Barnwood and Tulips: Lessons learned from the diamond

Most of my stories take place on 2^nd East or the ball park. My kids will back me on that fact. That’s where most of my life lessons were learned and by far the best memories were made.

Baseball was religion to our clan on 2^nd East. Our summers began and ended with baseball. Vacations, scout camps, and family gathering were all scheduled around baseball and Bill Kringlen. We knew nothing of 4 wheelers, boats, or far away vacations. Not many people in “those days” did. Even if we had heard of these “toys,” we were much too poor to own them. But you know, I look back now and I liked it that way. It was a perfect way to grow up.

Rigby and I have raised our Fab 5 in much the same way. Only, we have added, football, hunting, basketball, music, student government, scouting, and rugby to the mix.

Our baseball “vacation” to Washington this year taught me a little more... I hope it did as well to Halladay, Zobell, Wilcock, Hardin, Whitehair, White, Rigby, Raddatz, Macinnis, Jacobs, Williams, and Dailey. These 12 young men are my “team” and their families have joined my ever large and continuously growing baseball family.

Six weeks ago, Rigby and I dropped our first son and our first “ball player”, Seleck, off at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. That was what I refer to as our “Weeping Wisdom Wednesday.” This kid loved the game of baseball- man he could run the bases. But he did not have raw talent, he wasn’t fluid, and he was too much of a thinker. But he was coachable and he had tenacity and a work ethic that outmatched any player on the field. As we dropped him off, he shared something that has stuck in my head.

As alligator sized tears dropped from his eyes, Seleck pulled Madsen aside and said in almost a sobbing whisper but with power, “Madsen, sports aren’t important, but the things that they teach you are…”

Now, he didn’t learn that because he was a star athlete. He learned that from the bench. He learned that from being a team player. He learned that by being at practice every day and by giving 100% and then some- he was pushing the guy who did get more field time. That made his team better. There is no “I” in team.

Seleck also taught Rigby and I a few things… you see now on our 3^rd son we have gained perspective. We have learned to not dishonor our sons’ work ethic by second guessing coaches or by offering our opinions to them. Now this is tough- I am a momma bear like no other. But I am learning.

For us, baseball is an experience. And for these 12 boys who drove 1000 miles to compete in the Western Little League Tournament, it is a memory they shall never forget.

The team walked away with one win and two losses. Some had a better tournament than others, but they each took the field, felt the dirt crunch under their cleats and heard the ball zing through the air. “Baseball was, is, and always will be the best game in the world.” (Al Spalding)

We left the dirt a little sooner than we had wanted and returned to our little home town to find the air had changed… football season is here. We will be under the lights most Friday nights from now until November watching #19 at QB, but we will cherish the lessons under the summer sky that the diamond has taught us, the friends and family it has given us, and memories it has embedded in our hearts.