Happy Birthday to daddy. He official joins the 50 and older crowd. You know you’re a good daddy when the boy hit his first home run over the fence and into the weeds….off he ran to retrieve the ball. After locating 5 different balls, he finally found the one Zachary hit. We love you.

So, two little puppies officially started doggy training, well almost. We have started on our own with sit, stay and come here. Next Friday, the real work begins as their new trainer arrives to size up the situation. And trust me when I say, there is a lot to size up. Here’s hoping the man doesn’t run from the house screaming who are these people and their crazy dogs.

This week, we did a lesson with one of Tom House’s top guys at NPA. He remembered Zachary and told him you have been one of the best we have seen on video. Pretty lofty words for the boy. We had booked the lesson to have him teach a curve ball. And yes, we know many people think the curve ball is a non pitch for little guys. Tom and his group refute it and have done testing to show that curve balls, if done properly, are actually safer than a fast ball for young guns.

But before we even got to the curve ball discussion, Dean noticed that Zachary was already almost throwing one for his fast ball release. He quickly pointed this out and taught Zachary how to correct it. His last words, now your fast ball will be even faster. And for us, we have an explanation as to why his balls always tailed while warming up. It was his release.

Yesterday, was the first day we had him out to throw off the mound to implement the new advice. The fast ball is straight and fast, finally. And he attempted his new curve ball. When thrown right, that ball is nasty.

Dean mentioned that they want a tunnel with spread. By that, he means it comes away from the pitcher like a tunnel for all of his pitches and then spreads to different points of the plate. As Tom likes to say, three good pitches to 4 parts of the plate. The boy on his way to learning.

Finally, the weather has turned better for us. We are out of that awful Artic air and the sun has been out. Can’t wait for spring.