Batter Up!

What can be more fun that watching a Little League game on a warm, summer night? Photographing one!

Little League baseball had it's official "opening" last Friday night, when the thermometer actually hit 80 degrees! What a joy to sit outside in shorts and a short sleeved shirt to photograph my 3 young neighbors who all play on the same team - the Pirates! It was great fun to follow them through the camera lens and record them throwing, running and batting. They are growing up quickly!

There was one particular rule at this level of Little League that I thought was interesting. If the ball was in the infield, you could raise your hand up (if you had the ball) and that meant 'time out.' Every movement stopped to allow the kids to process what had happened and think through to the next batter and what might happen - i.e. where to throw the ball to get an out.

"WOW," I thought, "wouldn't it be great if in real life you could throw your hand into the air for a little 'time out' to get your bearings and go on with your life?" "Stop everybody! I've got the ball and my hand is up in the air! STOP!" Just then, this young, talented boy stepped up to the plate and swung his bat like a pro. He snapped me back into reality as I made this shot.

It was fun to be a kid again, if only vicariously.