In T-ball, each team bats all the way through its order during each inning. The other team is arrayed in a semi-organized fashion throughout the infield, including a couple of players in the pitchers area who wear batting helmets for protection. Each batter is awarded first base, regardless of the defensive team's ability to pounce on the batted ball and propel it in the general direction of the first baseman, who may or may not care to stop the ball from sailing (or more likely rolling) past the base to the fence guarding the dugout. Game play involves an extended tutorial on hitting for the batter from the coach at the plate, followed by a ground ball that is quickly swallowed up in a scrum of pint-size athletes adorned with genuine Major League Baseball-licensed shirts and hats. If all goes incredibly well, the baseball eventually sails toward first base out of the cloud of dust that marks the pile of bodies where the ball eventually came to rest.
Thankfully, because this is T-ball and to not baseball, everyone seems to have a great time doing this, since it is exactly what is expected. Because we had to be at Disneyland less than two hours after the start of the game this week, Michael could only play for the first half-hour. This meant he played in the field for the duration of the other team's at bat, and he also got a turn at bat since he was the leadoff hitter for his team. Michael was one of the kids placed at the pitcher's position, which as it turns out seems to be a critical defensive position. He made several nice plays on the ball, meaning mostly that he successfully fended off his own teammates who were also scrambling for the ball. He seems to be thoroughly enjoying the game, which makes it all worthwhile.
Some pictures:
Warming up:
Checking the equipment on defense:
Preparing to hit:
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