Final regular season start for Lamb

Springdale, AR – John Lamb is set to have his last regular season start of the 2010 season tonight for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals against the Tulsa Drillers, Texas League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. It has been a special year for my son during his three levels in professional baseball and we are eager to listen in on tonight’s broadcast over ESPN 92.1 The Ticket.    

Sunday is Family Sunday presented by Nickelodeon alongside media partners Magic 107.9 and KFSM. Since its Sunday, KIDS EAT FREE – kids 12 and under will receive a voucher upon entry good for a hotdog, bag of chips, and small soft drink courtesy of Mrs. Bairds, Tyson Foods, and Sierra Mist. Kids also get to run the bases after every Sunday game, led by members of the J.B. Hunt Transport Knothole Gang. Sunday will also feature a special fireworks show after the game. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. CT (gates open at 5).    

The Naturals, Double-A level team of the Kansas City Royals, have guaranteed themselves a spot in the Texas League playoffs with their first place finish during the first-half of the season. However, the Naturals are just one win away from clinching the second-half honors, as well. The talented Royals farm team will have one day off before starting the playoffs at home on Wednesday evening.    

John Lamb (2-1, 5.72, 10-7, 2.33) will get the ball tonight for his 28th start of the season. I am sure his sights are set on helping his team win the game and enjoy a short celebration of winning the seasons second-half bragging rights. My son’s burning desire to win was established many years ago. Today’s Texas League contest at Arvest Ballpark will end Lamb’s first full regular season efforts in a professional baseball uniform.      

Coach Carter and John Lamb...photo taken by Colleen Lamb

The routines we experience during his games can be realigned at times with our busy schedules, but today the stars have lined up well enough to absorb his last regular season start. No news has been provided about his stay during the playoffs, but I know one thing for sure…I wouldn’t want to be the coach to tell him to go home before it was all over. I am confident he will stay and help pursue the Texas League championship honors with his new set of teammates.    

This season has been a wonderful ride watching my son simply live his dream. Personally I have much more pleasure in knowing that John has gotten the most out of the season by reaching the 28th start plateau in a 140 game schedule. The statistics are nice and very important, but simply knowing he hasn’t missed a beat during his first full season campaign makes me smile over our family choices in 2008. Many offered ill advice during that stage of his baseball career, but by letting John have the greatest influence on those decisions our family can savor these experiences even more during the ride. I would like to thank you all that have visited this site during this journey and assure you I will continue to update along the way.    

For now, it is almost time for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to take on the Tulsa Drillers at Arvest Ballpark and I can’t wait for the umpire to holler “play” at my son for the 28th time this year.