Following up on our recent celebration of Lowell Youth Baseball’s incredible success at the 2025 District Tournament, we thought it was time to honor the unsung heroes of summer baseball – the parents who make it all possible.

As I watched our three District Champion teams (8U, 9U and 11U) take the field this summer, I couldn’t help but reflect on what it truly means to be a baseball parent. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve officially crossed into “baseball parent” territory, here are the telltale signs:

1. Your Car Has Its Own Zip Code at the Baseball Diamond

Your vehicle has become a mobile command center permanently stocked with folding chairs, coolers and enough snacks to feed a small army. You can back into any parking spot at the field with your eyes closed (unless you’re me – I know my limitations).

2. You Know the Weather Report Better Than the Local Meteorologist

“Will it rain during the 6 PM game?” has become your most-searched question. You’ve downloaded three different weather apps and can predict precipitation patterns with frightening accuracy.

3. Your Photo Gallery Is 90% Baseball Action Shots

Your phone storage is perpetually full because you’ve captured every swing, every catch and every celebratory dugout moment. You’ve become surprisingly skilled at getting that perfect shot through the chain-link fence.

4. You Have a Designated “Game Day” Outfit

You’ve invested in moisture-wicking fabrics, comfortable shoes that can handle any terrain and enough team gear to outfit a small sports store. Your game day hat has become as essential as your morning coffee (well… almost).

5. You Can Set Up a Folding Chair in Under 30 Seconds

You’ve achieved Olympic-level speed in chair deployment. You can assess the best viewing angle, account for sun position and claim your spot faster than most people can say “play ball.”

6. Your Summer Social Calendar Revolves Around Tournament Schedules

“Sorry, we can’t make it to your barbecue – we have a double-header that day.” You now find yourself obsessively checking GameChanger to see if other teams have won, refreshing the Sports Engine tournament app for the 9U standings in states and getting genuinely annoyed when they haven’t updated it yet.

7. You’ve Developed an Impressive Sports Vocabulary (Despite Your Pre-Baseball Self)

Those of you who know me are probably laughing because you remember my pre-baseball days. I could win gold in the Tripping Olympics and my sports knowledge was limited to knowing that baseball involved a ball and some sort of base situation. But now I confidently discuss ERAs, RBIs and batting averages. I’ve mastered all the baseball catch phrases (pun intended)!

8. You’ve Perfected the Art of Dugout Encouragement

You’ve mastered the delicate balance of being supportive without being “that parent.” Your cheers are enthusiastic but appropriate (most of the time!), and you’ve learned exactly when to offer encouragement and when to let the coaches do their job.

9. Meals Come from the Snack Shack

Let’s be honest – lunch and dinner are frequently sourced from the snack shack, and you’ve mastered eating breakfast on the go between games. Meanwhile, any siblings in tow are inevitably covered in some combination of popsicle residue, dirt and other unidentifiable substances.

10. You Wouldn’t Trade This Life for Anything

Despite the early mornings, sunburns and scheduling chaos, you’re living your best life. Watching your child grow in confidence, learn teamwork and develop lifelong friendships makes every minute worth it.

As our Lowell teams continue their state tournament journey, remember that behind every successful player is a parent who has mastered the art of living the diamond life. Let’s keep supporting our District Champions as they represent Lowell with pride!

For updates on our teams’ progress, follow the Lowell Youth Baseball and Softball League Facebook page.

Go Lowell!