Ev had quite a game for himself yesterday down at Leary field in Portsmouth. He's slowly getting acclimated to everything that's new about Babe Ruth baseball including field size and space between the bases. He had his pitching debut this past Tuesday and struck out 4 in 3 innings on the mound. He was called back to the mound yesterday and he closed out the game with a 10-6 win. A win is a win. As a 13 year-old in a 13-14 year-old league, he was happy to have a more prominent role both on the mound and as a starter in the game. Although the sweeter spots in the game are typically reserved for the older kids, Ev contributed 2 RBI's and a critical catch in center field to end an inning. In fact, he got the game ball which is tantamount to receiving the MVP award for the game. If we had to do it all over again, we would have had his mom in attendance. She, of course, was doing her best to retire the national debt while pressing the flesh and peddling our wares at the semi annual Supernut yard sale. We celebrated successes all around at the end of the day by having dinner at a local mexican restaurant in nearby Kittery, Maine.

I must admit to having some difficulty watching Evan when he's pitching. For some odd reason, I think he performs better when I'm not watching. Maybe it's just me. I know that he looks over to see me from time to time and I'll give him a nod of the head or a thumbs up but I usually try to stay out of eyeshot when he's pitching. Unlike some of the parents, who hang on the fence while yelling words of encouragement to their children, I move away and keep my mouth shut and my fingers crossed. I will have to ask him sometime about that. I guess it probably doesn't matter what he thinks since I will do what I have to do.

I should post a follow-up on the ant situation here at home. I found a recipe on the internet using boric acid (picked this up a local Rite Aid for $3.99) as a way to poison them and I have to tell you that it worked like a charm. I think the key was mixing the toxic soup in the right proportions. Not so toxic that it killed them on contact but just strong enough to allow them to carry it back to the queen and poison her on her throne. I did a visual at the outset and watched them as they staggered away after sipping the sugary juice like a drunken sailor heading home after a night out. If anyone wants the recipe be sure to ask me for it. Be sure to keep it away from the kids and the animals since it is a damn potent poison.