Clarksville Little League Parade

We had a long and chilly day, as did many other baseball families.  Bright and early at 8:30 this morning, we were getting ready for the annual Clarksville Little League Parade.  Each team in the league had a "float" and we traveled all around Clarksville, waking people out of their weekend slumber.  Daven really wasn't sure what to think.

As you can see in the background, we had firetrucks to accompany the troop.  One of papaw's fellow police officers led the parade, while many others blocked off traffic so that the kiddos could ride around safely on a variety of different trailers and trucks.

I rode on the trailer with Daven and his team while daddy drove around and watched us from a couple different spots.

After the long parade route, we ended up back at the ball park, where they handed out trophies for the best floats in each division.  There was a scare and a pause in festivities when one of the coaches had a seizure.  Luckily, there were plenty of nurses there to help take care of him until the ambulance could arrive (Aunt Lauren and Uncle Gary were part of the group that helped him) and we hope that he is going to be ok.  It was startling to see, but all of the kids did a great job staying calm and remaining out of the way.

Our team won for the tball division!  I'm sure that the dugout moms made that possible.  All we did was show up to an already decorated trailer.

After all of this, we took a lunch break as a family to Arby's and then Daven played a game.  I didn't actually get any pictures, but he was a trooper and actually got up to bat twice.  He didn't run the bases, but it's progress!

We all took a nap when we got back home.  Phew, what a day!

Daven's First T-ball Game

Almost all of these pictures were taken by Aunt Lauren and her new camera.  Thanks, Lauren!

It was an interesting first t-ball game for our family.  Luckily, the weather was finally nice and Mother Nature decided to give us an actual spring day!  It was definitely an interesting experience, starting with us finding out that we had lost Daven's glove sometime after his first practice a few nights before.  His coach gave him one to use though, and we will be keeping extra eyes on the next one we get him this week!

So the rules of t-ball - no one keeps score, and everyone bats.  It gets them acquainted with the sport: batting and running the bases, retrieving the ball in the field, waiting your turn, working with others.  It's a bit slower-paced than Daven is used to though.  We bought a tee for him to have here at home to practice and play and he loves it.  Hit the ball, run after the ball.  Set it up again, repeat.  The actual game with his team is not like that, and I think he gets frustrated.  Who can blame him?

He spent a lot of time wandering the field, being the team clown.  In bub's defense, we're pretty sure he's the youngest kiddo on the team.  Most of his mates played last year and not only have a much better idea of how everything works, but also have a longer attention span!

Daven only played half of the game, but I was still proud of him.  He's growing up way too fast.  Hopefully once we go through the motions a few more times, he will be better at lasting the whole game. 

If you are wanting to try to come see Daven in action, let me know and send me your email address.  I'll send the schedule.  He has a ton of games, both weekdays and weekends, from now until the beginning of June.

Pre-game poses.  I think this one is his old man face.

Isn't he just the cutest?  I'm biased, of course.

I have a feeling that Daven was doing his Vader impersonation when this photo was snapped.

His coach attempted to keep Daven in front of the batters, although he kept wandering off, trying to find the extra ball behind home plate.

"I dunno, Papaw.  The life of a ball player is pretty rough."

After his game, we went further into the park to watch his cousin, Cameron play his game.  This is the first year that they are playing without a machine pitching the ball. 

Helping Papaw take pictures of Cameron.