Silas - Baseball 2022

** Guest Blogger **

Eric Hendrickson

Game One - Monday, May 9th

I am coaching Silas this year in 10U baseball.  This is the first year where the kids pitch.

Silas started the game and pitched one inning (I had each pitcher pitch one inning).  He didn't give up any runs.  He didn't give up any runs but I noticed he was aiming the ball instead of throwing it.  This was something all our pitchers were doing.

Its going to be hard to hit your target if you can't see your target.  Keep those eyes open.

Silas hit great.  He had a hard ground ball down the third base line that just kept rolling and rolling for a grand slam.  He also had a ground ball single between shortstop and second base.

Silas did a good job of catching for one inning.  He also played shortstop and first base.

We won 15-3.  We had some hits and a lot of walks.  Hopefully the competition improves.

Game Two - Wednesday, May 11th

Tonight we played another Haysville team.  I knew this team would be good because this team also played us in basketball.

The other team had some good, hard throwing pitchers and Silas hit very well.  He had a fly ball to right center field for a double that scored three runs.  Also, he hit a line drive up the middle for a double that scored 3 runs.  He ended with a ground ball up the middle for a single.  I like that he is hitting the ball up the middle and to right field.

He also caught two innings.  He is impressing as a catcher and gets really excited for opportunities to throw out base runners.  

We were up 12-9 in the last inning.  We had some missed defensive opportunities and lost the game 13-12.  Pitchers are still aiming, but I thought this was a good game against a good team.

Game Three - Monday, May 16th

I thought this would be an easy win, but it didn't turn out to be.

Silas really struggled pitching.  He started the game pitching 1 -2/3 inning giving up 6 runs.

He lost confidence and it ended up affecting him at the plate too.  He had a pop out, strike out, and reached on a hit by pitch.  Corbin came in relief as pitcher and saved the game.

We were down 7-0 and came back and won 8-7.  It was an ugly game.  We continue to stress to the pitchers to have confidence and throw the ball.  If they don't think they can pitch well, they won't pitch well.  Silas played shortstop after pitching.  I may start using him a a relief pitcher to gain back his confidence.

Game Four - Wednesday, May 18th

Another ugly game.

Silas is a good catcher and I heard a remark from the other coach that he is a wall behind the plate.

Silas continues to struggle at the plate.  He had a strike out and a walk.  We had bases loaded the first two innings and didn't score.

We lost 5-9.  The level of play in the league is much better than I expected, which is great.  We need to rise up and play to the level that we are capable.

Game Five - Monday, May 23rd

We played a good Rosehill team tonight.  We may not have won, but we played much better.

Silas is an impressive catcher.  Each game, the other coach always comments on how good our catcher is.  He threw a runner out at second base.  His throw was hard and on a line landing perfectly at the side of the bag.  Our shortstop caught it at just the time the runner was to touch the bag.  He had another runner thrown out, that the ump called safe.  I got a warning from the ump for contesting that one.

Silas got out of his hitting slump.  He had a hard ground ball between shortstop and third that he scored on aggressive running from overthrows.  He had a pop fly between shortstop and the centerfielder for a single.  

Silas, Owen, and Isaac.  We are hoping Owen can play the last few weeks of the season (broken wrist)

Silas had a lot of fans there tonight.  Ernie and Judy (below) and Popee and Nanee.

The Rosehill team had some cocky kids on the team that didn't show good sportsmanship while shaking hands.  They were hitting our teams hands hard, which caused me to use the dad voice.  

We lost 13-12.  Had we went another inning, I believe we would have won.  Isaac started pitching with confidence.  The kids are swinging the bat better and confidence is growing.

Game Six - Wednesday, May 25th (postponed till June 7th due to rain)

Silas and I headed off to Mulvane while Stacee and the girls stayed in Haysville for Phoebe's game.

I remembered to take a few pictures while coaching third base.  Silas's first at bat was a homerun over the centerfielder's head (it actually was a triple with advancement home on an overthrow).

Silas also walked and struck out.

Mulvane had a really good pitcher.

We lost 8-2, which was our worst point differential of the year.  However, it was not a "bad loss".  It was a "good loss" and one of our better games of the year.  A few missed opportunities and it could have been a win.  One on defense and Silas had an opportunity with bases loaded but struck out.  Isaac pitched well and a few kids who haven't really hit the ball this year, hit the ball.  We left knowing we played well.

