Leo the lion cub was a little bit worried. Today was his first day of baseball practice! He’d watched the older cubs play, and they were *so* good. They could hit the ball really far and catch everything that came their way. Leo wasn’t sure he could do any of those things.
He walked onto the field, clutching his new baseball glove. Coach Willow, a wise old owl, smiled warmly. “Welcome, Leo! We’re glad to have you. Don’t worry about being the best right away. Baseball is about having fun and learning together.”
The first practice was…challenging. Leo swung and missed the ball three times in a row. When it was his turn to field, the ball bounced right off his glove. He felt his ears droop. He wanted to hide!
One of the older cubs, Maya, noticed Leo looking sad. She trotted over. “It’s okay, Leo! Everyone misses sometimes. It takes practice. Here, let’s work on your swing together.”
Maya showed Leo how to hold the bat and how to keep his eye on the ball. They practiced and practiced. Leo still missed sometimes, but he started to connect with the ball more often. It didn’t go very far, but it went!
Next, they worked on fielding. Maya showed Leo how to get his glove ready and how to move his feet. “The key is to be ready for anything!” she said. Leo practiced catching soft throws, and slowly, he started to catch more and more.
During a team scrimmage, Leo was up to bat. He took a deep breath and remembered Maya’s advice. He swung…and *connected*! The ball rolled slowly towards first base. It wasn’t a home run, but Leo ran as fast as he could, and he made it to first base!
His teammates cheered! Even though it wasn’t a big hit, they were proud of him for trying his best. Leo realized Coach Willow was right. Baseball wasn’t just about hitting home runs; it was about working together as a team and encouraging each other.
Leo continued to practice with his team, and with each practice, he got a little bit better. He learned that even when things were hard, he could keep trying. He learned that having a positive attitude and supporting his teammates was just as important as hitting the ball.
By the end of the season, Leo wasn’t the best baseball player, but he was a valuable member of the team. He had fun, he made friends, and he learned that even a little lion cub could do great things with a little teamwork and a lot of heart. Now close your eyes, little one, and dream of playing baseball with your friends.