I’m a big believer in baseball and apple pie.

With these warmer temperatures and blue skies, the baseball fever has bitten me hard this year. Major league teams have already started their spring training games.

There are folks to watch who were stars last year, like Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants. And, there are folks to watch who are perennial stars, like Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The inside, listening to the radio or watching the television type activity for the major leagues is a lot of fun. I’m a fan of mlb.com’s radio and video streaming. Gosh, how wonderful the Internet has moved along to watch those games.

But on days like Tuesday, when the temperature crawls up into the upper 60s and on into the 70s, there is nothing like hanging around outside.

Most of our high school teams have started their spring practices. The first pitch of the high school season isn’t far away.

The Selma Parks Department continues its sign-up for the summer league, which will see a mass of teams fielded and sponsored by local businesses.

Yep. It’s just about the right time to grab a kid and head to the ballpark. Even if the child doesn’t play or doesn’t want to play, the time together spent is well worth the effort.

Baseball teaches us many things — team sports, skills, strategy, and sportsmanship. It also teaches us patience. Nine innings can be interminable if the game is too whop-sided.

Attending baseball games is a family building exercise. You go into the stands, root for your team and enjoy the game — and one another.

So, even if you’re not a fan of major league ball, try a high school game or a summer league game just for the sheer pleasure of hearing that thwack of a ball on a bat.

Then, find a place afterwards and enjoy a piece of apple pie.

That’s what life is about in the spring.