Tonight was Gregory’s final baseball game of the year (regular season).  Their team had played great all year and were already the champions of the league.  We were not originally going to make it to the game, but were able to at the last minute because of a schedule change. For most of the year, Gregory would only get to play two innings per game and he played outfield 95 percent of the time which he seemed fine to do.  I had hoped that he would get to pitch or play infield because I knew he could and probably wanted to, but the coach never let him.

So for tonights game, Gregory started the game on the bench (again).  However, when he came in to the game in the fourth inning, he got to play second base which was really cool.  I was so excited for him because I know that he likes to play the infield.  He ended up making two outs in the inning and did a terrific job. Then during the bottom of the fourth inning, while his team was batting, two of his friends (Julian and Zach) were trying to convince his coach that Gregory could pitch really good and that he could throw a good curveball.  We didn’t know any of this was going on at the time.  So after the fourth inning, I left the announcers booth to use the restroom and when I came out, Gregory was standing on the mound.  I couldn’t believe it, so I ran back to the announcers both as fast as I could so I could announce him pitching.

He did really good.  He got the first two hitters out on ground balls.  The next hitter was the best on the team, and after Gregory fooled him with a curveball, he tried to throw him a second and he hit a bomb to center field that almost was a home run, but stayed in the park.  The next two batters singled, and walked so that loaded the bases with two outs.  Gregory threw two balls to the next batter, and then settled down, throwing a strike down the middle, and then got him to strike out swinging on two more pitches.  I was so happy to see him pitch as good as he did and nobody scored during the inning.

The bottom of the inning, Gregory got to bat first, and he led off with an infield single, advanced to second on a passed ball, and then scored the final run of the game on a base hit.  He did a great job and we are so proud of him for working so hard this year and finally getting to do what he loves at the end.  Now on to the tournament of champions!  Go Cardinals!!

Daddy