It is double elimination tournament time in our soon to be ending baseball season. I did not post about Game 1 (#6 Dodgers vs #3 Cardinals) because it was devastating. Heartbreaking. Frustrating. I could go on. They were winning the entire game and in the bottom of the 6th - score is 5-4 Dodgers - 2 outs, 2 strikes, 2 runners on...Cardinals hit a ground rule double ending the game 5-6. I told you, it wasn't good. Our kids were so devastated. They played the game of their lives and just couldn't walk away with the win.
Game 2 was last night against the #5 White Sox. White Sox had the 'upset' after our game the other night and beat the #4 team. No one saw that coming :-)! However, they lost the next night, putting them down in the losers bracket with us.
It was one of those "perfect nights for baseball", cool breeze with some clouds, lots of spectators buzzing around the park - just a nice night. Both Dodgers and White Sox were trying to make it one more game - who ever looses, ends the season for that team. A tough way to go.
Unfortunately, it was another one of those close games. Passing the lead back and forth and never more than 1 or 2 runs. It was painful to watch as both teams battled. I enjoy a game that is tight and competitive, I really do, when it is someone else's team. Not mine. I keep the score book so I always know what is going on (what each batter did, where we are in the lineup etc). It also keeps me focused on the game and maybe that's not such a great idea...
So here we are, back in the bottom of the 6th inning. Let me side track a second and say CAN WE EVER BE THE HOME TEAM ON CLOSE GAMES??? Ok, there, sorry, but boy oh boy, it would be nice to have last bats! Anyway, where were we? Oh ya, bottom of the 6th. 1 out and 2 runners on - score is 7-6 (we are ahead by 1). Out 2 comes with a hit to the pitcher - threw him out at 1st. Now we have 2 outs (feeling like we've been here before because we were...just a few nights ago). This time he swings at the first pitch and hits a grounder to 2nd base and gets thrown out at 1st.
DODGERS FINALLY WIN!!!!!
I am really not sure how many more of those games I can take. I know kids on both teams and I don't enjoy watching a team loose like that. However, after a 7 game loosing streak - they deserved the win. The last 4 games were all '1-Run' games - with only 1 of those being on a win. That's not easy.
So, on to our game 3 on Monday.
For those interested in stats - Alec batted 3 times last night. 2 walks and 1 strike out. In the field he caught 2 fly balls, has 1 put out at 2nd on a grounder and sat out the 6th inning for the first time in 15 games. :-)
Kids
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Gone for the summer....
Or at least I WISH we were gone for the summer! Here is where I wish we were....
That is my collage of some of our Maui trip. I am pretty sure that I have not acclimated from our trip in March. I missed the twins, but being in Maui was amazing. I day dream of the beach and the surf and the sand...and I'm afraid my above ground oasis just may not do the trick! To kick off my flops and walk along the beach, to catch a wave sounds much better than gingerly stepping across the yard avoiding (dog) land mines, stickers, rocks and ants....to climb in the pool.
Don't get me wrong, the painstakingly ridiculous task of putting up an above ground pool for the kids will be well worth it (thanks honey for re leveling it ONE MORE TIME). And I'm pretty sure I could get a job now putting them up since we have done it 3 times in 10 days. But it is up and full of water and last check it was nearly 80 degrees (without a cover to help us along).
But, really, I'd rather be on the beach in Maui. Plain and simple. Sad and true. Don't worry, I'd take the kids :- ). Do you think anyone would really notice that we were gone??? Let's hope not!
That is my collage of some of our Maui trip. I am pretty sure that I have not acclimated from our trip in March. I missed the twins, but being in Maui was amazing. I day dream of the beach and the surf and the sand...and I'm afraid my above ground oasis just may not do the trick! To kick off my flops and walk along the beach, to catch a wave sounds much better than gingerly stepping across the yard avoiding (dog) land mines, stickers, rocks and ants....to climb in the pool.
Don't get me wrong, the painstakingly ridiculous task of putting up an above ground pool for the kids will be well worth it (thanks honey for re leveling it ONE MORE TIME). And I'm pretty sure I could get a job now putting them up since we have done it 3 times in 10 days. But it is up and full of water and last check it was nearly 80 degrees (without a cover to help us along).
But, really, I'd rather be on the beach in Maui. Plain and simple. Sad and true. Don't worry, I'd take the kids :- ). Do you think anyone would really notice that we were gone??? Let's hope not!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
For the Love of the Game!
