Dax's Baseball Season

Dax switched to the Diamondbacks this year. 

Dax switched baseball teams this year so that Dad could be an assistant coach with an old friend. We knew that by putting our boys together we'd have a pretty good team. Our team was good, too. In fact, we went undefeated in regular season play right up to the last game, which Dax missed because we were in New Zealand. This dropped us to second in our division, but we still made the city tournament.

Unfortunately, Dax missed the first two games of the tournament as well. His team, the Diamondbacks managed to split the games, so they still had a chance in the consolation bracket. With Dax's accurate pitching, smooth glove at shortstop, and sweet swing at the plate, they still had a chance. They won several games in the bracket, easily qualifying for State. The finally made it all the way back through to the winner's side. On Monday, they'd play with the final teams. A loss and they'd get third. A win, and they'd play for the championship on Tuesday. But Dax had a decision to make. He chose to go to Yellowstone with his family and let his team take third in the tournament. It was a hard fought battle, and he's proud of third place.

Dax always looked so little standing up at bat.

This was the first game he pitched in for the season. 

Dax really became a great pitcher. 

We loved watching him play.

Dax always had a smile when he was playing baseball. 

Dax pitched a lot. 

Dax also spent quite a bit of time at catcher. 

The coach had to get special Dax-sized equipment!

We had a lot of late baseball games, but Dax was always a great hitter.

In Dax's best game he had two doubles and a homerun. He also came on to pitch in a very scary situation. It was a tie ballgame and the time was up on the clock. There was a runner on second with no outs. He struck out a batter. Then a kid from the other team ripped a line drive right back through the box. In what one spectator called "the greatest catch in Little League history" Dax shot his glove out, snow-coned the ball which was certainly going up the middle to centerfield, and saved the winning run. He would have gotten the double play, too, but the middle infielders were too stunned to cover the bag and the runner just beat him back as Dax tried to run there himself. Next, he struck out the final batter and then scored the winning run in the next inning. It was Dax's moment to pick up the team and carry them on his back to victory!

At State, Dax's team swept through pool play 3-0 and qualified for the final bracket. Then they ran into a powerhouse and lost in a close game. Dax hit a homerun over the centerfielder's head, but his team ended up losing late in the game. It was a great season.

Dax is a great fielder even though all the pictures are of him pitching.

Dax was an important part of his team.

All of the Ockeys love number 8.

We had a lot of hot baseball games!

We are so proud of Dax. 

His last game there was a beautiful moon rising behind him!

Now Dax is onto a new adventure. He was asked to try out for a competition team and made the cut. He will start his games this Fall with his new team. He couldn't be more excited!