Put Us Out Of Our Misery - Please!

We just finished the first weekend of our all-star baseball tournament season.

I hate this time of year - especially when you're losing - especially when you're losing and shouldn't be!

Knowing that too many people in this town read my blog, I will not say any more about that!

I'm just thankful it's almost over...

Two Down...One To Go...

Caeden's team lost. They actually played quite well, especially considering they were missing three players for vacations! They might have won had there not been a five run limit per inning - final score 11-9.

The "nasties" I referred to last night were actually quite civil - probably because they were winning! Very unlike what I witnessed last year when I saw one of their coaches actually hit his son and his nephew upside the head. In fact, at the team pizza party, his nine year old son refused to shake his hand! Setting the course for a great relationship in the future...


Back to my son - who has the upmost respect for his father - he got into a habit this year of holding the bat high up over his head. In fact, he was called out twice when he ducked to miss getting hit and the ball hit the bat that was high over his head!




This picture isn't a good example of just how high but the next picture shows John needing to go out and adjust him. Next pitch, he hit the ball straight up the middle :)





He also came in to pitch the last inning. John has it in his head that Caeden HAS to be a pitcher because he's left handed. Well - just follow the trachectory of the ball...
(I particularly like this last pic when the fielder, umpire and runner aren't even considering needing to be baseball ready!)

But in the end - they lost and it didn't even matter - they are only thinking about the team pool party at our house next Monday...

One Down - Two To Go...

The baseball season is crawling to a close...sort of.

Jackson lost his playoff game tonight to finish his season. I would like to say I was sad but it was becoming painful to watch him struggle at the plate. He just couldn't get his head back into hitting - he was swinging at pitches that he would NEVER have attempted the first half of the season. Tonight - he swung at three straight pitches and only the last one was a strike. Bless his heart - his spirits were good and he's already looking to next year.

Caeden (and John) are in Round Two of their playoff adventure. They clobbered their first round opponent 20 - 8 last Saturday. The best part of that game was Caeden's BFF, Kyle, hit two line drives (only his second and third hits all season) and John brought him in to pitch the final inning because they had such a big lead - and he struck out two!!! You have to know this sweet little boy to understand that this is a BIG deal - he deserved it more than anyone.

Tomorrow night they face off against the "nasties" of the Minor Division - ironically sponsored by a local church! I will tell all on Wednesday.

Cameron is "done" on Wednesday - final game of the regular season. That means we only have about another MONTH of games - it's All Star Tournament time. First tournament is this weekend.

Here's the rundown...
All Star Uniform = $65.00
All Star Fan Shirts = $12.00 each
Tournament Fees = $8.00 (this weekend)
$$$ Every Weekend Until End of July and beyond if they make it to the Pony World Series in California...
I'll keep you posted on THAT one... :)

Jackson's Last Stand...

Jackson has wanted to pitch all year. Every game he gets to the field eagerly anticipating that his coach will put him in that coveted (and pressure filled) spot.

Last night was the night. The final game of the regular season against a team from the other division. It didn't count in the standings. This would be Jackson's one and only chance to pitch this year.

I don't say this with any animosity towards his manager - he's been extraordinary. In fact, at this level in our league, the manager drafts the players he wants on his team. I found out a few weeks ago that this wonderful man drafted two players with Aspergers (including Jackson) and two with significant ADHD. For that - he is a saint!

Back to pitching - Jackson came into a tight game the middle of the 2nd inning. All the coach wanted him to do was throw strikes and let his team-mates do the rest.

He threw nothing but strikes...beautiful lobs right across the plate. ("Lobs" mean very slow)

You'd think if you're not throwing hard, the ball wouldn't go far. Wrong. They hit two beautiful shots into the gap in right field. Jackson's team-mates didn't have a chance. Fortunately, Jackson was able to make a play to first on a little grounder to get an out.

By the time he was finished midway through the third inning the score was 3-0. They scored one run on him. We ended the game with a final score of 5-2.

Jackson was philosophical about the experience. He told me he wanted to use this game to nail down his accuracy. The heat will come next year...