Alec has played baseball since before he could play on a team. At age 2 we would play "imaginary" baseball in the living room and we would throw an "invisible" ball back and forth (and back and forth) - all the while he wore his "invisible" catchers gear (safety first!). He has a true love for the game that many feel is bigger than he is and sometimes takes over his entire being.
He has been on many teams from recreational non-competitive to Little League to a travel club team and somehow, it always seems more often than not, we are on a team that struggles to pull off wins. Certainly it isn't because they don't WANT to win, but they go right up to it and never grab hold. This year has been no different.
This season Alec is blessed to be playing for one of the most amazing managers and people that we know (Jack). We have played against this manager for the past 3 years and he has ALWAYS had rough seasons, always. But somehow, when the regular season ends and the tournament begins, he is one of the final 2 or 3 (of 6 or 7). I have had my theories as to how or why this happens, but until you are in the thick of it with him, you just don't know. I think I still don't know - lol!
So you can easily assume we did not had a winning season (3-15). We are the team that everyone thinks they can beat and usually do (don't feel too bad because there are 2 teams like that this season and we did beat them once - lol!)!
Our final game was no different but it made a difference to our kids (at least I hope it did!).
Picture this: final game of the season, we really need a win so we don't finish in last place (we are tied at this point and the other 'last place' team plays after our game) - our pitching is fresh and we can use who we want (minus the 1 player not at the game). We are playing the #3 (of 6) team and we see they are throwing their Ace. Great. Don't they know they don't need to do that? They should really look at our record.
We are the home team and our kids take the field. Who is pitching? OUR Ace? Nope. Slow ball sinker (Alec)? Nope. Side armed wonder? Nope. Nick. Nick is pitching. Nick plays his Little League minimum, sometimes a little more. It's his first year EVER and this kid tries hard everyday. His first hit (in game 12) was a triple topped with the biggest grin I've ever seen. Nick is pitching! I cheer as loud as I can during his 4 batter debut!! What a night for him (who cares that he walked 3, 1 grounded out and got pulled after 4 batters!!!)!!!
His relief was another one of the bench players who has never even touched the pitching mound. He faced 6 batters before he got pulled. Again, we all yelled and cheered as loud as we could, if encouragement caused strikes, we'd be in business! Relief #2 and 3 were normal pitchers who finished up the game. Our offense was amazing and our defence was near flawless. Errors were few and unearned runs kept to a minimum...still, we lost.
As I sat there looking at the final score of 9-7, heartbroken by the emotion of the player who just committed the 3rd out in the bottom of the 6th I realized something big.
We could have WON that game, but at what expense? I realize this is Little League and we are meant to be competitive, I get that. But what I hope our kids took from that game last night was that they were the luckiest kids on the field last night. They have a manager that let 2 of his finest (they are all his finest!) pitch last night even tho they never had. So, we lost, but 2 kids won big!
These kids walk with dignity each game. I know they are frustrated and I know they are disappointed, but I can tell you, they are good sports. They congratulate the opposing team with the best attitude they can muster up. They have a great manager who supports them and encourages them.
I know my son would not trade spots with any player on the "winningest" team. To do that would be letting down the team, and he truly is a team player. I hope the rest of the team feels the same way. It really is for the love of the game, not the love of the win.
So, come next week during tournament...we will see where we land. We just might follow in true "Jack Style" and come out fighting and winning!
He has been on many teams from recreational non-competitive to Little League to a travel club team and somehow, it always seems more often than not, we are on a team that struggles to pull off wins. Certainly it isn't because they don't WANT to win, but they go right up to it and never grab hold. This year has been no different.
This season Alec is blessed to be playing for one of the most amazing managers and people that we know (Jack). We have played against this manager for the past 3 years and he has ALWAYS had rough seasons, always. But somehow, when the regular season ends and the tournament begins, he is one of the final 2 or 3 (of 6 or 7). I have had my theories as to how or why this happens, but until you are in the thick of it with him, you just don't know. I think I still don't know - lol!
So you can easily assume we did not had a winning season (3-15). We are the team that everyone thinks they can beat and usually do (don't feel too bad because there are 2 teams like that this season and we did beat them once - lol!)!
Our final game was no different but it made a difference to our kids (at least I hope it did!).
Picture this: final game of the season, we really need a win so we don't finish in last place (we are tied at this point and the other 'last place' team plays after our game) - our pitching is fresh and we can use who we want (minus the 1 player not at the game). We are playing the #3 (of 6) team and we see they are throwing their Ace. Great. Don't they know they don't need to do that? They should really look at our record.
