SHMS Baseball

When Capitol Hill Little League was getting ready for the Spring season, Owen had a decision to make, swim lessons with Gabriel or baseball ... they both happened on Wednesday nights. Somewhat to our surprise, Owen chose swim lessons, at least in part because he figured he could just play baseball on the Stuart Hobson team. We noted that he'd have to try out and make the team, and he'd be playing on a full size 90-ft diamond with 7th and 8th graders, but he was undeterred. When try outs rolled around, Owen did his best, came home and told us he made the team. Not only that, he ended up starting in right field on opening day, the first time in several years a sixth grader had started.

The Panthers ended up being a bit of a juggernaut this season. Working around all the rainouts, they won their first game 21-2, and kept up the blow-outs all season winning 19-0, 13-2, 7-0, and closed out the season winning 12-1. Owen used his small strike zone to his advantage with a 1.000 on-base percentage this year (though he didn't have a batting average, since he walked every time and thus didn't have an official at-bat for batting average purposes), several steals, and a bunch of runs scored.

When the playoffs rolled around SHMS was the top seed, but due to all the rain the schedule had slipped a bit. Unfortunately the first playoff game was scheduled at the same time as 8th grade prom, and despite Coach Campbell's best efforts, the other team wouldn't let us reschedule (one thinks they might have known this was their only hope). As the kids learned, league rules allow you to end a game with fewer than 9 players, but you need to field a full 9 to start the game. Eight kids showed up early to warm up for the playoff opener, and text all their 8th grade teammates trying to convince someone to skip prom (Owen's pretty sure he won't need much convincing when he's in 8th grade). The other team showed up right at 4 when the game was scheduled to start, and the umpire officially told us we couldn't begin unless we got a 9th player. At that point the kids were hoping for rain (which was in the forecast, and wouldn't be a surprise at all after over a foot of rain in the past couple weeks, and plenty of ominous clouds on the horizon). One thunder clap, and the game would be postponed, but the weather gods didn't cooperate, so when 4:20 rolled around the other team took the field, and the umpire officially called the forfeit.

Not the best way to end a great season, but Owen had a great time this season, and we'll get 'em next year!