Page 29 - Life's Outtakes 9

For batting, I started having them just

hold their bats out, and I would pitch

at it. Gradually they started swinging

the bat, and eventually they were able

to hit the ball. The other children

were far better, but each day I could

see improvement in the two boys.

When we played our first game, I

made sure every child played. It was

not important to me if we won. I had

only agreed to coach to build

children. Sometimes the other

children would become frustrated

with my son and with Timmy, but I

always ran interference. Sometimes

parents could be even meaner, but I

talked with them before our first

game and made it clear how I felt.