The Lafayette Generals season, and my son's HS career, ended tonight with a 1-0 loss to Lexington Christian Academy in the first round of the Kentucky playoffs. It was an amazing HS baseball game, heck it was an amazing baseball game for any level. Combined, the pitchers for the two teams only gave up 5 hits and 3 walks, and one of those was intentional. Only one error was committed by either team, and it didn't lead to anything. Realize folks, these weren't the aces for either team, each team was saving their ace for tomorrow night if they won. The game ended with Lafayette having runners on first and second with two outs and Lexington Christian turning a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

The tears were flowing as my son and the other seniors gathered out in RF after the end of the game. Three of these seniors have been playing with and against each other since they were 9 years old, they won a World Series together, and have state runner up medals, but they are all going their separate ways next year. (Lafmom, you never warned me that this would be so hard)

D didn't get a hit, pulling what would have been the tying HR foul in his last time up, but he did throw a runner out stealing, which he always thought was better than hitting anyway.

You couldn't ask for a better set of seniors than D and JW and G and JL and JC and E and K. The younger players all lined up to say their goodbyes to them as they came back to the dugout after the game and a few of them (my son included) kind of just lingered in the parking lot, not really wanting this to end, because they knew that they wouldn't see each other that much any more.

However, as that journey ends, the off-season workout requested by D's college team starts....tomorrow. I'm back on the rollercoaster, folks.

JohnLex ~

Know exactly how you feel ~ posted last week about Zach's last high school game. Several parents and boys had tears in their eyes and streaming down their faces. While there were lots of emotions, I didn't cry; I guess because I knew I would see him play ball again.

The rough time came yesterday during Baccalaureate when I saw he and his friends, caps and gowns, filing into the church. Parts of the message were also touching, the reality of his actually leaving and being on his own, making decisions. I'm sure graduation Friday night will also be quite emotional. And as one journey ends, the next begins. . . where is he now, at an All-star game playing. Next week, summer ball. . .

And so it goes. . .

Continued good luck to D next year in college.

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(Lafmom, you never warned me that this would be so hard

I think what makes it so hard is that first, you just don't visualize the last game ever being the last game... you always want to win and go on. Then, I don't think there's anyway to know how that last HS game feels until you're there.

I know our last home game, the senior parents and players hung around the field for an hour taking pictures, hugging, and crying. Then our last game in the regional tournament, we hung around Madison Central's field for over an hour. They were so gracious... didn't turn off any lights... didn't stand staring at us... just left us alone to say our goodbyes. I can still remember Michael's face when the boys came in from OF (after about 30 minutes) and he saw me. The other boys were already crying, but his didn't start until he saw me. Then I saw Don Roe hugging him and telling him how things were "just beginning" for him... that's when he broke down and actually began sobbing!

I was talking to 03Parent over the weekend. She was telling me how sad an experience that her son's last college game (regular season) was for her. I did sympathize, but it was hard for me to imagine any "last" game being more touching that son's HS game. I guess I'm fortunate in that I'll get to find out one day.... as you will to John. I'll let you know how it compares!

Best of luck to D... I really am going to try and get to Evansville, even if my favorite ISU player won't be playing against those Purple Aces! I'm also going to try to catch JL at EKU. One of Michael's best friends from JUCO has also signed with them. As usual, my spring has filled up before I've even put up an '08 calendar! What is a Purple Ace by the way!?!?!?

These type of sentiments always draw an emotional response from me. My son had tears his last game because he loved the game and his teammates. Even though he knew his career was not over, he still hated seeing high school ball come to an end - he loved it that much. I wasn't as emotional his last game until I saw him and how emotional he was. I told him there was nothing to be sad about because he put his heart and soul into winning and playing the game the right way. I knew in the back of my mind his career was not over so that made it easier for me to deal with. As time goes by, I realize how special those experiences were.

The high school experience is unique. Many of the members of the team have been teammates for years and years, with some going all the way back to T-Ball. And the bond between the parents runs extremely deep -- after all, they have watched ALL of these boys grow up and have participated in their lives in meaningful ways.

