't get at home right now in the backyard with just he and I, so it's crucial that he can get at least that out of this six-week instructional league.

Following the hitting, the Orioles went behind second base where a coach was there ready to roll them ground balls.  It was there where I heard someone ask me for the second time that night, how old is Chase?  I think some of the parents wonder because he knows the game so well already, but is so tiny.  The follow up question was, "Does he watch a lot of baseball."  Yep!  Daddy has the Yankees on every night.

Chase turns three in two weeks and this was a league for 3-to-5 year olds.  We basically had to beg for them to allow Chase to play.  We even tried during the summer before coming to a compromise to allow him to play fall ball.

I'm hoping by starting him early and him seeing some of the older kids, he'll advance himself even more than I already think he is.

After ground balls, we hustled out to center field where a field was setup in the outfield grass.  They started out forming a line and running the bases.  I liked this coach a little better because he talked to each kid beforehand.  "Where are you going to run?"  "Okay, you're going to run when I say go." "Go!"  The kids had a lot of fun running around bases

After the Blue Jays were done hitting off the tee, we came together to play a rain-shorted one-inning game.  Chase hit a nice ball up the first base line and ran hard to first base.  On defense, he played first base and I think was starting to grasp the concept that his teammates that field the ball might throw him the ball to try and the throw the batter out at first.  None of the kids actually did throw it, but at least he's understanding.

After both teams hit, the two teams went through the line and said "Good Game!"  Following the fives, I called all the Orioles team in together to do a team cheer to conclude the practice.  We all had our hands in the middle and of course Chase races and says, "1-2-3 Orioles!" before any of the kids knew what was going on.  So then I told all the kids we're going to yell "Orioles!" on the count of the three...

1-2-3 ORIOLES!  Another great day of tee ball where Chase and the rest of the future stars left with smiles on their faces!

He's SAAAAFFFFEEE!

Week two is in the books for the T-Birds instructional tee ball league.  This week had some highlights and some lowlights when it came to Chase.  It's something you expect as a parent and it leaves us with things that we can work on as we try to get better and work towards next week. 

Last week while running the bases, Chase would just automatically start running towards the next base when the boy or girl in front of him ran.  So while working with him in the backyard this week, I tried to really emphasize that he had to wait until his coach said "Go!" for him to start running.

Just as they did a week ago, the Orioles started out running the bases while the Blue Jays hit out in the outfield.  Of course, a new coach was instructing them this week and Chase didn't grasp that when this coach said "Go ahead" that meant the same as "Go!"  Chase didn't immediately start running to the next base like last week (that's good), but he also sat there puzzled as to what to do when this week's coach said "Go ahead."  It took a little pat on the back from the coach to get Chase's motor going.  I guess we have something else to work on between this week and next.

After a couple times running the bases, the team spread out into a semi-circle where the coach would roll them ground balls.  Chase was the last one at the end of the line.  He got in his ready position, squatting down with his glove on the ground.  The coach rolled the ball and Chase didn't move fast enough and it went by him.

The second and third times through the groundball line were a lot better, however.  Chase actually moved his body and moved his glove when the ball was not directly rolled to him (proud moment because we haven't really worked on anything to his left or right to date).  That's what I am talking about when I talk about baseball instincts.  Not only did he make a nice stop on the final groundball, he showed off a cannon of an arm when he threw it back to his coach.

We went out to the outfield to hit a few balls off the tee.  Chase hit second and hit a few nice balls to left.  I've been noticing a slight upper-cut as of late and he's been telling me in the backyard he's trying to hit it really far up in the air.  Even when he swings and misses, I am amazed by how nice of a swing he has already.  There is something about a left-handed hitter that I have always thought looks so pretty when they swing (perhaps why Don Mattingly and Robinson Cano are my favorite Yankees of all-time).

When it was time for the game, the Orioles started out in the field.  We have been working on playing first base in the backyard so he stood in his ready position at first base.  Disclaimer: Here comes the biggest lowlight to date.  The Blue Jays player hit one between pitcher and first base and a couple boys ran to get the ball, including Chase.  When Chase was bumped and the other boy got the ball, Chase started to whine and cry.  I guess the one thing you don't get from working with him out back one-on-one is him not getting every ball.  Luckily the crying fest didn't last long as it was the Orioles time to hit shortly after.

