Life Lessons Learned Playing Ball

“I’m going to drop it!”

At nine years old, my mind screamed these words when a ball came my way. I was right. I dropped it.

I had little confidence. Why should I have? I tried out for the team with a left-handed glove. I was right-handed. My parents said if I made the team, I would get my own glove. Other kids had mitts big enough to hold a watermelon. Signatures of heroes like Mickey Mantle adorned them, along with other words, some that I didn’t understand. Mine, a throwback to another era, was perched awkwardly on my hand.

I was the last one to sign the roster. The coaches mentioned they had thought of cutting me, but didn’t have the heart. The words stung, but I was still happy. I would get my own glove.

My dad and I went to Dobby’s Sports. I had often looked in the window, but dared not enter unless I made the team. I strode in with my dad like I had an audience with the queen. I still have that glove. I will never part with it, even in death.
Even with my own glove, when a fly ball was hit to me, I still screamed, “I’m going to drop it!” The ball finally hit the pocket once – and it stuck. It didn’t take long to build my confidence to where I expected to catch every ball.

Lesson #1 – While natural ability is important, having the heart for something means a lot more. There are many steps to climb to success. I have seen great talent fade when success comes too easy. Determination eventually wins.

Years later, I injured my shoulder. I couldn’t lift my arm. Throwing was impossible for two weeks. Before the injury, I had a great arm. I wondered whether it would ever be as strong.

As it healed, I started throwing the ball. I used my legs, back and other muscles to compensate for my lack of shoulder strength. To make the ball take flight, I had to execute the muscle sequence in the proper order. When my shoulder healed, I could throw the ball even better than before.

Lesson #2 – Sometimes the adversity in life makes us stronger. We have to figure out a better way to do things.

On our way to winning our first Ontario championship, we were in the final game of a best of three series. We were ahead in the bottom of the last inning, but they had runners on second and third with only one out. Their best hitter was up. He hit a rocket between second and third. Somehow our shortstop got there, snagged it and stepped on third for the double play. The game was over.

Lesson #3 – Usually on the way to success, there are moments when the difference between winning and losing are small. Never give up hope.

In softball, if you fail 70% of the time, you are doing well. It is also a team sport.

Lesson #4 – Sometimes it’s not how often you succeed that’s important. It’s when you succeed. Everybody can have a moment of glory on a team. You work together for success.

One season, we had lost only two games until the Ontario final, then lost two straight. In the series, I didn’t get one hit and left 8 runners on base in the final game. I was devastated. I almost quit.

The next year I played and coached. The Squirt team I coached played against the eventual Ontario champions. They beat us 52-0! Yet something happened that changed my life.

The pitcher had a perfect game until a pudgy Italian kid, Umberto, was hit in the stomach. The ball bounced back to the pitcher. Both teams exploded in laughter, including Umberto. He trotted proudly like Babe Ruth to first base.

Lesson #5 – It’s a game. It’s meant to be fun. Life’s the same. Find ways to enjoy it for what it is. It’s not perfect, and you don’t always win, but it still can be fun.

Softball and baseball have taught me valuable lessons, even more than appears here. They’ve allowed me to apply the phase you often hear on the diamond to my life. “I’ve got it!”