One of the things about a living in a small town is how the community rallies behind Little League. With few entertainment options, everyone comes out for Opening Day of Little League. And I mean, EVERYONE.
On Saturday, the mayor pro-tem was there. One of the first founders of the Little League park came in from Colorado and his grandson threw out the first ball. And every team was introduced along with their coaches and sponsors. I particularly loved some of the softball team names -- the Bratz, the Pistol Annies, Extreme, Edge and Smash. In all, there were about 17 teams.
Outside of the pavilion, the "grill masters" were cooking pounds of chickens to sell at the concession stand. As I stood there watching the meat be turned, a grill master asked me if I had kids playing. Yes, two. One in baseball for the Astros and one in softball for the Edge. "Hey, we're playing against the Astros this afternoon," he told me. "We've been practicing a lot. We're ready for your team," he crowed.
"Well, we will see," I laughed. "It's not even noon yet and you're already talking trash."
We beat them 9 to 5. As he walked passed me, he simply waved and kept on going. What? No trash talk now?
To help raise money for the League, retired and current football players signed autographs. Guest Bernard Scott, running back for the Cincinnati Bengals and a native Texan, signed our son's cap. Scott talked about the importance of sports, working hard to achieve your goals, and how he was glad to be back in the Lone Star state. So, I just had to talk to him, after all, he plays with our all-time favorite quarterback Andy Dalton, who graduated from TCU and who took the Horned Frogs to their first Rose Bowl appearance and win.
Surprisingly, Scott isn't as big as one would imagine a pro-player to be and he's very soft spoken. "You play with someone who went to my school," I told him.
"I do?" he asked. "Who?"
"Oh, he's a little red haired kid from Texas," I told Scott.
"Yes, Andy is a lot of fun," Scott laughed. "He's really nice."
So, although we were out at the field most of the day, it was a lot of fun and it was great to see the community spirit. Although not everyone was so pleased with our new activity.
"Is this going to be an every Saturday thing with you guys?" joked our neighbor Les who invited us to go into Corpus Christi with them that evening.
Seems that Little League is interfering with our retired neighbors' social lives.
Wondering if there are any games over Easter weekend?
The Wondering Texan
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| Singing the national anthem. |
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| Smoking the yard birds. |
"Well, we will see," I laughed. "It's not even noon yet and you're already talking trash."
We beat them 9 to 5. As he walked passed me, he simply waved and kept on going. What? No trash talk now?
 |
| Cincinnati Bengal Bernard Scott signed autographs. |
Surprisingly, Scott isn't as big as one would imagine a pro-player to be and he's very soft spoken. "You play with someone who went to my school," I told him.
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| Both of our teams won Saturday. |
"Oh, he's a little red haired kid from Texas," I told Scott.
"Yes, Andy is a lot of fun," Scott laughed. "He's really nice."
So, although we were out at the field most of the day, it was a lot of fun and it was great to see the community spirit. Although not everyone was so pleased with our new activity.
"Is this going to be an every Saturday thing with you guys?" joked our neighbor Les who invited us to go into Corpus Christi with them that evening.
Seems that Little League is interfering with our retired neighbors' social lives.
Wondering if there are any games over Easter weekend?
The Wondering Texan
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