Zach Begins Playing Baseball

September 20, 2015 by 2 Comments

Last week, Zach began his baseball “career.” Well, it’s baseball of sorts. The Arlington Southwest Little League has an introductory program for 3-4 year-olds to get acquainted with baseball. I’ll let ASWLL explain “Bubba Ball”:

What exactly is Bubba Ball, you ask?

It is designed for 3-4 year olds who are just not ready–either physically or socially–for team sports.  You take an oversized plastic bat, a squishy ball, a mat that shows them exactly where to stand, and one base…first base only.  Put the ball on a tee, let them give it a whack, and teach them how to run to first base.  After they touch first base, they give every family member they can find a hug.

The other team?

Well, they “look” like they are playing defense.  They are really just chasing that squishy ball and handing it back to an adult (or one of the many older ASWLL players who are helping their siblings on these fields) so that they can hurry up and put that ball back on the tee so the next kid can give it a whack.

Six players per team, six whacks with the bat, several hugs and high fives later, then you switch sides.  It really is a sight to behold.

Here are some pics from Zach’s first day of Bubba Ball (all photos courtesy of http://www.saenzofthetimes.com/):

Zach and his Cubs teammates warm up.

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Zach is being chased by a teammate as they learn what to do with the ball.

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Zach at the plate.

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On the way to first, trying to beat the throw!

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He made it!

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Post game cheers!

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Filed Under: Baseball, Family Life, Photography

Zach’s First Game

May 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Last Friday, we took Zach to his first baseball game. He didn’t have any clue where he was, but it was fun for us.

Midland Rockhounds 11
San Antonio Missions 0

Filed Under: Baseball, Family Life, Zach

We’re Not Raising Grass!

May 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Famed Minnesota Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew has decided to end his battle against esophageal cancer and enter Hospice care.

As a kid, I had the opportunity to see Killebrew and the Twins play against the Texas Rangers at (the old) Arlington Stadium more than once. And, while I don’t remember a specific occasion of seeing him play, I do remember something that I heard said about him.

He is quoted as saying: “My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, ‘You’re tearing up the grass’; ‘We’re not raising grass,’ dad would reply. ‘We’re raising boys.'”

I’ve always thought that was one of neatest things a father could say, and locked it in my memory bank in case I ever needed to use it. Now, that I have a boy, I just might get to use it.

Filed Under: Baseball, Quotes

Farewell Israel Baseball

December 22, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Twelve years. That’s how long I was intimately involved in the activities of the Israel Association of Baseball: umpire, umpire trainer, club team coach, national team coach, fitness instructor, board member, peace envoy, guidance counselor and who knows what else.

Mine was an unlikely beginning: As I was walking down King David street, I heard the sound of a ball hitting a bat come from behind the YMCA. Curious about that sound, I went around the building to see, to my utter surprise, a baseball practice. I stood around watching, making mental notes of things that could be improved, and when the players took a break, I asked the coach if he would mind if I made some suggestions. He was receptive to my input and asked if I wanted to umpire the scrimmage game that was about to start.

That’s how it started. A twelve year relationship that has taken me to places like Cyprus; Moscow; north, central and south Italy; and Philadelphia, Omaha, Kansas City and Pittsburgh for various competitions. A relationship that gave me the opportunity to participate in two Jewish Olympics, once as an umpire, once as a coach. A relationship that gave me the opportunity to travel to Jordan as a peace envoy in a failed effort to forge a relationship between Israel Baseball and Jordan Baseball. A relationship that gave me the opportunity to meet Major League Baseball owners, players, scouts, and executives.

But most importantly it was a relationship that gave me the opportunity to invest in the lives of young men, to see boys mature into men who will one day move beyond baseball to be soldiers and university students and build careers and families. And hopefully do those things better because of something they learned in one of my programs.

I’m thankful to those who offered any type of support to my efforts whether it was a financial gift, a kind word, friendship, a word of wise counsel, or by running interference for me with my adversaries.

Now, it’s time for my four-month leave of absence to officially become a resignation. Thank you Israel Association of Baseball, it’s been a great ride.

Here are a few pics of my last act as Israel Baseball national team coach.

Filed Under: Baseball, Family Life

Bronze Medal: Team Israel

July 22, 2009 by 1 Comment

Here’s a group of guys that I’m very proud of. We finished the tournament with a 4-4 record and received the bronze medal. Two of our victories came in extra innings, 0ne against Canada, the other against Mexico.

Filed Under: Baseball, Life in Israel, Maccabiah 18, Photography
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