Catcher #1 is a high school junior, his high school team had a poor season, bad morale (to the point of two kids quitting the team in the middle of a game..), multiple rainouts which weren't made up, and he had a hitting slump on top of that early in the season and since there were so many rainouts, he didn't get a good chance to 'repair' his batting average. So, instead of making first team all-conference, he made second team, which is painful because he was first team last year and all-district. So, he is really down. He doesn't even want to go to the awards night.

We are playing a traveling team this summer which should be good, a chance to look at several colleges, and a chance to meet other players who are as dedicated to the sport as he is.

I was just wondering if anyone else had a high school season that was depressing??

One of the best things my son learned from his coach as a youth player was, "Never get too high, and never get too low."
You are going to have slumps and you are going to have peaks. You will be successful by staying focused on the play at hand or the next at bat and not worrying about or celebrating what came before.

In this case, your son needs to be as gracious accepting this year's award as he was last year. Even having a tough year, his accomplishments were recognized...there are many players who did not make any list. He should attend his awards and accept his with a smile and a handshake and then have a good time hanging out with his teammates.

Good luck in the upcoming season!

quote:

Originally posted by mom of 2 catchers:
I was just wondering if anyone else had a high school season that was depressing??

Oh yeah...
At least your son HAD a season.
And did well enough to be recognized at all.

I can second that playbaseball.
Mom/2catchers...your son must be a terrific player to garner recognition after that season. He needs to walk a mile in a select few cleats...the ones that suffer 4 yrs under coaches that should never have put a foot in a locker room....and are fired AFTER son's senior yr! ...coach discourages scouts with false information? I could go on and on...hopefully your son will never walk in those cleats.
He should accept that award with honor and absolutely rejoice at his good fortune.

My son's two years of summer ball were the best memories of his life. Summer ball can make up for disappointing hs seasons.

With limited games and at bats,what your son did this year is not a true reflexion of what kind of player he is. He must know that and may not be depressed but embarrassed by his awards.
I would encourage him to go to awards dinner but would support his decision if he decides not to go.

Well, he also had his first practice for his summer team the same night, so he was late arriving but he did go to the banquet. He was over his disappointment and smiled through it. I was glad he came. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement!

Mom of 2 catchers,..you are not alone.

This is my 08 son's third year on a varsity team with very few wins under their belts. We had more games rained out this season than we could make up.
It was a sloooow season,..a hard season,...an emotional season. Our boys were drug through the mud and snow and emotional trenches like I have never seen before. Personal tragedies hit our team hard and their strength as a team and as young men, was tested.
Four of our boys pulled out All League HM. We are proud of them.
Was it a great season? Definitely not,... but it was a season of personal growth both mentally and physically. No award alone can bring that.

Our boys know what they are capable of. They know that can play ball with the best of them.

So perhaps this wasn't the year of recognition by a trophey or their name on a list, but it was a year of learned diligence, unity, and loyalty to the game.

Although these accomplishments may not be recognized as a win in the score/record book,....I believe in their hearts they won.