Might As Well Face It...You're Addicted to Baseball! Travel Baseball Part II

 2005-2013 or 56 Dog Years

You might be addicted to Baseball when...

Searching for cleaning products to get stains out of baseball 

pants becomes your personal search for the Holy Grail.

 'Family Vacation' really means, the beach and a baseball tournament.

That's a lot of Shoes!

There are more cleats in the house than Imelda Marcos has shoes.

Or maybe the measure of baseball addiction is putting together your own baseball team. If so, I need Baseball Anonymous.

We have been at this a long time.  Ryder has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old. Let me just say, it feels a lot longer than 8 years.  That's because baseball never stops. It's a lot like 'Dog' years, every year of baseball equals 7 dog years.  With Summer travel ball, Middle School baseball, Fall ball, off season, indoor workouts, pitching and hitting lessons, our life revolves around America's Pastime. I'm tired just thinking about it.

So why did I decide to put a travel baseball team together?  Clearly, I am not playing with a full deck. I must have thought I didn't have enough to do.  However, George Steinbrenner himself would have given me a 'Thumbs Up' for effort.

Thanks George!

With a little help from my friend, who's kid happens to be an Ace pitcher, we embarked on this journey together.  We  secured the coach we wanted, grabbed a few of the best players we could find and made most of the baseball community furious along the way.  I think the Zombie Apocalypse will be easier to go through than facing the wrath of angry baseball parents.

Zombies...Not Baseball Parents, but close!

We pushed forward, scouted talent, called parents, lost sleep and finally came up with the team roster.

Let me just say, we had high hopes and were full of enthusiasm as we took the field for the first time. By the end of the weekend, our pitcher's sent 2 kids to the hospital and the police were almost called to ensure a fight didn't break out between the parents. Oh, the joy of sport!

We had a good season, won the State Tournament, and a few others. Our team had great parents and the boys enjoyed being teammates.  The season ended one sunny, Sunday afternoon and we all said we'd see each other in the Fall.  I swore I would NEVER do it again! Never, Ever, Ever, Never!

Hot Dog of a Coach

My new team is coming along nicely. We have a 'Hot Dog' of a coach, a few new players, new name and some really great parents!  I am checking into Baseball Rehab any day now.

Sheri Super is a Realtor at RE/MAX Preferred Properties in Knoxville, TN and an avid baseball fan.     www.knoxsuperagent.com   865-218-1115

Travel Baseball or This is Worse Than Dance Mom's ! Part 1

As a successful Realtor in Knoxville, I am not immune to running into, and working with some nutty people. However nothing could have prepared me for TRAVEL BASEBALL!  The sport where 14 year old's become the 'Boy's of Summer' and embark on a magical journey of baseball fields, hot apple pie and Mom! Well, not exactly.

Exactly what happens when mom and dad take little Johnny to the ball field is a phenomenon we may never truly understand.  Parents setting up their lawn chairs against the fence to 'cheer' on their son, sounds innocent enough, but in reality, there's nothing innocent about it.

Parents become coaches, announcers and baseball experts with each pitch, strike, ground ball and home run. Screaming at umpires for bad calls or screaming at kids for missed balls.  Faces red from the sun or disgust for the opponent.  What Fun! 

I have to admit, Xanax and duct tape can be found in my baseball bag.  Sometimes it's duct tape across the mouth for me and Xanax for my friends. Other times both the duct tape and Xanax are all mine!

Each game holds the promise of victory or agony. Each game becomes the 7th game of a World Series. Each parent like a dog after a bone, relentless in their pursuit of the Baseball Hall Of Fame!  

Each season begins with blooming friendships and team spirit. Each season ends with friends moving on and new teams forming.  Parents barely speaking and coaches running for their cars. There's nothing like it!

I make a New Year's resolution of sorts at the start of each season.  I promise not to yell at my or anyone else's son. I promise not to express my opinion to the coach, even if I believe myself to be an expert on the sport.  I promise to play nice with others around me. And I promise to encourage my son no matter what happens.    

I proceed with a smile to the first game, prepared to live up to my resolution.  I sit next to my favorite baseball friend, set my baseball bag down and open my Diet Coke.  "Strike One!" I reach into my bag for the duct tape....It's going to be a long season!

Sheri Super is a Realtor with REMAX Preferred Properties in Knoxville, TN and an avid baseball fan!