Sports Update

Ok. The only sports-free time of year for us (usually from Christmas through mid-January) is coming to a close. We have five athletes in this house, all of whom keep us hopping with all the games they play. Let's start, youngest to oldest.

Tyler got rostered by a select soccer team with our local travel league. He'll be playing on a new, U9 team for the Spring soccer season, in the BBSL. I offered him the chance to also play baseball because he is good at it, but he declined. He'll also keep singing with the church youth choir, so his plate full anyway.

Taylor is signed up for baseball. He'll be moving to the Minors this year. Our league has also discontinued their affiliation with Little League of America, and has switched to Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken. There will be quite a few changes from what we're used to, including Winter workouts (which is fantastic!) starting in two weeks. Tay also keeps youth choir. He also had the option to play on the travel soccer team with his brother, but he opted out. The twins have really made an effort the last few years to avoid each other in sports. I think this is a good thing.

Kenzie will still be the busiest homeschooler of the family. She was chosen, by her soccer coach, to join two teammates in representing their U12 team in the BBSL All Star games in Baltimore in two weeks. She starts Futsol (U12) this coming weekend, and will play on the U12 travel team again, when outdoor soccer resumes. I also convinced her to sign up to play softball with our local league. She will be playing with the 12U team, and I told the current coach I'd help. that helped Kenzie decide to go along. She wanted me to coach, for some reason, don't ask me why. It won't be the same as LSL or RB travel ball, but it will keep Kenzie in the game, and she will be playing up at the level she belongs. We will do some limited travelling, and may even play against Lake Shore, Bayside, or other teams in the area. Again, she also has choir, and is looking to take guitar lessons from a friend of ours. She'll fill in her free time with piano lessons and recital (of which we have one this Saturday). Oh, and now she's looking in the Yellow Pages for vets, animal clinics, and humane societies, because she wants to get a job (or volunteer to help) at a place that give her experience that will help in her future veterinary career. What's next?

Connor is Mr. Steady and Reliable where Kenzie is the picture of Volatility. Connor continues his stellar piano work, select soccer, and baseball. He will also be playing Futsol, starting this weekend, with teammates from his outdoor team. Then, the outdoor team will gear up for the Spring season. He will also play Babe Ruth baseball at the 13 year-old level. He wants me to coach his team, too, but they usually turn coaches away at this level because it's baseball, and all the dads want to coach baseball. I told him I'd help wherever I could, but the coaches they have will be better than I.

Alex, thankfully, took a season off from soccer last Fall at his school. He will not take off from baseball, however. He loves baseball. SO, add baseball to his Mission Club and ACE club memberships, and he'll be staying after school just about every day of the week when baseball season starts. Yippee: that means I get to drive to Easton every day because there's only one public bus home from school, and that leaves at 3:00. At least next year, I hope he'll be able to drive himself at least a little.

Come Fall, we'll be adding athlete #6 when Bekah starts soccer. We might look into dance class for her, too. She loves to dance, and has the energy that only four year-olds seem to possess.

And that's a glimpse of my coming sports season.