Deflection

My grandnephew Rylee not only hit his first home run this evening, but he hit a grand slam. This is a real accomplishment for an eight year old.

For the past two years, I have been working with him playing baseball. He is not necessarily the easiest person to train, since he does have an active mind. But, although he is fiddling around, acting like he is not paying attention, he really is taking in more than anyone would realize. For example, when I am pitching the ball to him, some times I have to wait until he is ready for the ball. But, as it becomes obvious, it is his way of learning to have his mind on something else, and then, when concentration is needed, he hits the ball under the fence.

When I started practicing with him this year, I noticed that he has a good arm. Although I hate to say this, he has a better arm than I do, but I really have not thrown a ball in years, and I do not have the correct muscles built up at this time in my life.

He has been hitting the ball really well, too. Two weeks ago, I noticed that he was pointing his feet, and the ball went in the direction the he had set his feet. I walked up to him and showed him how he could hit the ball to the left or right. Then he tried it, and it worked for him. There were also times when I felt that he could hit a home run, since he has the strength to hit the ball far enough.

Then this evening I noticed openings in the out field, so I told him to try to hit the ball in those location, and sure enough he hit the ball on the right side of the infield where no one was, and he easily got to first base. I then talked him that most of the time teams will put there weak teammates in the right out field, but I did not tell him why at the time. This time he came up to bat, with bases load, set his feet for the ball to go into the right field, and, on the third pitch, he hit it into the right field and it rolled all the way to the fence. (The players on the other team stated that it when under the fence closed to the 180 marker.) As one might expect, it is uncertain that he knew what he had done, since he acted like he had other things on his mind with everyone telling him to go. After the made his grand slam, they gave him the ball. I told his mother that he needed to write on the ball that it was his first hime run/grand slam with the date.

It could be argued that he should have advanced in the league this season, since he is really bored out there. But, once his accomplishment sets him, I feel that he will take next year by storm, since this grand slam has to be a confidence builder.

As for me, I really felt gratitude, since he has been listening to me and making the correct adjustments. I feel like it is a real accomplishment for me. I am not sure that I have felt this type of accomplishment from sports be for in my life.

Next Tuesday evening is his last game for the year. It is so nice to know that he does have a future in sports, and, with his build, I am sure that he will take full advantage of it in the future.