We are about to embark on a trip this morning to attend what will be my son's last college game (hopefully that last game won't be this afternoon, but it's a tournament, so you never know ). I think it will be emotional for my son, but I don't feel as attached to this team as I was to the high school team. I don't know the players nearly as well, and there doesn't seem to be that bond with the parents that was there in HS. As so many have pointed out, the college game is VERY different from the HS game, and this is one more aspect of that.

But my husband and I will be emotional because we have been "baseball parents" going back to 1982, when our now-30-year-old son began T-Ball. THat is now coming to an end. WOW. Yep - we're feelin' it

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The high school experience is unique. Many of the members of the team have been teammates for years and years, with some going all the way back to T-Ball. And the bond between the parents runs extremely deep -- after all, they have watched ALL of these boys grow up and have participated in their lives in meaningful ways.

Yep, I think you nailed this one LHPX2! Very strong ties and long-time bonds that hold together high school teams. Therefore, the emotions run deep too.

LHPX2....safe travels and best wishes to your son as he plays in his last college games this weekend! Hate to say it, but SOMETIMES I actually feel "lucky" that my son was injured and able to get a redshirt so that our journey isn't quite over yet (when it should have been). Just had our end of the year banquet Sunday, and the guys Joe came in with in his recruiting class are all graduating and leaving the program this year. Just Joe and one other guy remain from the original group. It definetly won't be the same next year.

But, as with those experiencing the last high school season....another adventure awaits. One door closes and another opens. I often tell myself to just sit back and enjoy FEELING what life brings your way.

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I often tell myself to just sit back and enjoy FEELING what life brings your way.

That's a beautiful and wise thought Kathy B!

Kathy M - I agree with your analysis! I think the HS and college experiences are so different and they bring us some of the same emotions, but for different reasons and on differing levels. The end to anything in life can bring sadness, but also allows us the opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and look to the future. Life is all about what we do with our opportunities, isn't it. Best of luck to Mike and team! Safe travels!!

Brandon and his teammate's journey ended, as well, last night. It was a hard fought game by both teams. Knott lost 9-8. They were down 7-5 in the 7th, two on and two outs. Brandon had already batted flying out to center. Cody hadn't batted the whole game. Coach had him DH'd in a big game. Yea, Cody was coming up to bat with those two outs and a mountain of pressure on him. First pitch was a strike and we, parents, prayed he wouldn't strike out. In what was, probably, his best at bat in his young HS career, Cody fouled off two pitches before being walked to allow the next batter to drive in 2 to give Knott the lead. But in the bottom of the 7th a hit and 2 doubles finished the game.

Words just can't explain how it felt at that moment. The team went to RF to give hugs, cry a little, and reflect on their past accomplishments. They remembered the good with the bad.

It's over for Brandon until college. He is supposed to play on a college league starting in June to get him geared up for college baseball. As for Cody, he has 3 more seasons and a whole lot to look forward to after this season. He's already showed that he can keep up with his big brother's and to make his way onto the next level.

I personally would like to thank Lafmom for all the advice that she has given. Brandon is very appreciative as well. I don't think that we could have done what we have without her advice.

JohnLex, I'll keep up with D. I know he'll do great.

Tas - That's way too generous of a comment, but is very much appreciated! It sounds like your last game was a bittersweet one.... I'm sure that was a sad ending for B., but what a game to remember for Cody!

Share with us or PM me where B is playing this summer.

Tas, I'd love to know where B is playing this summer as well, drop me a line if you can!

Folks one more part of them growing up that I hadn't even thought of...it's Primary Election day here in Kentucky...D cast his first vote ever. Wow.

Once I find out what league it is, you'll be the first ones to know. Brandon will be playing with some of the boys from Alice Lloyd. That's all I know right now, they didn't give a team name or league name. I hope to find out something by the weekend.

Cody was very sad after the game. He came to the realization that he'll not be playing on the same team as his brother's for the first time. It'll be the first time for Brandon as well. He came up with his older brother and after he graduated, Cody was beginning to practice with the team. But, they'll be fine once they get back to playing. They'll, both, be home arguing and such for the Summer.