Way Too Many

So this fall, YSSS is playing ball with a bunch of kids from a town about 20 minutes from us. A little clarity; SoulSlam goes toa gym in Wayne NJ...one night I roll on in and there's a kid who used to play for me, he's 16 now. He and his dad are there, we exchange pleasantries, catch up. Kid moved from my little burg to live with his mom in another town/county. Anyway, tells me he's wrestling (he's a big strong kid), doesn't play baseball anymore. As long as he's active I am all in.

So summer comes around sometime in early July and he tells me he's playing baseball for the summer. And they need kids. And he wanted to know if YSSS was available...but YSSS was playing with our slipshod American Legion team (playing be a loose term) and wasn't interested. He was working 20-25 hrs per week as well so no big deal. The big kid did give my number to the HC of this team who also happens to be a guy I see at the gym sometimes (though hadn't spoken too since I am a mute at the gym, but that is another story). Anyway, fall is rolling around so I get asked if YSSS is interested. We talk and he decides to give it a go. Now he's a pretty quiet kid, so jumping in with a team full of kids is pretty drastic sometimes. Anyway, we go, he's one of better kids (actually the best according to dad, coach, SoulSlam) and we get ready to play. We have a couple of practices in August that I think at max 10 kids came to. I'm also informed that in summer they usually only had 9 or 10 at a game. I get asked to be Asst. Coach too.

Anyway, turns out we have 13 kids on Sept. 1. And right before first game on 9/11 HC says he added another kid. Great I think. Except HE BATS THEM ALL! AT 16U! So we bat kids that are almost guaranteed to be automatic outs including:

A kid that runs track, though he actually isn't bad. Fast as a shark

A kid who would have trouble making a rec team, doesn't play HS baseball and is a 50/50 on any flyball right too him

A kid who i thought was 13 when I first met him. Seriously in need of a growth spurt he looks like he still watches Caillou

A kid that is our backup catcher that can't catch a ball from the pitcher. That is why YSSS had to catch a game a couple weeks ago

A kid who told me some schools wee looking at him. Ummmm, no they are not.

A kid who once asked me incredulously why he was expected to cover 2B on a force play becuase he was playing in

A kid who was apparently home-schooled and has the demeanor of one. He goes to a public HS now. I asked if he's playing HS baseball and he said "no"

So all these kids make up an interesting group. One thing the HC stressed to me was he didn't care if we won or lost. OK. Then the other night around 10:15PM I get some texts along the lines of "we need more pitching for last few games", I have two kids I'm gonna add to roster", etc. My only real response is we cant bat them all. He agreed. So what happens Wednesday night? 15 show up, 15 are in the lineup. AAAAARRRRGGHHHHH!

Soon to be over.