Eight-year-old catcher helps scared batter take his first swing
Submitted by: Bobbi Yusko
My son, 8, is a catcher for our minor league little league team (in Frederick, Maryland). He loves the sport and just keeps getting better and better. But so far one of the greatest moments I have witnessed as his mother is his compassion for a player on the other team.
Trevor was catching and a player on the other team was scared to death to step into the batters box. The first time up, he was shaking so bad even we as parents felt terrible for him. The next time up, he would step in. My son called time out and went over to the boy and put his arm around him. They talked for a few minutes and then Trev went back behind the plate. Low and behold, the young man stepped into the batters box!
On the next pitch, the boy fouled off a pitch! He was so excited and so were his coach and teammates. He didn’t get on base, but he swung! After the game, the coaches and parents came up to our coach, they wanted to know if Trev’s parents were at the game. His father and I, along with Trev were called over. They wanted to tell us that they couldn’t believe an 8 year old had the compassion and sportsmanship to help the other player! The player had been hit twice the game before and never wanted to be up again! Whatever my son told him convinced him he could do it. No parent or coach could convince him but my son could! Trev was a player they were all proud to know!
I was so proud of Trev that day! He showed that not only can you be a good player, but you can be a role model by just doing what is right! Encouraging everyone to just have fun and play! I will never forget the mental image of my son’s arm around the crying player and then the player stepping into the box! I can only hope that he continues to show compassion while kicking the other team’s butt! SO so proud of my little man!
