3 May 2025 - Calvin Baseball

 

For those who follow my ramblings here, a week ago back on 27 Apr our grandson Calvin hit not just his first home run but then hit a second one the same day!  We were able to watch on the Game Changer app which was not as great as being there, but was still awesome.  So we were excited that we could return home a few days early to attend his baseball games this weekend.  

This is the "business end" of the Game Changer app.  It is amazing we can watch and listen to these games, including stats and play-by-play from virtually anywhere we can access the Internet.  Thank you Miranda!!  

47F here at the campground this morning.  So we dressed up warmly, including Liberty, and headed into Ankeny to pick up Calvin and take him to his baseball tournament in Grimes IA.  Our daughter-in-law Ashley (mom) had to work this morning and our granddaughter (older sister) Hailee had to defend her high school graduation paper very similar to defending a doctoral dissertation.  Our son (dad) Dan drove our grandson (older brother) Daniel to his baseball tournament near Cedar Rapids Iowa. Just a little busy here!!

When we arrived at the ballpark and started unloading the equipment, chairs, etc from the truck I got a royal scolding from this killdeer bird.  She had laid her eggs in the ground just a few feet from the truck and she did not want us anywhere near her eggs!

Before the first game, the team took turns in the batting cages honing their hitting skills.  Calvin's coach is in the Iowa Air National Guard at the base where I served from 1977-2015.  

Calvin getting warmed up

The first game started at 1200 hrs and Calvin played shortstop to start with.  Like his older brother and his dad, Calvin is an awesome catcher, a great pitcher, and really solid in about any position he plays.  His dad bought a weight set this past fall and the boys have been working out in their garage on their own. 

His first at-bat he walked.  Next time up he singled to the third baseman and ultimately scored.  His next at-bat in the fourth inning, with the bases loaded, he smashes one over the center field fence for a grand slam, or "grand salami" as my son calls it!  And we were here to see it!

 His team, the Ankeny Titans 12U ultimately lost the game by a couple runs, but the boys played very well and they were defeated with class just as they win with class.  Calvin got the "Dinger" award for his home run, and the "MVP" award for his contributions that game.  Again, we are so glad we were here to see this.  

Grandma (Nana) Doreen, Calvin, and grandma Jodie

Calvin's cheering squad!

So that was our day!  To be cool again tonight with a low of 43F but no rain. Sunny and mid-60's tomorrow as Calvin's team plays at 1000 hrs so we will be there to see the boys give it their all!