Episode 209: Eight Players. One Team. | We Lost a Player in the First Inning, Played Short-Handed & Still Won 9–2 | Teamwork, Resilience & My Mom’s Simple Advice for Life

We started the game with nine players. Then Zeke got hurt in the first inning. That meant we had to play almost the entire game with only **eight fielders**. Full infield. Two outfielders. That was it. Before the game, I had told the boys we were 3–3–1, and if we won our final three games, we’d have the best record in the league. Not because the record matters that much. But because sometimes you need something to chase. I told them: **“Don’t worry about all three games. Go 1–0 tonight.”** Then I reminded them why we lost our previous game. Overthrows. Missed balls. Holding onto the ball too long. Little mistakes. Tuesday night, they cleaned it up. Skyler and Karter both pitched great. Luke was outstanding behind the plate and twice hustled after passed balls to get runners out trying to score. Rhys played well at second, took a fastball to the inner thigh, walked it off, and then kept running aggressively. Reed ripped a ball that should’ve been a home run. Will turned a dropped third strike into a trip all the way around the bases because he never stopped hustling. Final score: **Orioles 9. Rockies 2.** And what struck me most was this: **We didn’t need nine players to play like a complete team.** We needed eight players willing to do their job. But this episode also has something special. My 76-year-old mom was at the game, and I asked her one final question. After surviving cancer, raising four children, watching kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids grow up, and seeing plenty of good days and hard ones, what’s one simple piece of advice she’d give to these boys and anyone listening who may be struggling? Her answer was simple: **“Just keep trying.”** That may be the best lesson from the whole night. You may be short-handed. You may be hurting. You may be behind. You may not have ideal conditions. But you can still keep showing up. You can still do your part. You can still keep trying. 🎙️ *Summit After the Storm Podcast* Season 6: **Lessons in Real Time** 📖 *Summit After the Storm* releases November 10 🌐 **SummitAfterStorm.com** #SummitAfterTheStorm #LessonsInRealTime #YouthBaseball #Teamwork #Resilience #JustKeepTrying #Parenting #Coaching #LifeLessons #Faith #Leadership #KeepGoing #BaseballLife #ChristianPodcast #KeepClimbing