Happy Thanksgiving

Greetings, all. Well, even we here in the Mustang Nation must admit that it's football season now. Still, the preparation for 2011 will be ongoing over the break. Players will be hearing from team captains soon. I am excited to see how it will all come together when we hit the field in January.

In the meantime, though, I think it's great to pause and give thanks to God for the incredible blessings we all enjoy. I love Thanksgiving, which is a distinctively Christian and American holiday.

It's funny how we are wired, that is, expressing gratitude seems to always give us more for which to be grateful. Similarly, in losing ourselves we find our place in life. Jesus said, "Whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."

I am really thankful for the Mustang Nation and the special players (young and younger) that wear the red and black. I am thankful for the new players and families that are joining us this season. This is how we continue to grow and get better.

I am thankful for the opportunity to play a lot of quality opponents, and I am really grateful for our friends outside the program who have allowed us to play as good a schedule as any homeschool program.

I am thankful we get to play on some of the best fields in Houston ... and in Texas. Heck, I am even thankful for Barton.

But seriously, just the opportunity to do this and experience the great ride that we will go on together brings me great joy. Each of you players, parents, and coaches is a part of this. So, thank you.

Be thankful for everything ... for the opportunity to play baseball ... to live in America ... to have dreams ... to have all you need ... to have families that love you. Players, thank your parents.

And remember ... it will be baseball season soon. There's another reason to be thankful.

See you on the field in January.

Great Fall in the books ...

It's hard to imagine, but a great fall has come and gone ... wow. Things seem to pick up speed as we get older, I tell you.

But we had a blast wrapping up our Fall Training with a first-ever "All Mustangs Scrimmage." You just never know around here. And we also had a great camp put on by former pro players Kevin Castleberry and Chris Burton ... along with current Minnesota Twin Danny Lehmann.

I learned some great new stuff, and I saw players learning, too.

I've had some great discussions with a number of our players and parents about the nuances of hitting mechanics, instruction and the like, after our camp. For sure, there is a certain degree of "art" (as opposed to science) in teaching this game. Of course, there is "science," too, if you will. But there are shades of gray.

Later on, we'll discuss some of these, and why we teach certain things the way we do.

But for our players, here is an important mindset to take with you whereever you go (in and out of baseball): The learning never stops. You can learn something from every one. Work hard to find what works and then work some more. None of us has a lock on all knowledge in any field; accordingly, it behooves us to stay hungry and stay humble. Most high achievers in any field are continuing to grow; they are transforming from students of others into students of themselves as they mature and grow.

It's "more than baseball," you might say.

So, stay hungry and humble. Such an attitude will serve you well on your mission in life.

Tryouts are Sat., 11/13 at 9 a.m. (Spring-Klein Rothwood). Directions are on our website.

See you on the field,

Coach Rut