Im not even sure if this is late or not

I have learned about acceleration and velocity over time. We did a lab as a group that showed the velocity and acceleration of a ball at its highest point. I learned that acceleration at the top of its trajectory is 9.8 m/s or "g" downward. This is because even though the ball is coming to a stop, it has to accelerate in the other direction to slow down. This is why it is 9.8 m/s, because the gravity is accelerating the ball back towards earth. I also learned that if you throw something up and catch it at the same place, the velocity will be the same but in the other direction. As i drop this baton, it is picking up speed from the acceleration of gravity. if i had thrown it in the air and caught it the same place, it would of had the same velocity.