"Because You Know I Am No. 5"

On Saturday (10/27/12), Anne and I went to Brody's (age 7) and Gannon's (age 4) pint sized baseball game. In this baseball league, no score is kept and in these typically three inning games, a half inning ends when the entire team has batted. No-one is ever called out.

In that game, Brody and Gannon's team, "West Torrance," dressed in white uniforms with red lettering played the "Dodgers," dressed in Dodger blue uniforms with white lettering.

I started to laugh when I saw little Gannon loaded down with his catcher's equipment, his cap and mask, chest protector, shin guards and over sized catcher's mitt, as he started walking from his dugout to the area behind home plate.

Anne called out, "Yeah Gannon" and I cheered for him. With a big grin, he said to us that we only recognize him "because you know I am No. 5," the number across his back. We laughed and assured him we had no trouble recognizing him or Brody (No. 9).

A little while later, the other team's last batter, a Gannon sized child, hit the ball and as is the custom, he ran around the bases and then to home plate as if he had hit a home run. When he got to home plate, Gannon had the ball in his catcher's mitt and chased him around a wide circle at home plate trying to tag him out, as the crowd cheered and laughed.

As a batter, each time Gannon came to bat, he would ham it up for the crowd as it cheered for him. He would acknowledge them with his big smile as he looked up at them bat in hand. And on one at bat, he rolled his eyes at Anne and me. Brody was more conservative and gave Anne and me a subtle wave as we called out to him.

Brody has developed into a good player and he hit the ball with authority. He, along with his little buddies, Tyler, Christian and Nathan are the team leaders. While Gannon is loose the whole time, just having fun. In one inning when he was way out in left field, for a time he took off his baseball cap and covered his face with it, as he entertained himself.

It is a real joy to join Kevin and Melody at these games and cheer on both teams, as these little kids and their families have a wonderful time, and the kids make a lifetime of great memories.

Dick