When it was Chase's turn to hit, he hit a little dribbler in front of the plate.  The Blue Jays were impressive as they knew to pick up the ball and throw it to first base.  I commented to Uncle Matt, Chase almost made the first out in tee ball history, but he beat the throw luckily. 

I noticed he struggled with running to the next base base during the game.  With all the kids in the infield, he couldn't see the base so he didn't know where to run. I think he sees base, runs to base right now and hopefully I can get him to understand where the base is supposed to be so when he can't see it he knows where to run.  Another thing I want to work on is him watching the hitter when he is on base so he knows when to run.

The highlight of the evening though came while running the bases after his second at-bat.  After a little coaching from Uncle Matt at third base, it was time for Chase to show off.  The Orioles hitter knocked the ball in the infield and Chase ran home to score a run.  Only Uncle Matt told him to go in for a slide.

He's SAFE!  It drew some laughs, but check out the beautiful form on that slide!  I didn't even realize how good of a slide it was until Matt's mom sent me the pictures (Thanks Debbie!).  I've never worked on sliding with him either, he picked that up from watching the Yankees on TV with daddy.

Overall, it was a long week two practice.  Afterwards, the kids lined up and said good game to each other.  After their trip through the line, most of the Orioles went running to their parents instead of coming in as a team for a cheer.  So Aunt Kirsten, Kira, Chase and I put our hands in and did it on our own.

1.. 2.. 3.. ORIOLES!

Now batting.....

Now batting... Number Three... Chase Schwade.  I hear the voice of legendary Yankees public address Bob Sheppard announcing my son's name at Yankee Stadium.  Mr. Sheppard has passed on and there's no way my son could wear #3 for the Yankees as that was Babe Ruth's number and has long been retired.  I can still dream though that my son will have the type of career that finds him one day swinging lumber at Yankee Stadium.

Thursday, September 6th, my son had his first official day of tee ball.  He's playing on the Orioles in a four-team instructional tee ball league, a month short of turning three years old.  A lot of people can't believe he's already on the ball field, but we've been throwing and hitting for a long time now.  When we play in the backyard, I can't help but notice his baseball instincts already.

The only teammate he knows is his cousin Kira.  When the two of them checked in, they were handed a jersey and a hat.  The jersey number choices were #2 and #3 and when I asked Chase if he wanted to be Derek Jeter or Babe Ruth, with no hesitation, he screamed, "Babe Ruth!"  Coincidentally, Ruth did get his start in a Baltimore Orioles uniform.

Chase and Kira started out in the infield, throwing (more like bouncing) the ball back to each other.  The coaches brought all the kids together and separated the Orioles and Indians in the infield and the Blue Jays and the Cubs in the outfield.  The Indians started out in left, hitting and fielding.  Chase and Kira's team started out running the bases.  They all ran to first, all ran from first to second, second to third, and third to home.  They did that twice.  Chase did pretty well, except he didn't understand that he had to wait for his coach to yell "Go!" to start running.

When it was their time to hit, one player would hit at the tee while the others were in the field shagging the balls.  Chase showed off by pounding the plate before he swung, something I tought him so he knew where to line up and stand when he hit.  One parent asked me, "Did you teach him that?  That's pretty cool, maybe I need to work on that with my son."

Chase hits left and throws left.  I've been noticing he likes to slap the ball to left field with his swing.  He had a few good hits in there, and a couple swings and misses.  Everybody loved his pounding of the plate though, even my mom said she loved it.

I might be a little tough on him, but I told him to hustle in when they ran in to play the "game" with the Indians.  He knows when daddy says hustle, that means, "Run really fast."

During the game, each team sent each member of the team up to hit once and run the bases.  Chase hit second in the batting order and took a big hack and missed on his first swing.  The second swing he took, he made contact and hit a little dribbler in front of the plate.  I was proud, though, he knew to run to first base after he made contact.  Some of the other kids had no clue what to do once they hit the ball.  Some would run for second, some stood there, and some even went after their own batted ball.


Later, his cousin Kira hit a hard ball up the middle-- one of the best hits by the Orioles.  After the "game" was over, Kira and Chase both enjoyed a blue Gatorade, courtesy of their Mimi courtesy of Aunt Kirsten.

Overall, I think it was a fun first day of tee ball for Chase.  He seemed to enjoy himself and said he had a lot of fun.  I look forward to sharing Chase's progress in tee ball as I can only hope these are his "first steps to Cooperstown."