Jackson starts coach-pitch

Jackson had his first game today in the coach-pitch league, his first time to step above t-ball.  The coaches don't actually pitch anymore, but use a mechanical contraption to spring-launch the pitches from the kids' eye level.  This is the fall-ball league, which is more laid-back than the spring/summer regular league.  Mostly the same kids, but no larger region tournaments to advance to, from what i can gather.

Since Jack didn't play in the spring, he comes in behind the other boys, but has already shown in practices an affinity for defensive glovework.  Bat needs work, but he'll get there.

That duality showed in the game today, as he struck out his first 2 times up, on 6 straight swings & misses.  Good form, but just no contact yet.  In the field, he saved a run from left field by stopping a single and getting it back to the infield quickly.  No hesitation, up and throwing.  A few innings later, now in center field, he fielded another single, and again came up throwing, this time straight to second base to force-out the runner from first.

I've watched other parents over the seasons hoot and holler for their kids.  Embarassingly so, i always thought.  A bit cloying and affected, as if to call attention to themselves; puffed up, as if their kid's skill was somehow validation for their worth as parents.  I thought of it somewhat like i think of those relatives who cheer the loudest at graduations - it's usually proportional to the likelihood that the particular graduation is the very last one they can hope to see for the kid.

I never once thought of it as a pure emotion.  But when Jackson made that play from center field, without an ounce of thought, i found myself jumping up and doing a fist pump (of all things), and was bemused to feel a huge grin on my face.  It was an absolutely pure emotion, nothing calculated, nothing filtered.  I was just so happy for my boy

P.S.  In his 3rd at-bat, Jackson stepped in with the bases loaded, and finally connected on a poke down the 3rd base line.  Let's call it a hit.  He came around to score a couple of batters later.