How to make "Championship Dirtbag Soup"

T.E.A.M....yes, Together Everyone Achieves More...it applies to our team, the Long Beach Dirtbags...( yes, dirtbags,what could be more appropriate for a bunch of 10 & 11 year old boys) and win or lose, it is all how you play the game, on and off the field....Last night they played their last "season game" before heading to playoffs..(oh, & we won the first place team...which I believe may put us into third, but regardless of what place it puts us) I wanted to share a bit about the fantastic team that Jack is part of..Ladies and gentleman, I give you the Long Beach Dirtbags

Now, long story short, last year we had some unfortunate situations which lead us to leaving the organization early in the season with Jack feeling like he did not want to play Little League anymore.  During Fall sign ups, I ran into Coach Larry and he noticed that I was only signing up Ben...but what about Jack...you see, Coach Larry was one of Jack's coaches waaayyyy back in the beginning, when his son Caleb & Jack were so little...anyways, to Larry's disappointment, Jack did not sign up..until a letter addressed personally to Jack from the President of Little League came, inviting him back, and making such an incredible impact, Jack agreed...and by the grace of God and maybe a little begging by me, we ended up back on Coach Larry's team!  This season has really made a difference, not only in the life of my boy, but surely in the lives of the 11 others on the team, as well as the little brothers of the team, the moms & dads, grandma's & grandpas...etc.

It will be a lifetime of incredible friendships for some of these boys, and not only them, but the parents as well, in fact we are a bit concerned on what we are going to do after the season is over...

so, when you make soup, you need to gather all of the things you love...

12 boys that equal a team of respect for themselves and for others                                                         2 handfuls of happy & dedicated happy coaches                                                                                   1 unbelievable Team mom                                                                                                                1-2 moms that are able to scream loud, wipe tears, clean wounds, run for ice and bring snack               3-4 little brothers that want to play with the big boy teams                                                                  2-3 parents that can keep score, watch the game and carry on a conversation at the same time(not me) 1-2 homes with pools for 12 dirty stinky dirtbags                                                                                1- unofficial official photographer (hmm...it keeps me out of the pics!)

add all of the above ingredients together with some love, disappointment, happiness, dirt, baseballs, "cups",bats, attitudes, tears, victory's & defeats, snack bars, gloves, cuts & bruises, rain, cold & heat, oh,some SKILLS and many many hours, and you get yourself some Dirtbag Soup.....

little brothers that cheer for big brothers (so stinkin cute)

families that dress their dog in the team gear

dedicated & more happy coaches and happy moms

 

a bit of good ol fashioned strategy...

I could go on forever with this, but I wont...You know me and my heart soaring feelings....this team gives me wings, as I am sure it does for all of the boys & their families....

Great Season Dirtbags....off to the playoffs.....

Comments

[Susan]

Go Dirtbags! Best of luck in the playoffs!

[Cheryl McCarley]

Short story had me in tears! What an awsome story. He'll always remember that.
Go Dirtbags!