Personal Narrative: My First Baseball Practice At The Phaauilo Field

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run”(Babe Ruth). I was wondering how much baseball really affected my life and the choices I make. The answer is a lot, and it still continues to leave a mark on this life I love. Over the many years of my involvement in the game I have learned that life is full of ups and downs. Baseball teaches people to bounce back from negatives, this I believe.

It was not until the age of 10 where my career really started to kick in and I did not take baseball for granted. It was a sport that I always liked to play. I always played every summer in a youth baseball league. It was a recreational league, but it is where I made some of my best friends. This league made it feel like we had no responsibilities and the social environment was one that I will never forget because being able to talk to others that understand what you mean is nice to have. When first starting that league my dad started coaching me up until I was eleven. Then he started taking the game to heart. We were still too young to fully understand that and he made a few kids cry and so the league banned him from coaching. So, my next year my grandpa took my dad’s spot and coached the team. There was always one rivalry we had. It was a team with almost all the older and best players in the league. Every year they went undefeated, except one. It was the finals game and it was a double

I remember the time I arrived to the plate with a man on third base in the bottom of the 9th inning when my team was down 1 run. I stepped out of the box to take a look down the third base line for signs and what he told me to do was “Cody, do your job.” I gave my coach a nod and went back into the box. I stepped into the box and my mental thinking was, “leave nothing back and let’s win this game.” The pitcher started his windup and throws strike one to me and then strike two. I finally realized that this next pitch was going to be a strike; therefore, I was thinking, “I am swinging on this next pitch.” The pitcher did his windup again and the pitch was thrown low and outside, and I took the swing. The ball landed in the hands of the shortstop man. I hustled down the line as fast as I could and I stepped on the bag before the ball hit first winning the game for my team.

Hard work never goes un-noticed, and although I did improve, I had acquired the label of ‘outfielder’. The position that wasn’t home to me, but I was forced to recognize as my spot on the field. My first year of Varsity softball arrived and I made it clear infield is where I wanted to be, but my coach’s confidence in me continued to lack to match the level of mine, along with the fact the returning third basemen was a veteran. And the outfield is where I was sent, yet again.

As my Varsity baseball team suits up for practice we whip out our “Easton Mako Bats” and our “Evo-Shield arm sleeves.” Everyone prepares for the season as we break in our new 200-dollar gloves. As I Un-zip my “Demarani Bat Bag” I search for the stick of eye black that seems to add spice to my game as I smother it under my eye, to “reflect the sun” of course. Our accessories become a part of our game, and we begin to value them more than the game itself.

Ever high school baseball player has to remember there very first high school baseball game. I remember playing two inning in state playoffs for baseball. I only got to play those two inning because one of are teammates had to stop playing. It was the best two inning in my whole life it was so much fun but also so nerve wracking at the same time because I didn’t want to mess up anything or let my team down.

And that ended in a strikeout. I banged the bat on the ground and then I walked into the dugout and soutdown. The our assistant coach talked to me and told me to relax see the ball and swing nicely. Then I got my glove and went to shortstop but that whole enning no balls came to me and the other team hit a homerun with a guy on second

I was at first basemen and that's when I realized that the pitcher was warming up. We were ahead 6-9 but they were up to bat. I was so nervous I was jumping up and down. Once The pitcher was done warming up the first batter was up to bat. It was one of there best players it just made more nervous. But luckily I was almost the best first baseman on my team but not quite yet.

it's a hot Texas Sun beat down upon my neck a fast ball whizzed past my bat and into the catcher's glove after you had another strikeout. I trudged back to the dugout thoughts of failure filled my mind of my confidence slowly vanishing. I wasn't accustomed to anything less than success before high school. I prospered in youth athletics while living in South Dakota. I had a phenomenal baseball coach to transform my robbed potential into success on the baseball diamond. Unfortunately, my father's Air Force career demanded that we move before my baseball season. Without me my team went on to win the city state championships advancing all the way to the Little League World. When I was younger my family moved to not affect my athletic performance the difficulties began I was torn from my tight-knit community in Northern Virginia and forced to adjust to life in West Texas prior to the start of my freshman year. I struggled to regain the close friends and relationships I left behind for the first time in my life.

But whenever we got to hit I wouldn’t be able to hit. You see the other team never had enough players so while my team was hitting. I was stuck in right or left field kicking grass. I still loved to play ball but it got so boring not being able to hit. Well that is how baseball was for one year. Eventually baseball got more serious and I hit lots. I didn’t hit very well but I was so glad that is still

did things people asked me to, but nothing more than what was expected. I faced very few setbacks. School was great and I put little effort into it, and still earned decent grades. Within softball I was working at an acceptable pace. Every now and then I wondered what I could achieve with a little effort. I had a pretty good attitude towards life and was proud of who I was. I lived up until 7th grade with thinking I was doing fine. It became an issue when I would want to be better at things, but I did not want to try hard.

From softball, to jobs, to community service, the plethora of knowledge I received shaped me into the person I am today. My involvement in a variety of activities make my success in life, possible. Although I may continue this sport after high school, it has still given me lifelong lessons that I will hold on to for the rest of my being.

Until I became a high schooler my dream was to grow up always playing softball. Softball was my all time favorite sport to play. My dream was to be a softball athlete my entire life. When I was younger I started playing as a little kid and I grew up playing until my sophomore year in high school. I played on and traveling team and started on the high school team practicing and playing with all my closest friends. I played for DeWitt and Maquoketa and I had fun both way. I always tried to stay active in it.

We hit first and the first two batters got struck out. It was then Carley’s turn and she hit the ball to left field and got a single. Then, it was my turn to hit. I stretched my arms one last time before I got into the box.

When I got there know one was there so I had more time to practice. A little bit later there was a really good player on the other team practicing to but I think that he was the pitcher so I think he was seeing how fast I swung the bat. When I looked over to see how fast ball was going It was going as fast as a hummingbird flapping its wings.