Isaac's baseball season

This spring, Isaac is playing for the minor league Giants with our local Babe Ruth affiliate.  Last season he found he really enjoyed playing behind the plate.  This year he has been improving his skills as he moved up from Rookie to Minors, playing with boys one or two years older than he is.  One particular pitcher on the team throws so hard and fast that only Isaac and one other boy are courageous enough to catch for him.  It's been fun to see him improve, as well as spend time in the front yard with Randy, catching, throwing, practicing in general.  It helps that Randy found full catcher gear for Isaac at a nearby sports store that was going out of business for CHEAP!  

Friday night was "Farm Grown" night at Grizzlies' stadium. When baseball says farm grown they are referring to big league players that have come up in their single, double, or triple A affiliate teams.  Being a baseball team in Fresno, however, they used the farm grown saying to extend off the baseball field as many local farmers had booths set up to sell their fruits, vegetables, or other homemade products in the concourse!  We will definitely be heading back for more Friday night games!

 So, to round out the farm grown theme, many of the local Little League teams were invited and were introduced as they walked around the field before the game!  Isaac brought a foul ball he'd caught 2 weeks before and, standing at the edge of the field before the game, was able to have it signed by 8 different players plus Parker the mascot!  He was elated!  We packed in a dinner for our family of 6 (which was supplemented by yummy apricots and cherries we bought from farmers at the stadium) but we gave the older kids each $5 to spend on dessert.  This is what all the kids chose...a big waffle ice cream cone!  YUM!  Isaiah fell asleep in the middle of the 9th, at 9:40, so we were able to stay 'til the end of the game.  It actually went 11 innings and was followed by their Friday night fireworks display (another reason to love games on Friday nights)!  

Hooray for baseball season!!