This summer my boys played on each of their respective all star baseball teams, Cameron on Mustang and Bristol on Pinto. Maybe some moms would drop their kids at practice and go get a manicure, but not this mom. Nope, I wanted to be at every practice, I wanted to know how my child was doing and ultimately I wanted to soak up everything that was going on with the team, the coaches and the other players. I grew up playing sports and I watch ESPN with the best of them and for the most part I can talk the talk.
However, one thing I didn’t know much about what running the bases. In Cameron’s league the kids were able to lead off and steal. Even Bristol played up at this level on many occasions. At the beginning of every practice, the team would warm up by “running the bases”. Now, I don’t mean like a bunch of toddlers - running whole hog around all four bases and dog piling at home. Apparently, that is reserved for after you win a major game. I mean there is quite a strategy to running the bases when you have hit the ball. I am going to focus for a moment on just the base running of the player when they hit the ball. Because of course other kids are leading off, stealing and being coached otherwise to run the bases after the batter hits the ball.
There were three phrases that the kids would hear from the first base coach. “Run through, run through” – which means you’ve got to hustle this one out to beat a fielder’s throw. Run through literally means run past the base, do not slow down, tag the bag and keep going, slow down after you pass the bag.
If the coach wants you to draw the throw or he is waiting to see the play on the ball he yells, “take a look, take a look”. (Yes, everything is repeated at least twice – it stands to reason: they are boys and they are kids. Two reasons to always repeat oneself) “Take a look” means that the runner will not dart past first base, but he will round first and watch for a play on the ball.
The last option, that I was able to ascertain, was “go two, go two”. This means the ball has more than likely made it to the outfield, over someone’s head and the runner will progress to at least second base.
Each practice began with the kids lining up at home plate and taking off like they just hit the ball. The first base coach would randomly tell them what to do; run through, turn and look or go two. When rounding first and headed for second the players would pick up the third base coach who would tell them to slide, stay on second or head for third.
During games, base running was very exciting. I will never forget Cameron’s last game of the regular season, which would decide the ranking of our team first or second in the league. Last inning, tied game, two outs. Cameron was on third base and the pitcher was returning to the mound after a passed ball ( a ball that got past the catcher and might have given Cameron a chance to steal home, the pitcher had covered home keeping Cameron at third base). The pitcher made a regrettable mistake, he turned his back on Cameron, who was one of the most proficient, aggressive base runners on his team, not to mention he is lightning fast. (Note the very bias opinion of his mother) Dan, who to my chagrin, often coaches from the bleachers, is telling Cameron, “watch him kid, watch him.” As the pitcher turns his back Dan yells “GO”. Cameron took off for home and by the time the pitcher turned around and threw to his catcher, Cameron was sliding into home. He won that game for his team. Dan was the first one out on the field. He was lifting Cameron up in one of those hugs that says I am so proud of you. Cameron’s team was going nuts – they won the game and finished first in the regular season. Running the bases won his team the game. Period.
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