TEE BALL is Fun

Following is the entire text of the story. The words in red represent the personalized information.

TEE BALL is FUN!

was created especially for

Michael Jeremy Smith

at the age of 5

From

Joe

June 5, 2003

When springtime came in Atlanta, excitement was in the air.  Flowers were blooming, bees were humming, birds were singing, and something special was going on around the ball park.  It was TEE BALL time!

Boys, girls, playmates, and friends were gathering.  Michael Smith, along with Larry, Jim and Billy, stood side by side.  They were on the same TEE BALL team with many other friends.  They were all very happy to be on the Redbirds team together.

Happy to see them, the coach promised they would practice and learn how to bat, catch, slide, and other important things.  Mike tried hard to always listen to the coach, to keep his eye on the ball, to swing the bat level, and to play safely.

TEE BALL games were always exciting.  Mike's parents came to watch.   So did Larry, Jim and Billy's parents.  Many other parents and grandparents were in the stands too.  When Mike and other players did well, they clapped and shouted!  It was fun!

When Mike came to bat with his helmet on just right, the umpire set the TEE BALL up on the tee.  Mike took a deep breath and swung the bat with all his might!

      Oh, oh!  He swung so hard he spun all the way around - but the TEE BALL was still sitting on the tee.  "Strike one!" the ump called.

Larry, Jim and Billy shouted, "Go ahead, Mike!  You can do it!"   Mike heard someone call out from the stands, "C'mon Mike! You can hit it!"

Again, the umpire placed the ball on top of the tee.  Mike eyed the ball and swung straight.  Wow!  What a hit!  It was a hot infield grounder.  Mike ran like a jack rabbit!

The shortstop grabbed the ball and threw it to first base, but the throw was not quick enough.  Mike ran across the bag just beating the ball.  The umpire signaled, "Safe!"

Folks in the stands shouted for joy!  "Yeah, Mike!  Yeah, Mike!  We knew you could do it!"  Everyone clapped and cheered.

After the game, Coach Jones gave all of the players a high five.  One of the mothers had good, cold fruit punch and cookies waiting for them.  Ummm!  Mike, along with Larry, Jim and Billy, and all of their teammates, liked cookies-especially chocolate!

Mike and his teammates dreamed of being All-Stars and going to the TEE BALL World Series in Milton, Florida, where TEE BALL Baseball was born.  What a thrill that would be!

For now, though, they gathered under a big tree to eat their snack.  Coach Jones said, "You all did a good job today.  I am proud of you!  Did you learn anything that will help you next time?"

      Mike perked, "Keep your eye on the ball!" Larry, Jim and Billy chirped, "Listen to the coach!  Be a good sport!  Don't be a quitter!"

"That's right," said the coach.  "TEE BALL is not just about winning.  It is about playing fair and doing what is right.  It is about being a good winner and not being sore if you lose."

      Mike knew the Coach was right!

All of the boys and girls agreed!  Then Coach Jones grinned and said, "But the best part of TEE BALL is..."  Just then, Mike and the whole team shouted together,  "TEE BALL is FUN!"

Redbirds Schedule for 2003

Here are samples of some of the illustrated pages.  To read the story, click on the "Read the Story" tab to the left.

• Quality, hard-cover personalized children's book
• Washable hard cover
• Fully illustrated color pages
• 32 pages
• Measures 6 3/4" x 8 1/4"