The Baseball Diaries 2/21/13

During Zack's younger years, I kept a journal of things he said. It's fun to thumb through the pages and relive those moments. I always thought I'd remember each and every cute and profound thing he said, but these days I can barely remember where I put my car keys (and sometimes it takes a couple weeks for me to find them.) I probably should have kept this journal going but I let it lapse. (Seriously, middle school is best forgotten.) I'm going to start up again because I don't want these memories to get lost along with my car keys...or reading glasses...or my black glove.

This is Zack's freshman year at Belmont University. He is a preferred walk-on on the baseball team, which basically means he was recruited with no scholarship but could earn a scholarship in the future. Last fall, Zack talked to the coach about red-shirting this season (at Belmont, this is a player or medical decision that is made with the coach's guidance.) However, due to a few injuries, Zack may not red-shirt and is traveling with the team to away games. Red-shirted players typically don't travel. So, there's a chance he could see some field time this season.

Today, the Belmont Bruins are traveling to Athens, Georgia, for three games against the Georgia Bulldogs. This is Zack's first trip with the team and my first time staying home. (What an odd feeling!) I took him out to dinner last night because even though he's only 5 miles away from home, I haven't have any face time with him in about 5 weeks. Let it be known that face time doesn't come cheap.

• 3 new polo shirts at Steinmart - $61
• Package of under shirts and 4 boxes of gummies at Target - $17
• Steak dinner at Dalts' (after the buy one get one free coupon) - $36
• 1 box of Girl Scout cookies (thin mints, of course) - $3.50
• Cash - $20
• Hugging your kid the night before he heads out on his first trip with the ball team - Priceless!

It will probably take me another 5 weeks to recover financially.

As he was scarfing down his steak he had some stories to tell. Belmont's field is also home to Hume-Fogg's baseball team (Zack's alma mater.) He ran into one of the Hume-Fogg player's dad and greeting him with, "Hi, Mr. Harris!". Zack has known Tandy Harris since he was about 9 years old. Tandy replied, "It's Tandy, call me Tandy." Zack thought that was pretty cool...another step on his journey to adulthood.

I'll be adding things periodically as the season progresses. If you care for a bit of history, I posted his high school baseball information on "Zack Lannan Baseball" and there are several videos on YouTube.

It's Bruin time!