I had to slow down my stride during my run yesterday to traverse a very wet, mushy patch on the soccer field portion of my run. This spot happens to be right next to my childhood baseball field, Centennial Park.
I was just past the midpoint of my approximately 50 minute run up and down the hills of White Rock, so decided I would take a minute to catch my breath, and check out the old field. It's still a well used field during the spring and summer, and the surface is still almost the exact same as it was when I was 9-12 playing all my league and all-star games on it. It's where I hit my first home run, where went out to throw with my dad almost daily for a couple of years to bring me from the "minors" classification to the "majors", from a very so-so, non-driven 9 year old to one of the top pitchers in the province by the age of 12. It's where I began to love baseball.
I walked down onto the field, stepped on the mound, and shamelessly threw about 5 pitches, without a ball or glove, all strikes of course. I couldn't believe how damn close that 46 foot 12 year old mound looks now! I backed up a bit to right behind the mound... well, it's not much of a mound really, more flat with the grass making up the sides now.
This is a park that I still work out at. When I start my throwing program in January, I will likely utilize Centennial as one of the backstops I'll throw numerous beat up baseballs into for my regular off season arm building process.
It was a nice little 3-4 minute stop to allow my sweat to break and catch my breath. I guess you never forget some of those places that changed your life or sent you on a certain path. This is one of those for me. See you in January Centennial.
Quick Bio
- LB 44
- I am a right handed pitcher, born and raised Canadian with a recently aquired Dutch passport, enabling me to play for the Netherlands national baseball team in all international events such as... Beijing Olympics 2008, 2009 WBC, World Cups in 2007 + 2009. My beautiful wife 'Shorty' and I are following the career wherever it takes us, this year... New Mexico, Vancouver, New Hampshire, Florida, Holland, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, Oklahoma, France and everywhere in between.
3 comments:
On my frequent runs on the soft track adjacent to Centennial park, I often stop and let my mind go back to those times as well ... as a parent sitting in the stands, rain or shine, socializing with all the other parents, cheering you guys on. Then over the last few years helping out during your off season by video taping your mechanics while you are throwing your long toss ... you are living the dream and we are thankful we are part of some of it ... we so enjoy the ride!
Thanks for your coaching at CCL today. You are a very good coach. My son like your coaching, very friendly, very funny, the most of all, he learn new skills. We have been to Taiwan. We love that country, friendly people and good foods. You post many interesting pictures about the tournament in Taiwan.
Just checking in on you to see how you have been making out this season but looks like you've been neglecting the blog. How about catching us up on things?
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