Cardiac Cubs

Original post:  June 12, 2015

My boy plays Little League. His team, the Cubs, is a mixed group of 9 - 11 year olds. They played the semifinal last night against the Red Sox and it was a nail-biter.

The lead kept shifting back and forth between the teams. They play six innings and my son was scheduled to pitch the last three. In the top of the fifth with a 8-6 lead, a combination of hits and errors led to three Sox runs and a 9-8 deficit.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Cubs were able to mount a rally. The tying run came across the plate. My son came up to bat with two outs and runners on second and third. I was secretly hoping he could get a hit here so we could take the lead. He took a close pitch on the outside corner for strike two. On the next pitch, he grimaced as it hit in almost the exact same location and he was called out on strikes.

Trying to be the supportive dad, I went up to him and told him he had to have a short memory. He just needed to shut the other team out and his team would have a chance to win in the bottom of the inning.

The leadoff batter for the Sox worked the count full. He hit a hard shot directly to the shortstop. Initially, it looked like an easy play, but the ball took a bad hop. After a quick bobble, the shortstop fired to first but not in time. The lead runner was on. He would go on to take second on a passed ball. To make matters worse, the next batter drew a walk. Another passed ball and they scooted over to second and third with nobody out. Things were looking grim for the Cubs.

My son now became quite deliberate on the mound. He was able to get the first batter with a swinging strike three. After another tough at-bat, he got the second batter on a swinging strike three. Another batter came up and again he was able to get the crucial strikeout. The go-ahead run was stranded on third.

In the bottom of the inning, the Cubs were able to push across the winning run with two outs. It was quite an amazing game.

The Cubs' coach treated the kids to ice cream after the game. I think he's done an incredible job. There are no superstars or physical giants on the team. The boys seem to genuinely like each other and play well together. Of course, winning doesn't hurt. All the same, I know that these are some of those little moments that will live on for a long time to come.