It's baseball season!

Batter up. Steeeerike. Batter's out. Take your base. Safe. I'm going to the concession stand, need anything?

Yep, it's baseball season and these are some of the familiar expressions you hear as a spectator at these games.

Austin is a member of the new freshman Alta-Aurelia team. I've only had the chance to see him play one out of three games this season but it is pretty exciting - a new name, new colors, new enthusiasm for the game -but those same darn white pants. Why, oh, why do they even make white pants for baseball players?

Austin has always been one of those baseball players that has enjoyed sliding in - even if it was not necessary - just to do it. The one game I did see he caught a great fly ball in the out field, complete with a somersault. I was extrememly happy that he caught the ball but said out loud, "Great. Grass stains!" And indeed there were; a half-bottle of stain remover got them clean for the time being.

I am not a yeller. Does that really do any good - to tell the players, especially those who are playing so far in the outfield that they look like pin heads, what they need to be doing to improve their game? It is doubtful that they can hear anything that is being said from the stands and the ones that are close enough to hear what's being said, don't want to hear their moms yelling - that's embarassing for goodness sake. Let the coaches do the yelling.

And there are those that disagree with calls made by the umpires and aren't afraid to voice their opinions. I may think it sometimes but let them do their jobs without adding how I would have made the call.

The concession stands at the ball fields always get my attention; who can resist when the wind brings the aroma of fresh popcorn and grilled items right to us. I can't resist the popcorn but usually find it to be much too salty to finish a bag and it never fails that when I make the trek to the concession stand with my taste buds screaming for a certain item from the grill that they say, "sorry, all out right now. Come back later." So I settle on something else that I don't really want (or need) and have crabby taste buds to deal with the rest of the game.

It seems baseball weather is very inconsistant. There have been games in the past that it has been so cold that I thought we were at a football game - two blankets and a heavy coat don't seem to take the sting of the cold away. Or, the weather is so hot (and buggy). And windy. Alta ball fields are always windy.

I like baseball and understand most of the rules and that's a good thing because my husband hates when I have to interrupt him and ask why something was done (like I do during football games.)

I looked up baseball terms and was surprised to see so many that are used by the Major League. These are a few of my favorites - maybe I'll start using them to really impres the people around me:

Baltimore chop - A ground ball that hits in front of home plate (or off of it) and takes a large hop over the infielder's head.

can of corn - An easy catch by a fielder.

cheese - Also "good cheese." Refers to a good fastball.

chin music - A pitch that is high and inside.

circus catch - An outstanding catch by a fielder.

fireman - A team's closer or late-inning relief pitcher.

gopher ball - A pitch hit for a home run, as in "go for."

meatball - An easy pitch to hit, usually right down the middle of the plate.

moon shot - A very long, high home run.

pea - A ball traveling at high speed, either batted or thrown.

rhubarb - A fight or scuffle.

shoestring catch - A running catch made just above the fielder's shoetops.

tater - A home run.

Uncle Charlie - Curve ball.

whiff - Strikeout.