2020 - 2021
The summer of 2020 was all about staying safe. Backyard games became our new normal, and that's where it all started - a simple game of catch with my dad. It may not sound like much, but with everyone stuck at home, it felt like a tiny act of rebellion! Little did I know, that casual toss would spark an obsession with pitching. My arm, well, let's just say it protested for weeks with every overhand throw. But hey, no pain, no gain, right?
2021
This pitching thing wasn't just a hobby anymore, it was full-blown obsession. There was no stopping me, even when late October rolled around and the weather turned nasty. I had this crazy idea to turn the garage into a personal training ground. Dubbed "Nieves Dugout" (because, hey, creativity counts!), it became my haven for mastering mechanics. Let me tell you, those hours spent perfecting my windup felt more like rehearsing dance moves than throwing a ball!
2022
By spring of 2022, I was itching to show off the fruits of my labor! The "Nieves Dugout" had served me well. My mechanics were smoother, and I'd even managed to learn two new grips: a slider and a changeup. Now, let's be honest, they weren't exactly major league-worthy yet (Dad still launched them into the stratosphere, bless his heart). But hey, progress is progress, right? The good news was my arm wasn't rebelling quite as dramatically, and I was definitely getting more consistent with hitting the strike zone.
2022 - 2023
My obsession with pitching reached new heights (literally!) when I decided to build a portable mound for park practice. No prior carpentry experience? No problem! I grabbed some supplies and within a couple of weeks, I had a mini-mound ready to go. Feeling pretty proud of myself, that is, until I tried to move it. Turns out, my focus on sturdiness backfired a bit. This thing is a beast! Unless I want to disassemble it every time, I'll need some serious muscle (or a truck) to haul it around. For now, it reigns supreme in the garage, a monument to my pitching passion and, well, maybe a slight overestimate of my carrying capacity. But hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?
2024
• COMING SOON •