Alright, so let me tell you about this St Martin’s baseball session I had. It wasn’t exactly yesterday, but it sticks in my mind, you know? One of those days.
Getting Started Out There
So, I headed down to the St Martin’s field. The weather was a bit iffy, looked like it might rain, but we decided to go for it anyway. You know how it is, you get the itch to play, you just gotta go. When I got there, a few of the guys were already milling about, tossing a ball, stretching. The usual pre-game, pre-practice kind of vibe. Nothing too formal, just a bunch of folks wanting to hit and throw a ball around.
We didn’t have a super strict plan, which sometimes is good, sometimes not so much. Coach Thompson – well, everyone just calls him Tom – he had a few ideas, but it was mostly about getting some reps in. He’s a good guy, Tom, been around St Martin’s baseball forever. He’s seen it all.
The Nitty-Gritty of Practice
We started with some basic warm-ups. Arm circles, a bit of jogging. Then we moved into throwing. This is where things always get a little… interesting. You got some guys who can really wing it, and others, well, they’re working on it. We tried to pair up, but the ball was flying everywhere for a bit. Lost a couple in the bushes, standard stuff.
Then Tom wanted us to do some fielding drills. Grounders, mostly. The infield at St Martin’s, it’s got character. That’s a nice way of saying it’s got a few bad hops in it. So, you really gotta watch the ball. Some of the younger guys were getting frustrated, but hey, that’s baseball. You learn to expect the unexpected, especially on a field like that.
- We spent a good chunk of time on double plays, or trying to. The timing was off.
- Then some fly ball practice for the outfielders. Judging the wind was a whole other game.
- Tom kept yelling, “Eyes on the ball! Move your feet!” Classic coach talk.
The thing is, St Martin’s isn’t some fancy academy. We make do. We had a bucket of practice balls that had seen better days. Some were scuffed, some a bit soft. It’s not like we’ve got brand new Rawlings every week. But that’s kind of the charm, I guess? It keeps you humble.
A Moment That Stuck With Me
There was this one point, we were trying to practice rundowns. You know, getting a runner caught between bases. It was a complete mess. Overthrows, guys running into each other. It was almost comical. Tom just stood there, arms crossed, shaking his head but with a bit of a smile. He didn’t blow up. He just let us sort of… fail for a bit.
And why do I remember this so clearly? Well, it reminds me of my first ever job, working in a kitchen. The head chef, he was like Tom. When we messed up an order, and it was chaos, he wouldn’t scream right away. He’d let us feel the heat, see the mess we made. Then, calmly, he’d walk us through what went wrong. You learn more from those messy moments than when everything goes perfectly. It’s the struggle that teaches you. St Martin’s practices are often like that kitchen – a bit chaotic, you learn on the fly, and you definitely learn from mistakes because there’s plenty of opportunity to make ‘em.
Wrapping It Up
We finished off with some batting practice. Everyone loves BP. Just trying to hit the ball hard. By then, everyone was pretty tired, a bit muddy, but mostly in good spirits. No major injuries, which is always a plus. We gathered the gear, picked up the stray balls we could find, and called it a day.
So yeah, that was a St Martin’s baseball practice for you. Not always pretty, not always smooth, but it’s real. It’s about showing up, putting in the work with what you’ve got, and hopefully getting a little bit better. Or at least having a few laughs while you’re at it. That’s the St Martin’s way, I suppose.
