Starkville All Stars

Our family just finished up what has been one fun and intense season of baseball. And I say family because it truly is a lifestyle that we have all committed to over the last few months.

Will had a wonderful regular season playing with the Bees and Dan as the head coach. Then, he was fortunate enough to be able to continue his season a few weeks long when he made the 7 year old All Stars team.

We are just so proud of our little guy. Baseball is something that this boy loves and you can see it every time he takes the field. I also just love how unassuming Will is.

He isn't a flashy player by any means and stays so calm and collected. He always gives his best and is constantly wanting to learn more about the game and how he can get better. For example, he started out the All Star season playing left field which was not a position he was used to playing, so he asked Dan to take him out to campus to practice catching fly balls a few times in addition to the team practices 3 times a week. He took his new role seriously and wanted to be the best he could be at his new position. (And as I'm sure you can imagine, Dan was happy to oblige. There is no doubt that Will gets his passion for baseball from his dad.)

Then, after one of our poor little players broke his arm, the coaches had to make some adjustments to the team and moved some kids around. Will ended up playing first base again like he had played during the regular season and did an outstanding job!

Dan also helped coach the team. He does such a nice job with the boys in teaching them but also helping them remember that it's all about having fun.

I was one proud mom and wife to watch those two out there!

The whole team was such a fun group of kids to get to know and watch play because they all worked so hard and it is really fun seeing little guys who are all about baseball! Our team ended up finishing 2nd in one tournament and then placing 3rd in the state tournament over the 4th of July weekend. We were so excited to have some of the grandparents in town to watch the games with us!

And what do the little kids do during all this baseball you might ask. Well, it is like one big tailgating experience for those of us in the audience. We bring tents, food, blankets for the kids to stretch out on, and toys to play with. Andrew has become good friends with several of the other siblings.

June is just happy that she can get as messy as she likes playing in the dirt and that she gets to snack all day long. She is by far the dirtiest of the kids by the end of the full day of baseball, including the one actually playing baseball and sliding into the dirt on the field. That girl is a mess, literally!

We all have enjoyed this baseball season SO much and can't wait for the next season to begin!