What Baseball Means to Our Family

What does baseball mean to our family?

As March is here once again, it makes me think about… baseball.   Baseball means lots of wonderful memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Tucker fell in love with baseball at a very early age and that caused a ripple effect in our family to love the game. Michael and I both played baseball/softballs growing up. Michael wanted Tucker to love the game as much as he did. God gave us just that.

Michael coached Tucker (well, he still coaches, but from a parent role instead of an “on-the-field” role) until he was about 10 years old. I remember Michael coming home and telling me that Tucker knew more about the game than he did, and this would be his last year coaching. I knew that was hard for Dad to swallow, but we are firm believers in allowing others to coach our kids. Tucker has had many wonderful coaches that not only taught him about the game of baseball but also about life. It’s story time…. Tucker was having issues with school and was given many warnings about getting zeros. We don’t do zero’s in our house. So, as parents we decided that he would not be able to play in the weekend tournament. Michael made Tucker call the coach and tell him. Oh, the impression that made when the coach backed us as parents!  So, Tucker had to sit out the game, and boy, it was a close one!  All the players and parents were asking us to please let Tucker play, but we held out. The team ended up winning, but it made Tucker realize that one small decision, like not doing your homework, could affect a lot of things in your life. So, baseball can teach about life.

We have been all over the southeast playing baseball. Our family had the wonderful opportunity to travel to two Dixie Youth World Series. We have spent countless hours in the car, many mornings up before dawn, sitting in the freezing cold or the burning sun, too many concession stand trips to count, sporting our favorite players number on our shirt, screaming until we had no voice, biting our nails in those too close games, praying for the favor for a win, watching many home runs, all the signs that were missed, all the full counts, all the jerseys we have tucked away for that jersey blanket…. and most importantly, a lifetime of memories that we will cherish forever.  Baseball has taught us that not only does the team build friendships, but the parents do as well.

Huge thank you to all the coaches, players, and fans that have invested in our baseball journey.

Now on to our ride in the college realm…