We’ve entered a new chapter in our lives of raising rugrats. I’ll refer to it as Chapter 23 – Organized Sports.

This is Gavin’s first year playing tee-ball. Gav plays the position of official dirt kicker. What’s that? You didn’t know that position existed? Well, it does and as the mother of the official outfield dirt kicker I’d have to say it’s a pretty important spot on the field. It allows the player to have a wide view of the action, observing and readying himself for the perfect play. Or, when the game isn’t moving so fast, it allows the player to twirl in the dirt, do a somersault or two and lastly flick red dirt up with his new “go-fast shoes.”

I was beaming with pride last Thursday evening when Gavin stopped a ball and threw it to third base – an indication that somewhere along the way he had paid attention. He even got a game ball for his stop. However, I’m pretty sure what happened next should have negated his prize.

Our team was down and every move counted. Gav was in his dirt-kicker position when we heard the crack of the bat (well, the ding of the bat). The ball was headed toward Gavin and little Jacob. (Side note: Somewhere along the line we forgot to mention to Gav that baseball is a “team” sport.) Both the boys pounced on the ball and began to roll around in the grass to decide who was going to throw the ball in. Gavin came out of the scuffle victorious … he had the ball. He threw it in … after the other team scored several runs. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so much laughter at a baseball game before.

It took some convincing for Gavin to understand he didn’t get the game ball for scuffling with Jacob, but for the stop he made before that. It was all the same to him though. He’s been so excited about his game ball that he's slept with it every night since then.

Eva Faircloth is a former newspaper editor who resides in Loxley with her husband, Lee, and two sons, Gavin and Ethan. She can be reached at eva@cyrisoft.com.