A time to build up, a time to break down

I was all set to go on about Jack's Fall Baseball League, which I have been remiss in writing about, due to the combined excuses of laziness along with a less-than-satisfying season thus far: his team was not as good and he had some trouble bonding with the coaches. Jack’s performance was also not as solid as the Spring either. And he simply has not been as into it.

And I was going to go on ad nauseum on how that recently changed. How, in a rare doubleheader, he had four hits and was on base each time he batted save one, when he drove in a run. In the first game, he hit a screaming line-drive double down the left-field line, one of the hardest hit balls I’ve seen all year.

And how, on the ride home after these games games, he had the same sense of accomplishment in his eyes and demeanor that I often saw in the Spring. His current team, after an 0-3 start, got to 4-5, but that mattered less than seeing Jack growing and finding more confidence each time he played. It was a little bumpy this time around, and there was talk of quitting, but he was persistent and hung in there. A good lesson, I think, that paid off. And I was going to finish by saying how great all of that was for him.

And then this happened.

Jack had surgery this morning for two broken wrists, the result of a playground accident. He will be out-of-action for about six weeks. Needless to say, his baseball season is over, but the most important thing by far is that he will be fine.

He is tough and resilient and I am so very proud of him. I am especially happy for him that he got the game ball in his final baseball performance this season.

I just wish his season didn't end on the 60-day DL.