Connor's summer baseball experience with the Jays culminated in a trip to Panama City, Florida for one final tournament of the summer season. Due to his basketball commitments and conflicts, this was a trip that didn't come together until the very last minute, and Connor was SO excited when he realized he would be able to go. Jeff volunteered to join Connor while Kaitlynn and I stayed home for work and cheer activities, and they drove 9+ hours to join the team for both work and a little fun. By the time they made it to Florida, they were ready and excited for the week-long experience ahead.
Almost as soon as Jeff and Connor arrived, the baseball tournament was underway. The weather was typical for Florida in July - super hot and humid with some torrential downpours throughout the day. Rain or shine, the Jays gave it their all and played some great baseball along the way. I was so thankful for the team and action photos sent out from a couple of the Moms on the team. Love seeing my player doing his thing!
Connor's pitching was really improving throughout his time as a Jay, and he was always excited for the games when he was able to take the mound.
But it was Connor's batting that really began to improve throughout the summer with some incredible hits to power his team ahead in the run column. With all of his playing time, Connor really hit his stride behind the plate and ended up recording an incredible .511 batting average by the end of the summer. His confidence was sky high and he relished pouring over his stats from such a strong summer baseball performance.
One story I heard quite a bit about from one of the tournament games was a "confrontation" that Connor had with the catcher during one of his at-bats. Connor will say that he innocently asked the catcher a question which later escalated into a conference between the coaches and umpires. But the series of photos from the incident seemed to show a testosterone battle between some competitive players during an intense game. Connor now proudly displays a photo of the catcher's gesture - seeming to show "I've got my eyes on you!" - as the screen on his phone. Ha! What I was NOT amused by, however, was Connor's act of taunting towards the pitcher when he made it to first base - all caught on photo. I'm not a fan of these type of antics!
What we witnessed throughout Connor's summer with the Jays was the noticeable difference that true camaraderie makes on the team's overall performance. As these players began to feel more comfortable together and bond as a team, their game greatly improved - as did their fun in the dugout. Connor started the summer unsure about his teammates and his role in the group, but by the end of their time in Florida, these players had truly become a winning TEAM.
While in Panama City Beach, the baseball games were only a part of the full experience for the Jays. The team camaraderie, downtime at the beach, team dinners and hangouts, and overall FUN made the week such a great time for the parents and players alike. Beyond the actual games played, THIS is what baseball is all about, and we're so thankful for the amazing experience!
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