Have you ever sat down to watch a live sporting event and realized you forgot something?

It never fails. I get all cozy in my chair right behind home plate -- the perfect spot to keep the books for a former sportswriter turned little league "book" -- and I realize I left my seeds in my car.

So, as I've begun to traipse all over Colorado this baseball season, I've found myself comparing everything from ballparks to straws.

That led me to realize what a great Whatever! column that would make.

So, with baseball season in full swing, here are my top-10 best-of-the-best baseball awards.

No. 10. Hot chocolate -- I know you're all thinking, "hot chocolate?" How is hot chocolate a baseball favorite? Well, if you've ever played or spectated an early March baseball tournament, you understand. This honor goes out to the concession folks at Youth Memorial Sports Complex in Arvada. For 50 cents, fans get something near a 100-ounce cup of hot chocolate with another 100 inches of whip cream on top. Yummy.

No. 9. Sunflower seeds -- "Spitz." First, they come in a "Ziploc" pouch so they don't spill all over the place after you've tried to tear open the top and instead ripped the bag to shreds. Second, they aren't covered three inches thick in salt, just enough to make them good. And finally, they come in at least 1,000 assorted flavors, so a family of four can please everybody from Dill Pickle Dad and Barbeque Boy to Ranch Mama and Plain Jane.

No. 8. Hot dogs -- OK, so most all ball park dogs taste alike, but I have to say the ones at Centennial Park in Loveland take the prize. It might help that you can smell them as you drive into the parking lot with your windows rolled up and air conditioning running. But whatever the reason, the grillers there have it all figured out.

No. 7. Gatorade specials -- King Soopers hands down wins this award. Several weeks ago the 10 for $10 with $5 more off for a purchase of 10 made a 32-ounce bottle of any flavor imaginable Gatorade only 50 cents. I bought 60! Although I no longer have room in my garage for my car, remember that new little -- and I do mean little -- Ford Focus I bought a week ago, I did have enough Gatorade to last my son until the third week of the season.

No. 6. Umpires -- Now you all have read too many times how I feel about umpires. But I have to say, so far this season we have been blessed. I don't know that I can recall a time, yet, that I was frustrated by an umpire -- knock on wood. I may not agree with all their calls -- especially the guy whose strike zone was smack in the middle of home plate, the size of the baseball and right at the knees -- but at least they've been consistent, observant, and have to say, pretty darn good this year.

No. 5. Coaching -- I can't really compare the coaches to each other on quality since I don't know all them -- and of course, I'd be lying if I said any coaches were better than my son's. But I can award the most animated award to the group from the Parker Comets. They are absolutely hilarious. The head coach with his deep Brooklyn, N.Y., accent has made both times we played him most enjoyable. He can be heard (positively, of course) from across the ballpark, and his on-field examples of mechanics are over the top.

No. 4. Catcher -- Again, I can't say this little one is the best catcher I've seen, but I will give her -- yes you read that right, her -- the award for having the most fortitude, courage and character of any other I've seen. Destiny, also from the Parker Comets, sits behind home plate like a champion. When her brother broke his arm earlier this season, she stepped up to take his place on an 11-year-old competitive ball team. I've watched her get pummeled at home as she slid in to try and score a run and then turn around and level a boy as he tried to get under her tag. She never flinches, and she's got an arm to second unlike many I've seen. And when her tiny little voice yells out "Thank you" in the middle of a game to our coach after he complimented her for that throw to second, it's just awesome from the female perspective to see her hang in there like that.

No. 3. Ballpark -- This one's rough because there are two that are pretty darn good. I like Roland Moore in Fort Collins for its size, location and well-groomed appearance. But because it was designed more for softball, I'd have to go with the Sandstone complex in Longmont. What a great facility! The dugouts are all cemented in with enough room for two teams per dugout. The stands are spectator friendly, there are two sides to the parking lot so you don't have to get to the park an hour early just to make the walk to the field in time, the bathrooms are conveniently located to all the fields and a playground sits smack in the middle so the younger brothers and sisters aren't bored and mom and dad can watch both the game and the littler ones. And finally the fields are immaculately taken care of.

No. 2. Straws -- Am I the only one who absolutely hates getting a drink somewhere, putting the straw in the cup, driving off, and then at my final destination, realizing it split a hole somewhere in the middle simply because I took the wrapper off. UGH! McDonald's still has the best straws ever. Now if they'd make them long enough to fit 44- and 60-ounce drink cups.

No. 1. Play -- OK, you didn't really think I could go a complete column on baseball without a word on my kid's team did you? The best play of the season has to go to Daniel Ciraula, Holden Bernhardt and Locke Bernhardt. They pulled off our first triple play of the year this past weekend. I say first one this year because we had one last year, too. Anyway, line drive to Daniel at shortstop, Daniel throws to Holden at first base to get the kid at first who didn't tag up, and then Holden throws home to his twin Locke to get the kid coming home who did tag up at third and thought he could make it. Way to go boys!

Ahh ... the relaxing days of summer. I'm sure you all can't wait for baseball to be over so I'll shut up -- which is at least partly (I think) the reason I was made the "book" for the team -- that and it doesn't hurt I did it for a living for several years. But mostly, it keeps me focused and my mouth shut! Now what I have to get used to is being called "book." For how many years have we all called the umpires "blue." Now I know what that feels like, too.

Sherrie Peif is a writer for Windsor Now. Her passion has always been sports, Windsor and not hee-hawing around about anything. Look for her every Wednesday in Windsor Now to tell you how she really feels. If you have a topic you like her to look into, contact her at 970-392-5632 or by e-mail at speif@mywindsornow.com.