Today we can call the “DAY OF BASEBALL”. The weather was beautiful but like always HOT… I am not just saying I am sweating a little bit. I am saying like you don’t stop sweating. And then when you move anywhere you are caked with sweat. That kind of HOT!
So we started today in the town we played the baseball game on Monday. And we did a baseball clinic with about 80 – 100 kids. We get there and we forgot the baseballs (that we didn’t know we had to bring) so one of our interpreters had to leave to go home and pick up some baseballs. And then we begin without him. We communicated that we wanted them broken up in 4 groups. Well the question was then what do you do with 4 groups of 20 kids each with 4 baseball total. So we got them started stretching. The baseball’s finally got there and we figured things out. We had a pitching group with Todd, Eli, and Alex. Sam and Keagan led the catcher group. Jordan, Corey, Scott and Andrew were leading the outfield group. Ryan, Matt, Nick, and Pat were leading the infield group. It was an interesting challenge to show them drills without being able to speak their language, but we did. And it was a lot of fun. The kids at the clinic loved it and it was fun to see all of our guys using the drills they learned over the years of practice for the Clinic.
After the clinic we talked to the whole group. Eli shared about some of his story. And we passed out t-shirts and bracelets which the kids loved.
In the afternoon, we played our second game. It was a wet field, which added to the humidity. Sam, as the catcher was drenched in sweat. Keagan was pretty wiped out after pitching as well. We were doing really well up 3 – 0, and then 6-3. But then Ryan got plunked in the head. And it really did ring his bell. And the phrase “that will leave mark” came true because it left a small mark. He is good now… We ended up losing the game 10 – 6 but played even with them. We then sat with the team and talked to them as well. We had a ton of kids in the stands listening to us as we talked. Oh I should tell you, that we even had a PA announcer announcing the game in Spanish. I think he said Jordan Rice 6 times during his at bat. But it was fun… Two things you need to know about baseball in the DR. They can turn a double play… and stealing is very difficult.
A great day… Excited about tomorrow where we will play our last game and then head to an orphanage in the afternoon. The guys have been great. I have loved the way they have formed some tight friendships throughout the week. And how we are 1 group. It’s been a great week and we have 1 more day of serving and 1 day of fun… then it’s all over.
