Highland Rolls, 43-16

Not the crispest game the boys have ever played, but it went well.  The team they were playing had a reputation for being pretty rough.  When they played the other Highland team, a few of the parents were so upset about the physicality of the game that they risked getting thrown out.  One kid chipped a tooth.

We didn't really see any of that today.  It was, overall, a clean game.  Our boys came out tentative and sluggish.  Nobody scored for the first 5 minutes.  Then, our boys went off to a 16-0 lead.  It looked like it could have been an embarassing shutout.  In the end, they scored a few, and our boys won big. 

The boy has really improved.  He's learning that when you get an offensive board that you square up and put it right back up if you can.  Today, he had a great bucket that way.  He scored at least 8 and would have had at least that many more if he'd made some pretty simple, wide-open shots.  We only had six players.  Our non-travel player didn't show up.

Basketball is a game he's always had to learn.  It doesn't come naturally the way baseball and football have.  I do think he can be good at it, with work, though.  He sure seems determined to put in that work.  Years ago, I told him that basketball was one of the few sports where you can conduct meaningful practice by yourself.  This is the first year where he's spent any considerable time shooting after school.  It has really shown in his improvement.

Sunday, we have a brief parent's meeting with the coach of the baseball team.  He played Div I baseball and seems to have a great personality.  I'm really looking forward to the boy playing for him. 

So far, my son's interest in baseball is waning to the point where I think maybe playing rec next year might be just the thing for him.  Because he's always played travel baseball, it isn't special to him.  He doesn't see it as extra work in order to do something extra special.  He just sees it as a lot of work.

If he played rec, he would absolutely be the best player in the league and maybe he'd enjoy that.  It wouldn't help his baseball development, but in the end, this is all supposed to be about having fun.  If he doesn't play High School baseball, it isn't the end of the world.  He can run track, play lacrosse or find a Spring and Summer basketball team

It's all supposed to be about having fun.

Of course, I hope that the new coach and new team turns this around for him.  I hope he really enjoys this season and wants to play again next season with renewed enthusiasm.