Come to find out, the cup didn't even belong to one my boys. It belonged to a friend who didn't seem the least bit embarassed over my discovery on the kitchen table. He happily grabbed it from me and went on his way. Oh the joys of being around boys and baseball.

Finding the cup wasn't joyous, but it's a small price to pay for the joys we've gotten from baseball. Who knew I would one day be talking about the new Catalyst bat, much less paying for one. Or how about talking about who can throw a good "change up" or whether any young child should be throwing a curve ball. Those are my newfound smaller joys in life, but the bigger lessons in life for my kids are also being learned on the field.
My older son is heading to the State Tourney with the St. Matthews Nationals. I am so proud of my son, more importantly the team. Because the great thing we've all learned from this group is that "team" is why we've won.
I listen to the coaches after a tough game, talking to them about battling back. No one in life is handed a win, you have to earn it. I hear the coaches talking to the boys after a win, saying make sure you congratulate the other team, they played well.
It's a matter of respect.
I watch my son bond with the other players on the team, kids he's gotten to know through baseball, kids I feel certain he will stay in touch with. He is learning the lessons of life through a game I have come to respect. And with that, has come more respect for my son. While waiting to find out whether he made All-Stars he confided in me, if he made the team and two of his friends didn't, he would step down because he believed they were the better players.
If those "lessons learned" are because of baseball, I say my son or any of his friends can leave a cup on my kitchen table anytime!
Go St. Matthews!!!