U10 Diamondbacks Opening Day 5/7/2015

The first few games of the season are more like scrimmages.  As coach, I use the first few games to give each player an opportunity to play many different positions.  Winning takes a back seat to getting each kid accustomed to playing new positions, determining which ones can pitch, and  taking additional time to teach the the game.

Griffey came into pitch in the 3rd inning of a 0-0 game.  Griffey doesn't throw hard but can have decent control.  Today he didn't trust his arm 100% as he didn't throw with very much authority and left several balls short of the plate.  Fortunately, kids at this level in our league swing at anything close.  Griffey struck out the first two batters he faced.  The third batter reached on a hit.  The next two batters reached base thanks to 2 balls going right through the legs of our 3rd baseman and shortstop.  Griffey walked the next 2 of 3 batters.  With three runs in, Brady fielded a ground ball at 2B and forced out the runner unassisted to end the 3rd inning.  Brady is a bit uncoordinated.  He doesn't throw well and his hitting is still a work in progress.  However, his baseball IQ as a 2nd baseman is very high, and he almost always stops balls hit in his direction.

With us scoring 4 in the bottom of the inning and Griffey throwing strikes, I sent him back out to the mound.  Griff looked more comfortable in the 4th.  He trusted his arm and was letting loose.  He struck out the side having thrown only 5 pitches called for balls.  Three up.  Three down!

Offensively, Griffey and Brady were aggressive at the plate.  They took hard swings.  Brady reached base via a walk all three times he was up.  I love when Brady gets on base because I can always trust that he will be looking to advance given the chance.  I never have to worry about him not advancing on wild pitches or missing a steal sign.  Being fast helps as well.  Griffey was 0-2 with a walk and a strikeout.  However, he did make contact as he grounded into a fielders choice.

Overall, I was pleased with the boys and our team in general.  We held out to win 4-3.  Christian worked out of a bases load jam to save the game.

Highlights
Griffey Win 2 IP, 5K, 2BB
Brady 0-0 3BB, 1R 4U

What is GBAC?

In 2005, Erin (my wife) and I were blessed with the birth of triplets.  (G)riffey, (B)rady, and (A)very.  Although we had our hands full raising triplets, God decided we needed another.  Along came (C)ase.  So now you know what GBAC is.

I remember when Tiger Woods first hit the Pro Tour as an amateur.  There was so much hype surrounding this young man.  His father was his biggest supporter and instrumental in getting his son started at a very early age.  I thought is was so cool to see home videos of Tiger swinging a club when he was like 4 or 5 years old.  Later he was a guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  The documentation of his childhood years is something that I sure his family finds very special.

I've been known to have pretty terrible memory.  I hate that I can't remember specifics of important ball games that I played in growing up.  Some of my teammates remember games that I played in and how I performed better than I do.  I think that's sad and unfortunate.  This journal is going to ensure that me and my kids, and anyone else will be able to relive and reminisce that lives in sports.