We are the home team and our kids take the field. Who is pitching? OUR Ace? Nope. Slow ball sinker (Alec)? Nope. Side armed wonder? Nope. Nick. Nick is pitching. Nick plays his Little League minimum, sometimes a little more. It's his first year EVER and this kid tries hard everyday. His first hit (in game 12) was a triple topped with the biggest grin I've ever seen. Nick is pitching! I cheer as loud as I can during his 4 batter debut!! What a night for him (who cares that he walked 3, 1 grounded out and got pulled after 4 batters!!!)!!!
His relief was another one of the bench players who has never even touched the pitching mound. He faced 6 batters before he got pulled. Again, we all yelled and cheered as loud as we could, if encouragement caused strikes, we'd be in business! Relief #2 and 3 were normal pitchers who finished up the game. Our offense was amazing and our defence was near flawless. Errors were few and unearned runs kept to a minimum...still, we lost.
As I sat there looking at the final score of 9-7, heartbroken by the emotion of the player who just committed the 3rd out in the bottom of the 6th I realized something big.
We could have WON that game, but at what expense? I realize this is Little League and we are meant to be competitive, I get that. But what I hope our kids took from that game last night was that they were the luckiest kids on the field last night. They have a manager that let 2 of his finest (they are all his finest!) pitch last night even tho they never had. So, we lost, but 2 kids won big!
These kids walk with dignity each game. I know they are frustrated and I know they are disappointed, but I can tell you, they are good sports. They congratulate the opposing team with the best attitude they can muster up. They have a great manager who supports them and encourages them.
I know my son would not trade spots with any player on the "winningest" team. To do that would be letting down the team, and he truly is a team player. I hope the rest of the team feels the same way. It really is for the love of the game, not the love of the win.
So, come next week during tournament...we will see where we land. We just might follow in true "Jack Style" and come out fighting and winning!
Friday, May 22, 2009
"Promotion Day"
Earlier in the week I was thinking to myself 'how many times do we have to celebrate graduating in the life span of a child'??? Let's see...preschool, kindergarten, 5th grade, 8th grade, High School and College...6 times...Really?..4 kids...that's a lot of graduating!!!
Anyway, today was 5th grade promotion for Alec. I really had no preconcieved notion of what type of ceremony the kids were going to have - mostly I was preoccupied with the concept of entertaining 2-18 month old toddlers for what I anticipated was going to be a long morning. With parking being at a premium - we opted to arrive early and have a decent place to park (ie somewhere NEAR the school, not across the street - the kids are heavy and don't follow direction well.). Got a great parking spot and a great seat inside as well. Now the fun begins!
They started promptly, which the school is actually famous for, and each teacher announced their students and said a small quip about each individual one. These teachers put quite a lot of thought into this and you could see that these teachers genuinely care about their students! Of course, Alec's class was the last one to announce (out of 6!) and by that time we were about 1 hour into this. We had already entertained as long as possible. They were bored, can you blame them? Even Wyatt was ready for the cake that was calling him from the back of the MPR. BUT, with only a few screams, 1 bite, 1 potty break, 4 smooshed raisins, 3 broken crackers, 1 pair of removed shoes...we have 1 very happy 5th Grade Graduate :- )
Anyway, today was 5th grade promotion for Alec. I really had no preconcieved notion of what type of ceremony the kids were going to have - mostly I was preoccupied with the concept of entertaining 2-18 month old toddlers for what I anticipated was going to be a long morning. With parking being at a premium - we opted to arrive early and have a decent place to park (ie somewhere NEAR the school, not across the street - the kids are heavy and don't follow direction well.). Got a great parking spot and a great seat inside as well. Now the fun begins!
They started promptly, which the school is actually famous for, and each teacher announced their students and said a small quip about each individual one. These teachers put quite a lot of thought into this and you could see that these teachers genuinely care about their students! Of course, Alec's class was the last one to announce (out of 6!) and by that time we were about 1 hour into this. We had already entertained as long as possible. They were bored, can you blame them? Even Wyatt was ready for the cake that was calling him from the back of the MPR. BUT, with only a few screams, 1 bite, 1 potty break, 4 smooshed raisins, 3 broken crackers, 1 pair of removed shoes...we have 1 very happy 5th Grade Graduate :- )
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