Eastfield All-Star

Something happens during the growing up process - time stops.

When you're little you look at freshman in high school and think that they are so old and cool.

Then you get to a be freshman in high school and think that you'll never be as trendy and popular as high school seniors. Eighteen seems forever away.

Then you get to college and realize that you're now older than all those high school kids you looked up to.

Finally, your prince gets down on one knee and proposes, and looking at that diamond on your finger you realize that you don't feel "old enough" to get married. You thought you'd feel older, wiser, and more mature.

And finally it dawns on you that somewhere along the way time stopped and now you're married, but you still feel 18 years old.

And while you're still feeling 18 years old, you also realize that the kids you babysat and whose diapers you changed are now getting their drivers' licenses and going off to college. But there you are, stuck eternally envisioning them toddling around with a bottle hanging out of their mouth.

Just when my brother, Jonathan, thought he could tell all his baseball buddies to visit his sister's blog to see his cool pictures, I'm going to prove him wrong. Because, in my mind, my little brother will always be remember somewhere around this age:

Despite the fact that I recently spent an afternoon getting sunburned and watching some young manthat they "tell" me is my brother play baseball , I can't get it into my head that "Joey Boy" now has muscles, can throw a 90 mph fast ball and looks like this:

Jonathan is a pitcher for Eastfield College, and since he will soon be transferring to a four-year school (we're praying him into Texas A&M), Danny and I wanted to make sure we went to at least one more game.

We brought all the good baseball food. Carmel corn, beef jerky, Dr. Pepper, sunflower seeds and hot dogs.

Matthew even brought Dad's charcoal grill. We just forgot the grilling utensils, so like any good redneck cowboy - Matthew loaned Danny his pocket knife. We won't tell you where that knife has been.

We made more than enough hot dogs and somehow Matthew ended up with the plateful. We told him had to eat them all. Not five minutes had passed than we turned back around to see him with only two hot dogs left.

Everyone in the bleachers within arms-length of Matthew was chowing down. His compassionate heart always was the best at sharing.

Dad is clinging to his last few games as a players father. He still has withdrawals from not coaching one of our softball/baseball teams and has been known to pull over at a baseball field on his way home from work just to watch. It doesn't matter that he doesn't know who's playing.

How would you like to face this face from home plate?

Too cool for school. His buddies tried to get him to pose for the over-zealous sister with the big camera - but this was the most excitement he could muster.


Joey warming up (through the fence).

I don't think I've EVER been flexible/limber enough to get my foot this high over my head.

And the handoff, from coach to pitcher. I'm sure they have some intense baseball conversation while this is happening, something along the lines of "We're all gonna grab pizze after the game if you win this for us . . . you in?"
And what baseball game would be complete without a little "good game" action?

Here's where it looks like Joey dislocateds his shoulder:

Here's where the batter is scared of the ball and is backing up:

And here's the stare down - intimidation is half the battle:

I like to think that the batter totally whiffed at this ball, but it's still fun to see Joey getting ready to snag it if it comes his way:

Pitcher, batter, catcher and the ump (even if he is sticking his rear at us):

They won, and they celebrated:

For the record, there was a stellar throw from right field to home plate to get the last out. I had the camera poised on Joey the whole time, just in case he made the "big play." Well, in trying to capture the "big play," I actually totally missed the "big play." So much for getting the most important moment on camera.


Us being normal . . .

Matthew & Mandy - I'm just going to start calling them M&M.