I'm so far behind on blogging I thought I would be easier if I just caught up on topics rather than chronologically.
We found out the last week of regular season that Barrett made the 5/6 Allstar team this year. To say we were proud would be an understatement. He has improved so much this season and it's been so much fun watching him grow in talent and spirit. He's really developing a love for the game. Our regular season coaches got to be the coaches since we won our league. There were a lot of kids from his team on AllStars. It was fun to get to extend our season with them and add a few new boys (and families). The post season tournament for the regular season was off to a rocky start. We had several delays due to weather. We played a really good Corner team for the first game. Barrett hit his first homerun this season and since then he's been talking about hitting a Grand Slam. He's wanted it so badly. The stars finally aligned and he was up to bat with the bases loaded. We needed the 4 runs to stay competitive. There were two outs. And he struck out, for the first time in weeks. He hadn't struck out since the second week of the season. It was a tough lesson to learn. He lost it. He cried and cried. He was so upset that he couldn't even go back out on the field to play shortstop. He finally got another chance to hit and he got a hit so he was better. It was one of the toughest parenting moments of the season ( I know that sounds silly). I didn't want to baby him, but I also didn't want him to feel so much pressure. We made him apologize to his coaches, not for striking out but for his attitude and letting it keep him from playing in the field.
We had our little team party and got trophies the next week. We've been so pleased with our experience playing for the park the last two years. These coaches don't get enough credit for the hours they put in to this volunteer gig.
AllStars started the same week. We were a little intimidated walking into practice. Barrett was one of the best players on his regular season team, but we knew he was going to be at the lower end of the talent scale with this team. They had some great practices and we enjoyed getting to know everyone. Coach scheduled us a practice game the Sunday before our first tournament. They played pretty well. We were all surprised. Barrett got out in the last inning to end the game. He started the crying again. This time we just let him cry. His coach told him not to come to the team huddle until he quit crying. Patrick went in the dugout and Barrett couldn't be consoled. I finally took him to the bathroom and he said he didn't want to play baseball anymore. It broke my heart. I couldn't understand why he was putting the pressure on himself. We ended that day carrying him to the car, sobbing (both of us). One of his coaches came to the car to tell him it was okay, and give him a pep talk (and maybe us too a little). We told him, it was a privilege to play Allstars and that he took the spot of another kid that really wanted to play and he told us he really wanted to play, so he was going to finish the season but he never had to play again if he didn't want to. We also grounded him from all electronics and TV for the week until he change his attitude. Again not because he got out but because he had a bad attitude, and let his team down by not participating.
(This is entirely too long)
He was very excited about all his new gear.
We had the sub-regional tournament that weekend. It was our first tournament. At our first game Thursday night he struck out and cried, only for one inning though. 
But still he was grounded again. Friday night, he struck out but he didn't cry. We were almost as proud of that as we were any hit he'd gotten. We lost Thursday night, we won Friday night. Satruday we had a double header. We lost the first one. The second game though, we won. With a walk-off GRAND SLAM. Hit by BARRETT HORTON. He got up to bat, bases loaded, he had two strikes, he tipped one or two to stay alive, and then he drilled it right over the third baseman's head. It took a bad hop past the left fielder and he made it home. I was nearly in tears. His coach met him at home plate and carried him off the field. It was a full circle week. He started the week being carried off the field crying saying he never wanted to play baseball again, to being carried off the field after a walk-off grand slam. I never video him batting unless Patrick isn't there. I'm so thankful one of the other moms videoed it!
Our coach never gives out a game ball. But the umpire handed him the ball from Barrett's hit after the game so Coach gave it to Barrett. He was so proud. We were too, but we were most proud of his attitude. It was a great night. He decided he liked baseball after all.
The next weekend we played our regional tournament. It was a double elimination tournament. We were really just hoping to not lose our first two and be out. We had a really young team compared to most of the teams we played.
Our first game was Friday night, Patrick had to work. The game was in Cottondale, about an hour from us so my parents rode with us. Barrett struck out and cried again. I just let the coaches handle it. He only cried for a bit. They lost.
So we played again on Saturday. We won the first game. We lost the second to place third in the tournament. We were so proud of how our boys were competing for being so young.
Sister was a trooper. She's made some ballpark friends.
He's so proud of his medal.
We had a couple weeks off of tournaments before the state tournament. In Dixie Youth, you don't have to earn your way into State in the 5/6 division. For this reason we decided to play because it wasn't too far from us and it would be a great experience for the boys, and for some of our boys it might be their only chance to play in a state tournament.
It started July 5th in Brookwood, AL. We were there at noon for opening ceremonies. It was so hot. Like surface of the sun hot.
These sweet sisters were ready for some baseball!
Chilling in the dugout. This might be one of my most favorite pictures ever.
An Alabama baseball player threw out the first pitch of the tournament. He was so sweet to take a picture with our team.
He was walking off and sister said "My picture, my picture" I asked if she wanted her picture with him too and she just grinned. It was hilarious. He was so sweet to snap a picture with her too.
Love these sweet Blue Devils.
Thankful for moms that got great shots like this one!
One last family picture (we played the next day but it was going to be chaos because of all the things we had to do so I knew we wouldn't get one then). We lost our first game in a heartbreaker. I think it was 28-29 but again, our boys competed really well against a team of all 6-7 year olds.
Sister was pooped. Also, this wagon, probably the best purchase of the summer. Especially since she still wasn't walking great after being in a cast.
We played again at 11:30 Saturday morning. Patrick had to work and was on call all day so I decided to leave AveryAnn with his parents because I didn't know if my parents were coming because we all had a wedding to go to that evening. Patrick was able to make it to the game, we were so happy.
I did bring my real camera and snapped a few shots.
I love this one.
The Moore family came to support us. These people drove an hour and sat our in the extreme heat to cheer for Barrett and his team. If that's not the sweetest friends ever, I'm not sure what is.
So serious.
We had to win this game to stay in the tournament.
And our boys played the best game they have ever played! It was amazing.
We won 10-4. Which meant we would play again at 4:00. Patrick got called into work right at the end of the game, so he had to go back to Birmingham.
Aunt Elizabeth and my dad came to watch the first game.
Patrick put a rubber band on his hat to curve the bill. So Barrett had to have one too. We went to John and Hope's house between games to cool off and hang out. My cousin was getting married at 7:00 in Birmingham. So I'd brought all our stuff to get ready at John & Hope's house. I knew I was probably going to have to leave the game early. I really didn't want to. But the wedding was important to me. I'm always torn between being there for my kids or also letting them see that there are things more important sometimes. Thankfully, Patrick was able to make it back for the 4:00 game. (I'd arranged for Barrett to ride with a coach if Patrick didn't make it back). They lost. We were sad to see the season come to an end. We played 3 of the top 5 teams and competed with most of them. We are so proud of these boys and the coaches for a fun season.
Sunday night we had our team party. Here's Barrett with Coach Alex. So thankful for his patience this season. He's a really great coach and focuses on all positions and really developing each player. He sees everyone potential and really pushes them to reach it.
He said a few nice things about each boy. He said Barrett really started crushing the ball this season and he matured so much (ie he didn't cry at all in the last tournament!)
I'm so thankful for the men that volunteer their time. They always treated Barrett like their own. I never felt like he was at a disadvantage because his dad rarely got to be at practice with him. They really made an impact on our family this year! We're already sad we haven't seen everyone in a week. Barrett orginally said he didn't want to play fall ball but we'll see. I think he'll have a change of heart before too long.
Whew, that's a long one. Thanks for sticking around!
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