THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE IN!

Don Andrew and Don Matthew came west for a wedding—of course, with the Duke and Duchess. Everyone had a joyous time the evening they arrived, and Don Andrew and Grandpa Sancho made plans for high adventure the following day.

Morning came and here came Don Andrew to pile in bed with Grandpa Sancho and Grandma Sancha. We had a wonderful time watching Jo Jo and eating breakfast in bed. Don Andrew ate half of Grandpa Sancho’s bacon. Thinking he could meet any adventure on three little strips of bacon, Don Andrew could not quite sneak by the grasp of the Duke who had him eat some cereal just for good measure.

We were there in the bedroom and Don Andrew found one of those souvenir bats from a Texas Ranger’s baseball game. Grandpa, was this your father’s bat? Our brave little knight was in really deep thought. No, I think that was your mother’s bat she got on one of those trips to Arlington. To this he said, Grandpa, I brought my ball and glove, let’s play baseball.

Now, Don Andrew and Don Matthew each have a real major league baseball from a recent Texas Ranger’s game. Two ladies had each retrieved brand new balls during batting practice and were quite taken with Grandpa Sancho’s two very cute grandsons. The ladies gave each of them a ball.

So, we were off to play ball. We did this for a long time. For a four year old, Don Andrew hits extremely well when Grandpa Sancho gets it near his spot. We played a long time there with him taking time out to swing on his tree chain that he likes so well. Then every one else came outside.

Now, when Don Andrew hits one and it is on the ground and Don Matthew is the first to reach it with his big chubby plastic bat, he starts attacking the ball and plays baseball a lot like Happy Gilmore played golf. If you haven’t seen that movie, you haven’t missed too much.

Anyway, this old sharecropper got kind of tired and started pitching rather badly. Don Andrew said, Grandpa, you know that guy that has the funny looking mask on and says ‘Out?’ I explained all that to him. The umpire is the one who calls strikes and balls and calls the runner safe or out. His old squire showed him how the umpire can put his thumb up and says, You’re out! Then I explained how the batter is out when he gets three strikes on him.

After awhile Don Andrew swung at three in a row and missed and just kept on batting. At this he exclaimed quite loudly for everyone outside to hear, Guess what? At Grandpa’s house you get three strikes and you’re in! Now, that is optimism, don't you think?

Here came a 1½ Happy Gilmore wide open attacking the ball all over the front yard. Don Andrew decided it was time to be Tarzan and began to swing in the tree. We’ll await another opportunity to play baseball. It’s too hot anyway.