Season Finale
So, Erik, Nicholas and Paul came in for the end of the season. Erik is a pitcher from Mill Creek who has played his freshman year at Cal Lutheran. He is adorable with mid length curly dark hair - the kind I would have killed for when I was younger. Paul is another pitcher from Kirkland who is going to Edmonds Community College. He has actually worked as a real estate agent when he first got out of high school. He is upbeat and outgoing. Nicholas is a utility infielder from Henderson NV who spent his first year at San Diego State but is not going back as he did not get playing time. He also injured his elbow. They played in the home stand against the Walla Walla Sweets. Sunday morning we came back from breakfast and Nicholas was sitting in the living room watching TV. (it was about 9AM). He said Paul was supposed to get up and drive him to Mass at 0830, but slept in. He needed a ride to the field for batting practice, so I took him. He wanted to know if families got in for free. His mom, aunt and cousins were coming next weekend and "someone" was coming to watch him that day. Since I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, I figured it was a girl. Later I texted him and said he could put this person in touch with me and I could have them come in on my host family pass. He declined, saying it was "complicated" and he would tell me later. That afternoon after the game, he did not come home with the other dudes. Apparently it was his EX-girlfriend who came and he was out with her. At 10:30 that night, he texted me that he would not be coming back that night, got a place to stay. Hmmm. Monday was a day off, and I was working. When I got home, the pitcher dudes said that Nicholas's girlfriend had kicked him out of the car and locked him out at the Kingston ferry dock and they had to go pick him up. They then convinced him to get her to let him back in the car. He stayed there that night and got picked up by the team bus that had to take the ferry for the road trip to Wenatchee.
The Wenatchee series was poor. Without Dalton and some of the other big hitters, the team just didn't have what it takes. Erik threw a few innings. I don't think Paul threw at all and Nicholas only played a couple of innings at the end of some of the games. They didn't get back until 0400 Friday morning.
I did get to talk to Nicholas about his girlfriend. Apparently, his parents don't like her and she is bipolar. I told him about our son's ex-girlfriend which was a similar situation. Now of course, he is married to a wonderful woman. Nicholas wistfully said he hoped that would happen for him. I wasn't supposed to tell his mom about her being here last weekend. Oh, the drama!!!
The final home stand was this past weekend against the Portland Pickles - who won the first half of the southern division. They hurt us badly - one game 12-1 that both Erik and Paul came in relief. I had gone on a long hike that day and did not make it to the game. I was so exhausted, that I just left them a note as to where the food was and I would see them in the morning. When I got up, Paul was gone (no note, no text, no warning). Later in the day, I texted him and he apologized. Since he had pitched the day before, his boss wanted him to work at home on Sunday, so he left Saturday night.
Sunday was the last game of the regular season. (a one point loss in extra innings) Erik's parents came and took him home, and Nicholas's mom, aunt and cousins came to take him home as well after the game. The boys came up into the stands in the middle of the 8th inning to give us roses. They are so sweet. Got some pictures and a chance to meet their families. I think Nicholas is going to JC in Las Vegas in the fall and live at home. Good choice.
It was hard to write this as I miss those boys so much. Dean and I now have a little game we play. Whenever we see a ball hit anywhere on the field that is not caught, we say "Dalton would have had that" even if it is in the opposite field or an infield hit. We not only say that about the Lefties, but the Mariners and BoSox as well. He is now larger than life. I only hope his elbow heals and he can play. I have texted him a few times and he misses it so much. He did post a very cute photo on Instagram with a large fish he caught with that same smile he gets when he hits a home run.
The beds have all been stripped and remade with clean sheets. The towels are washed and ready for our next guests. I just hope to keep in touch with these young men who have made my summer so wonderful. Roxi, the woman who has had up to 16 of them at her house at any one time is grieving as well. There is something special about baseball players. Who knew?
Only 9 1/2 more months until next season.
The Wenatchee series was poor. Without Dalton and some of the other big hitters, the team just didn't have what it takes. Erik threw a few innings. I don't think Paul threw at all and Nicholas only played a couple of innings at the end of some of the games. They didn't get back until 0400 Friday morning.
I did get to talk to Nicholas about his girlfriend. Apparently, his parents don't like her and she is bipolar. I told him about our son's ex-girlfriend which was a similar situation. Now of course, he is married to a wonderful woman. Nicholas wistfully said he hoped that would happen for him. I wasn't supposed to tell his mom about her being here last weekend. Oh, the drama!!!
The final home stand was this past weekend against the Portland Pickles - who won the first half of the southern division. They hurt us badly - one game 12-1 that both Erik and Paul came in relief. I had gone on a long hike that day and did not make it to the game. I was so exhausted, that I just left them a note as to where the food was and I would see them in the morning. When I got up, Paul was gone (no note, no text, no warning). Later in the day, I texted him and he apologized. Since he had pitched the day before, his boss wanted him to work at home on Sunday, so he left Saturday night.
Sunday was the last game of the regular season. (a one point loss in extra innings) Erik's parents came and took him home, and Nicholas's mom, aunt and cousins came to take him home as well after the game. The boys came up into the stands in the middle of the 8th inning to give us roses. They are so sweet. Got some pictures and a chance to meet their families. I think Nicholas is going to JC in Las Vegas in the fall and live at home. Good choice.
It was hard to write this as I miss those boys so much. Dean and I now have a little game we play. Whenever we see a ball hit anywhere on the field that is not caught, we say "Dalton would have had that" even if it is in the opposite field or an infield hit. We not only say that about the Lefties, but the Mariners and BoSox as well. He is now larger than life. I only hope his elbow heals and he can play. I have texted him a few times and he misses it so much. He did post a very cute photo on Instagram with a large fish he caught with that same smile he gets when he hits a home run.
The beds have all been stripped and remade with clean sheets. The towels are washed and ready for our next guests. I just hope to keep in touch with these young men who have made my summer so wonderful. Roxi, the woman who has had up to 16 of them at her house at any one time is grieving as well. There is something special about baseball players. Who knew?
Only 9 1/2 more months until next season.
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