A crush on my neighbor who I've known FOREVER!?

Ok...so I like my neighbor, and we've known eachother since we were toddlers...maybe even babies! So long...that I can't even remember. I remember taking pictures with him when we were in Kindergarden on the first day! So anyways...we were playing baseball like two weeks ago, and I now I like him...again. I haven't talked to him since, and I'm scared to go ask him if he'd like to play with me. We are both 11. I find it awkward around him, and I kow he does, too. He likes another girl, well he wouldn't tell me who, so we were kidding around when I told him to tell me. We used to go to the same school, untril I transfered. We sat next to eachother in first grade, and we like total best-friends, then. Now I'm scared to even talk to him...what should I do? P.S. he is out a lot (outside) during the summer. Do I ask to join him when he's playing basketball...etc. Any advice? Please do help. I am nervous to approach him, and I've known him since we were little. Now I feel like we r strangers?