Once in a lifetime....

We had a very rare treat at our Thunder practice this week.

Mike Smithson

He is a former major league baseball pitcher and he came to give the team some instruction on how to throw a ball correctly.

He played with the Rangers, Twins and Red Sox back in the 80's.

He is now the athletic director for one of our surrounding counties.

It. Was. Awesome.

He went over the basics - because sometimes you just need to go back to these every once in a while. He showed them the best way to hold the ball to make it go straight.

He watched as they played long toss.....

Then he did individual instruction for each player.

It's all about the mechanics.

Tyler has great mechanics - Mike said so.

Tyler's only problem is his release. He doesn't always release in the same spot so his balls are not always strikes.

What did Mike say about this?

"With mechanics like that why are you throwing strikes? Throw me a strike right now."

And he did. Not once, not twice but three in a row.

Hopefully we can carry that onto the field in our next game.

Now I think this was the moment that Charlie had been waiting for ever since he knew Mike was coming.....just to meet him.

He turned into that little boy all over again. The one holding the baseball card waiting for an autograph. It was funny to see Charlie so enamoured with a baseball player!

Had to get my actual 8 year old in a picture too!

Mike brought something with him that they may never get to hold again.....his world series ring that he won while playing for the Twins. It was huge! I am not sure Tyler even realized what he has on his finger right there - but it could probably pay for our house.

Then every little boys dream - an autographed baseball card!

A great practice with a great player....