Very exciting week in baseball for Xander -- and Clare (almost)

Xander spent two incredibly fun mornings in Tacoma at Rainiers
Baseball Camp. He got to work with the players, coaches, and
manager. To say he had a blast would be the understatement of the year.

They got autographs at the end of camp.

Camp registration also came with four tickets to Thursday
night's game (plus food and drinks). Clare was excited to be headed
to her first non-Little League game.

First stop: autographs from another Rainier player.

Second stop: Checking out the night's starting lineups.
Xander was thrilled to see Mike Carp listed.

Xander lined up with the week's other campers and got ready to
parade out onto the field. Meanwhile, a Rainiers announcer
approached Clare and me in our seats and asked if Clare
would like to go out on the field after the National Anthem
and yell "Play ball!" She said she wanted to, but I had my doubts.

So Clare and I headed over to the spot by the Rainiers dugout,
where we were to meet the Rainiers emcee for the big moment.
Meanwhile, Xander and his friends hammed it up for the scoreboard jumbotron.

Running off the field after the parade.

This player, Vinnie Catricala, was arguably Xander's favorite this week.
He nicknamed Xander "Sledgehammer."

Michael and Xander came over to join us as we waited for Clare's big moment.
The players took the field...

The National Anthem was sung...

...and Clare refused to go out on the field at the last minute.
So Xander stepped in for her! He did a fantastic job.

"Play ball!"

Dancing around like goofballs during the game.

A teacher and his student.