Centerfield Royals found the going rough in Xtreme WS

My grandson,Jadon,and the Centerfield Royals found the going rough at the Xtreme World Series this past week in San Diego. The 11-and-under Tucson team lost all four games to four southern California opponents which turned out to be simply bigger, stronger and faster than the Royals, normally a solid bunch of young baseball players capable of holding their own against teams from Arizona. What is it with the southern California area? The area has a history of producing exceptional talent, no matter what the age group. The southern Cal kids who step into the batter's box are not 5-feet-1 and weigh in the neighborhood of 80 pounds, instead, they are six feet tall and weigh in with triple digits. When they take a swing and connect, the baseball travels 300 feet or more! Ground balls to the infielders are hit harder, fly balls are hit higher, pitchers are faster and the southern California kids seemed to have glue in their gloves -- the ball simply seems to find their mitts as if they are using a hidden magnet of some sort. If Jadon learned anything this week, it's the fact that you're always going to run into someone, or some team, that's simply bigger, stronger and faster. But if there's one piece of advice I can give my grandson this Saturday morning it would be this: Enjoy the surf, take a gander at the ocean, and remember you're only eleven years old. Jadon, take solace in the fact that there will come a time when you'll be bigger...stronger...and faster than the other guy. Seven years from now, you'll step to the plate. You'll be in a high school game, the outcome will be on the line and you'll knock in the the game-winning run. Oh my, the dreams of a young ball player. I remember those days of yesteryear. Go get 'em, Jadon. There's plenty of at-bats ahead of you!