Summer and baseball just go together, don't they. The pop of balls hitting gloves, and the crack of bats (or maybe its a ping now that the younger guys use aluminum). And, then there's the seeds, crackerjacks, popcorn or hotdogs -- whatever fits your taste or your waistline. The cool breeze blowing across the grass. It's just a feel good experience.

When I first came to Alaska I felt baseball deprived. No more weekend drives to Seattle to watch the Mariners and players like Frank Robinson (then a Manager for the Angels) step into the batters box during batting practice to knock a dozen balls over the left field fence. I thought I'd have to squeeze the whole experience into one day of a sumer vacation in the lower-48.

But, then I had children, and then I discovered, right here in Anchorage ... baseball ... that would be, Little League baseball. And, all the fun just reappeared right here at home. Only, in a way its even more fun.

Oh, I know, there are always those few obnoxious parents (I mean what adult outside of prison yells things like "here's my favorite meatball pitcher . . . throw us some more meat" at a 9-13 year old kid), or bullying coaches (here's a clue coach, if your voice starts to crack, and your face turns red, then you are way too worked up to coach a bunch of kids ... tone it down and make the same point ... amazingly, the kids will still listen). But, I digress.

It is so much fun to watch a bunch of kids learn to play baseball, and even more fun to try to teach them. The most satisfaction I have felt in as long as I can remember has been seeing the ear-to-ear smile on the face of the kid who just got their first hit, caught their first fly ball, or made their first play in the infield. Or, slapping the hand of my cute little shortstop as ... she ... rounds third after having put a line drive over ... yes, that's over ... the left field fence. Or, seeing the sheepish grin on Brad's face (my friend and fellow coach's son) whenever I remind him that a girl took his pitch over the fence. Or, hugging my son after he stole a 3 run homerun from an opposing player that was on its way over the left-center fence (maybe next time Braden). Or, coaching a team of mostly talent challenged kids, teaching, drilling, and then watching them smile after they ... win more games than anybody ever expected.

And, here's the great part. You can get in on some of the fun right now. Alaska's District 1 Little League is holding its District Tournaments right now. The Little League Division (11-12 year olds) are playing at the Abbott-O-Rabbitt fields (corner of O'Malley and Lake Otis). The Juniors (ages 13-14) start their tournament today at the Far North field (those controversial "Simonian" fields it took 2-3 years to get approved that are located back on Elmore). Come on out and watch, its free, and everybody is welcome.