My Baseball Journey and Learnings from the beautiful game

I've been playing baseball since fourth grade. It all started in 2015, when I watched a Cubs vs. Marlins game. My love for the sport was cemented by that. I recall not knowing any rules or even what innings were, but seeing Kris Bryant blast a two-run homerun changed my opinion of the sport. Since that game, I've been obsessed with baseball, and every night, I'd beg my father to join a baseball league so I could play. Finally, in spring 2017, my father registered me for the Naperville Little League. Coach Mike, my first coach, greeted me there. He was an important instructor because he taught me how to field a ground ball and swing a bat. This season did not go well because we just won one game, and I could not play that game because of a family engagement. However, the excitement I felt when going up to bat was a great feeling and made me want to continue playing this game. 

My second season was a bit of a letdown because I played Little League in the fall with an older team with many players as many as two grades above me. They were competitive, and I had not evolved as much and still needed to gain experience. They would become quite furious at me whenever I made a mistake, and I would not have as much fun. Despite this, I was able to significantly enhance my defensive ability because the coach for this team only made us practice defense and no batting. My batting remained the same since I couldn't consistently contact the ball. During my third season, my batting ability skyrocketed as I made consistent contact and hit many line drives with consistent practice and focus. After that third season, I gained a lot of confidence and increased my hitting abilities year after year as I got stronger and my hits went farther. Furthermore, my pitching was quite strong, and I struck out many batters. However, COVID-19 hit during the Spring of 2020, and I did not play Baseball that year. This would be highly detrimental to my game. 

I moved to a more competitive league called the Wheatland Athletics Association(WAA) Competitive League in 2021, the first time I tried out for a baseball team. My game was terrible at tryouts and preclinic since I had forgotten all the mechanics after not playing in over a year. But, with some luck, I was selected for the team. I met another critical coach, whose name, unexpectedly, was also Coach Mike. He assisted me in getting back into condition before the season and also taught me a few more fielding techniques. During the first half of the season, I felt like I was back in shape, and my absence for a year had no effect on me. However, I began striking out frequently in the second half of the season and kept getting underneath the ball. I had my natural swing, but as I struck out more and more, I started worrying about the fundamentals, which messed up my swing even more. My team ended up as the Division Runners Up and lost out in the finals. I played summer ball in a recreational league after the spring season. I was dominant because I hit several line drives and pitched exceptionally well. This restored my confidence, and I was selected for the All-Star game, which was a fantastic experience. After the season, the coach of that recreational team urged me to try out for the Wheatland Ducks, a travel baseball team that would help me to improve my game and make the high school roster. As soon as I understood this, I began preparing for the tryouts by working really hard for the next few weeks. I also put a lot of pressure on myself. I tried out for the Ducks, and while my performance wasn't spectacular, it wasn't terrible either, from my perspective. However, I was unable to make the team, which is regrettable. I felt like I had worked hard for nothing, which made me quite angry. Unfortunately, this thinking did not work, so my game continued deteriorating. 

At the start of my Freshman year, I attended every high school baseball open gym over the winter, which was open practice, and I would also practice a lot outside of school hours. I focused too much on making it to the school roster during this period. I used to get quite upset whenever I messed up or when my dad threw a bad ball in the batting cages because I worried about the high school tryouts. This way of thinking affected my performance and, more importantly, how much I enjoyed the game. I was playing fairly well during the spring when high school tryouts began, and on the final day I had a very good performance. Unfortunately, the coaches did not choose me because I was too slow and small. As a result, I became outraged because I felt it was unjust, given how much effort I had put in. 

I could not play Baseball for a few months because there were no open high school leagues. Therefore, I would attend a private training session with Coach Cinz. He is a professional baseball player, and when I started to see the consequences of my swings, my mechanics gradually improved. The Naperville Baseball Association, a local high school league, was where I tried out, and they were the best tryouts I've ever had. I was incredibly cool-headed and forgave myself quickly for whatever mistakes I made. I was eager to play, and I made the team. Sadly, the team that chose me was made up entirely of juniors and seniors. As a result, I did not receive much playing time from the coach, so my game remained rusty and not very good. He would only play me for two innings to give the more experienced players a better opportunity. 

I would try out for the Wheatland Ducks again after the summer to increase my chances of making the high school roster. I had a terrible tryout because I couldn't make contact with the ball, and many of the balls went overhead in the outfield. I was certain I wouldn't make the team, but my dad received an email from the Wheatland Ducks the following morning letting him know I did. I felt ecstatic since I hadn't experienced anything positive in baseball for a while. 

I first used wooden bats while playing with the Ducks in the fall. I cherished the sensation of using a wooden bat. Compared to my previous seasons, this one was among my best because I could hit a few base hits. However, my game improved in the winter. The workouts were excellent, and we would practice for an hour and a half on weekends. On both the offensive and defensive ends, they emphasized mechanics a lot. 

I spent a lot of time working out with Coach Bill Smith, the head coach. He has played the sport for more than 40 years, and when the winter exercises were coming to a conclusion and high school trials were approaching, he helped me mentally. Some key learnings from Coach Bill –

●   He taught me that you should enjoy the work rather than the end goal. This is true for baseball and all you do in life.

●     He also instilled in me the value of never giving up by sharing a moving tale of one of the former athletes he coached. That player was cut from his high school squad every year, but in his senior year, he signed with a professional team and spent his final year with them. That player is now a professional who recently won a championship and currently plays overseas.

●    He was also a big proponent of little improvements every time you step out on the field. Every little progress adds up to building a better personality the next day.

●    He emphasized focus, dedication, and hard work for your cause. This is true for your game and life! 

I was very motivated; these lessons helped me develop into a baseball player and a better person. I again tried out for the high school squad in the spring, but I unfortunately did not do well. I played with the Ducks travel team in the summer tournaments across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. I was exposed to top-performing teams and travel tournaments, including the Stay-In tournament in Wisconsin. After this season, going into Junior year, I decided to stop playing baseball. Finally, I discovered that everything occurs for a reason. I joined my school’s track and field team during my Sophomore year since I didn't make the school baseball team. I currently compete for the high school track and field team and enjoy myself. I will continue the same during my Junior and Senior years. 

I will continue to be connected to baseball - I intend to coach a Little League team next summer. 

The game itself and teachers like Coach Bill have both taught me a ton of valuable life skills. I've discovered that baseball and life are remarkably similar; both teach you a lot through failures. Several top athletes have a batting average .300, indicating a missed shot of .700 times! But instead of giving up or losing your motivation/passion over the difficulties, keep going, take pleasure, and learn during the process. The ones who enjoy this game the most are the most successful at it. So always remember to have fun in everything you do in life. I'm grateful to baseball for helping me grow as a person and improve my quality of life.