PLAY BALL!!!

Baseball season is officially underway in London! The boys are participating in London Baseball. Jack is on a "coach's pitch" team and Owen is on T-ball. The baseball games are played on the same fields where they played football in the fall, Wormwood Scrubs, a.k.a. "The Scrubs." The Scrubs is usually a micro-climate as well. If it is sunny and in the 60's in St. John's Wood, you can be sure it is about 30 and rainy at The Scrubs, which is only about 10 minutes away.

The first two weekends of baseball, however, have been absolutely beautiful! Sunny and 60's, hundreds of little baseball players with sixteen fields going at once. The format is quite simple - practice from 9:30-10:30; game from 10:30-11:30 on Saturdays and Sundays and bank holidays.

The first stop for the grown-ups upon arrival to The Scrubs is the coffee van. You would think they were giving away the coffee because the line is always at least 20 deep throughout the morning. I have been known to return to the line at least once in a morning.

Our friend Andre Basile is coaching Owen's team - his daughter Sarah is also on the team...the Astros! In addition to Owen and Sarah, other teammates are friends Mia Goldstein, Charlie Bramlett, Ellen Garkish and Catie Hamilton. The highlights thus far are constantly hearing, "drop the bat, now run" "run the other way, towards first base" "no, it is not time for snack yet."




Jack's team, the Twins, is a little more advanced. The coach's pitch to the kids rather than using the "T" but the same issues come up..."drop the bat, now run" "first base is the other way" and "no, not snack time yet." Jack is on the same team as Henry Hamilton and Grace Basile. He likes to tell everyone that his nickname during baseball season is "Slugger." We are all on board with that.



Kate wishes she was on a team too. For now, she plays on the sidelines with Daddy and her buddies Tommy and Lucas. She'll have her turn someday.


Overall the kids are learning a few baseball skills while the coach focuses on teamwork and sportsmanship, which is great. Meanwhile we enjoying seeing friends, having coffee and watching the kids have a great time. It's also nice to get a taste of America every weekend....right down to the hot dogs after each game!

Cheers!