Game Seven - Wednesday, June 1st (postponed till June 21st due to rain)

We got to play one inning tonight and the game was called due to weather.  We were up 5-0.

Silas walked.

And, he caught for Issac.

Game Eight - Friday, June 3rd

We played a Mulvane team.  We easily should have won.

Silas had another rough outing.  After giving up 3 runs with bases loaded and only getting two outs, I pulled him for another pitcher.  He continues to aim instead of throw.

The rough start to the game with his pitching spilled over into his hitting.  He had a ground ball to the first baseman for an out, a walk, and a strikeout.

I see that he has his hand turned on the release, which isn't good.  I had brought this up to him earlier in the season.  He is also closing his eyes.  Silas has some good mechanics as a pitcher but the aiming, release, and eye closing is really limiting him as a pitcher.

Silas did do well as a catcher.

We lost 6-10.  I keep hoping things will click and we will get on a winning roll.

Game Nine - Monday, June 6th (postponed till June 22nd due to rain) Then RAINED OUT and NO MAKEUP GAME.

Game Ten - Wednesday, June 8th

After losing four games in a row, we were in need of a win.

Silas started off with an infield single to first base that scored the first run of the game.

Silas did much better as a pitcher.  He pitched two scoreless innings.  He did still aim some, is still closing his eyes with the delivery, and not delivering straight down with his release.  Some things I need to work with him this weekend. 

Isaac caught while Silas pitched.  He needed some adjustment on his head gear.

Silas also doubled to left center scoring two runs.  I am glad to see him hitting again.

Silas played the last inning at shortstop while Corbin caught for the first time this year.

We won 7-0.  It was a win-win for both teams as the other team has struggled with pitching this year.  Their pitcher walked few batters, which required us to swing the bat.  For the most part, our hitting is improving.

Game Eleven - Monday, June 13th

Tonight was a rematch against the best team in the league, Haysville 1.  Stacee was at Sarah's basketball game, so thanks to Lindsee for taking the pictures.

Silas did a good job at catcher.  Silas struck out his only at bat.

Below, Will talking to the guys in the dugout.

We had bases loaded the first inning and the second inning and only scored one run each inning.  It was 4-2 going into the second inning when we gave up 5 runs.  We were one easy pop out away from getting out of the inning 6-2.  Since the other team was up by more than 5 and the game time had expired, we didn't get to hit the third inning.  Isaac pitched really well for two innings but his shoulder hurt the start of the third inning so I replaced him with Corbin.

We lost the game 9-2 but the final score was not a true reflection of the game.  Owen, who broke his wrist the first practice of the year was back playing tonight.  Even though it was 102 degrees.  The boys came out strong and played hard.

The new "Haysvillians" came to watch the game.

Game Twelve - Wednesday, June 15th

We played a Haysville team we beat earlier in the year.  They had a pitcher that was much improved.  One of the best we faced the entire year.

Silas struck out and walked.  The first inning Silas gave up 5 runs.  Much of this was due to poor strike calling, missed "out" call in the field, and lack of hustle.  We started poorly and I lost my cool, mainly at our lack of hustle but somewhat also at the umps.  Silas won't be able to continue to pitch if he keeps up these arm mechanics and closing his eyes.

We were down 5-4 when time expired.  They allowed the game to continue and we lost 10-4.  Silas started throwing very hard. (he showed the difference between his aiming and throwing).  It didn't add up to many strikes, but it was the velocity I have been wanting to see.

We were missing some key players tonight, which didn't help.

We ended up the season 3-7.  This was quite disappointing because we had a talented team. The biggest contributors to our losing season was lack of confidence in pitching ability (talent was definitely there), poor starts to games (attribute that to coaches), and the competition being much better than expected (this was a good thing).  We will lose 4 of our 12 players due to age and 1 due to moving.  We will have to recruit some players for next year but have a pretty solid core to start with.

End of Season Party - Braum's and Swimming - July 26th

We postponed the end of season party and had it right before the end of season pool party that the Haysville Activity Center puts on for all the softball and baseball players and their families in July.  The season didn't go as well as I hoped but I sure enjoyed the coaches and the kids.