Local t-ball teams learn the basics of the bases

Being out in an open field is not fun when there's thunder and lightning, unless it's on a baseball field and it's the Thompson Falls Thunder and the Plains Lightning Tigers t-ball tykes.

They don't keep score in t-ball, so the competition level was low, but the entertainment level was high. The teams matched up against each other at Amundson Sports Complex at Plains last Monday evening, but the scene was anything but a standard baseball game. "Don't lay down," "pick up your glove," "stop playing in the dirt," and "no, run that way," were some of the remarks from coaches Amy McGraw of Plains and Trent Harmon of Thompson Falls. 

Harmon said it's sometimes a challenge to keep the kids' attention on the game, yet he said coaching them is a lot of fun. "The kids have a playful heart and such big smiles. It should make anyone watching enjoy life just that much more," said Harmon, who's in his second year coaching. "This age group can only digest so much, but as a coach, you want them to understand it all and play the game as best as possible," he said.

"Sometimes at this age it's hard to maintain that enthusiasm when you are not always directly involved in each play of the game," he added. "They are all enthusiastic for at least the first half hour as long as they're not cold. They love to hit so when they're up to bat they are pretty focused, too," said McGraw. 

Last week was the first game of the season for the Thompson Falls Thunder, but Harmon is optimistic his team will get better as the season continues. For the t-ball coaches, teaching their players fundamentals of the game is one of their main goals. The t-ball boys and girls range from 3-5 years old. For most of them, it's their introduction to the American Pastime.

"They are definitely fun to watch and coach," said McGraw, who's in her second year of coaching in Plains. For the nearly 70 spectators at the game, it might have been more entertaining than watching a competition. Thompson Falls was up to bat first. Each player had a chance at bat and each swung until contact was made - sometimes it took several swings. The average hit went from mere inches to about 15 feet; seldom were any balls hit beyond that, although 6-year-old Josiah Nestor smacked the ball in the air passed second base, the only player to do so.

Harmon said that the youth sports, including t-ball, aren't just for entertainment, but are opportunities for the kids to develop motor skills, relation skills, and how to handle emotions that will shape them as they grow into adults. "We as coaches, and parents, and spectators need to be there for support and reinforcement of those skills, good morals and values," he said.

Destination after a hit was first base, but some ran in the other direction, the pitcher's mound, or they just stood there. When they got to first, they stayed until the next hit. None went more than one base until the last batter, when they ran the bases all the way home. All players took to the field, but when the ball was hit, several players piled on the ball. It sometimes took awhile for a player to come up with the ball and then a bit of prodding from coaches to get the player to throw the ball to first, although it seldom made it all the way. "It was good to see that kind of hustle, but we will need to reinforce that to make a good, quick play for an out, we can't fight each other for the ball," said Harmon. 

This was the third game of the season for the Lightning Tigers, who have already played Noxon and Hot Springs. McGraw has 10 boys and three girls on the team and Harmon has eight boys and six girls on his team. Both have been practicing for two or three weeks, teaching the kids the basics, such as how to swing a bat, how to throw and catch, and base running. 

"Some kids still need coaching on which hand to put the glove on and where to hold the hands on the bat," said Harmon, who remembers playing t-ball as a youngster. "I try to teach the kids a bit of baseball vocabulary, which direction to run the bases and how to throw with accuracy to get those outs on base. But mostly I hope I am teaching them to love this all American sport," said McGraw, who also instructs them on throwing to the cutoff.

Both coaches were pleased with their team's performance last week. "They all did amazing, especially since the weather wasn't the best. They were cold and the wind was blowing, but they still gave it 100% or at least 98%," said McGraw. Harmon said the kids had a lot of fun, which is important. "Compared to practice, they hit the ball well, better than expected," said Harmon. "The fielding experience was new, because in practice we only had half the kids in the field while the others were batting," he said. 

Both Harmon and McGraw see some formulating skills and hope to see players participate in upper level youth baseball or softball. Working with the little ball players can be frustrating some days, according to McGraw. "And those are the days when I just roll in the grass with them, which every one should do once in awhile."