They set up a really fun night for the boys with Lafayette's local Collegiate Prospect League team, the Lafayette Aviators. (They play at Loeb Stadium, which is in Columbian Park.) They were the "Dream Team" for the opening game of the season!
They got there early in the afternoon and got to shag balls with the players and practice a bit. (I don't have any pictures from that because I was busy running other kids around town to piano lessons and other baseball games. I am turning into a taxi service!)
Since we had to pay for tickets, and since I like baseball a whole lot more than Lance, I got to be the parent who went to the game. And it turned out to be way more fun than I thought it would be, so I'm glad it was me!
Here's the team before the game started. (They're missing a few players.) Coach Bob is in the middle and Miss Paula is on the right. They're son (whose name I can never remember) is on the left.)
Including online fees, I paid about $20 for two tickets. This turned out to be a heck of a deal, though, because through this program we got 2 free seat cushions and ALL YOU CAN EAT food before the game! I'm not kidding! So Josh and I each got a cheeseburger, some chips, and two big drinks. I think Josh would have gotten more but he ran out of hands to carry stuff! (And I don't think he really understood that he really could have had anything!) We probably had over $30 worth of baseball concessions.
The team got to high five the players as they ran out on the field. Josh thought that was pretty cool.
They also stood on the field during the National Anthem. The Lafayette Children's Choir sang... it was... good for the most part, but some parts were a little cringey. I only mention this because it made me realize just how talented some of the singers in our ward are - including the kids. Going to church with so many musically talented people can really help you learn about and appreciate great music!
They got to buddy around with the team mascot.
The game itself was long for a bunch of 10 year old boys, but they did great for the most part. It started off slowly, but the Aviators eventually beat the Springfield Sliders, 11-5. There were a lot more errors than I expected, but that made the game way more interesting. The kids loved it!
After the game the kids got to run the bases. Josh really is a fast runner - I keep telling him he needs to do track in the future, but he's resistant. So I'll keep quiet for now and hope he changes his mind.
Then - and this was really cute - the boys got the players' autographs. Josh had them sign his glove. He is so proud of that glove now! (Maybe he won't lose it this winter, like the last one. Growl.)
It was a late night, but a fun one. And I'm really glad I got to spend some one-on-one time with Josh!
He can give me fits and really knows how to press my buttons (because he's so much like me in some ways), but really, he's a really great kid and fun to hang out with.
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