This year was a good one! You hit great from both sides of the plate, and played super sticky in the infield, as you and your team won the league championship for the 2nd time in 3 years. Grand Ledge got 2nd place and you guys beat them 2 times to their one, along with a tie. However, they did beat you guys in the Championship game of the Haslett Diamond days tournament. That was a heart breaker, but like I told you, your league title is more important and you guys took care of business! Congrats!
You continued getting faster this year and seemed to get a lot taller. You hit puberty this year and began to get pimples and all that comes wuth that! LOL! All your hard work in the offseason, as well as the fact that your asthma is still under control helped you again this year. You played football too, which worked muscles that you haven't worked before. This is the year that I saw you get tougher, smarter on the field, and more into baseball period. You watched MLB Network before school everyday (on your own), and played MLB The Show more than any other game. Your Cubbies also got better, as they have been in 1st place the entire season. This could be the year!
You batted right around .500 this year from both sides of the plate, and really saw some power coming into your swing as you hit 2 triples in one game. One should've been a HR but you got the stop sign. Oh well, maybe next year! You also hit more doubles than ever before, and stole every base you attempted. Heck of a year man. Remember, you continued to work hard through a slump, and came out the other end better than before. I'm sure this won't be the last time that you struggle and persevere only to become a better player and person for it. I'm proud of you.
Speed videos....
@GL The League clincher
@Jackson Under the Lights
Going for 3rd...
@Home Hartrick Park
He's Safe!!
Headed Home...
GO!
Another Run in the books...
Swiper!
Sadly this will probably be your last year playing for Haslett, as we are moving down to Houston, where Uncle D lives, and much closer to your other family members. We took a once in a lifetime, mid-summer trip across the South this summer to Houston to get you all acclimated to the area. We stopped at Lookout Mountain in Tennessee, in Atlanta to see Auntie Shy and her new baby, in New Orleans where we saw the French Quarter and had begnets, and then went to Houston, where we stayed for about two weeks. You guys loved Houston, which was a big relief to me and Mom. They are very serious about baseball down there, and I'm excited for our new start!
Georgia Tech- Atlanta,GA You loved it here
Rice University- Houston You liked it here. I love it!lol
@ the Astros game with Tio and your other family members
Your Adult Doppelganger Altuve!
@Auburn
@LSU. You weren't a big fan lol
Overall 2016 was a great year. Although moving to a new place will be challenging, it's time for us to grow as a family and for you to understand that iron sharpens iron! Meaning the time for us to be where we can excel as a family is now. Hopefully you guys will understand that as you grow older. Texas here we come!
This year was a tough one for you. You endured your first hitting slump midway through the season. It lasted for quite a while. In response I got you a bigger bat, which didn't help at all. "That's baseball", Coach Bailey told me when I asked him what he thought was wrong. Me not being a baseball guy didn't understand that. You hardly noticed though, until late in the season when Coach dropped you down in the order in the Adrian tournament. You were devastated.
Holdin down 2nd Base
But I told you, you have to stay strong and work harder when things go wrong. Adversity builds character, and looking back, I'm glad you went through that. You continued to excel on defense, and by the very next tournament, you had earned your leadoff spot back. Way to bounce back lil man! Remember, it's not what happens to you that matters, it's how you respond to it that does.
Your favorite Place
Your team had a tough year as well, as you guys lost your league title to your arch rivals Grand Ledge, on the last game of the year AT your school Ralya. You guys also lost the Haslett Diamond Days tourney to them as well, and failed to win any tournaments altogether.
On deck
Last Game at Grand Ledge's beautiful park by the river
vs Grand Ledge
Physically, you got a lot faster though, and it was noticeable. You hit a growth spurt that I think may have contributed to your struggles. You're growing up on us, and most of the time, growth isn't easy. Overall though, you had a good year, and had fun. That's the most important thing, having fun. That goes for sports, your career, and life in general. Life is for the living, so live it up lil man!
Our yearly trip home to Chicago. Bengston's Pumpkin Fest
