Little League Pics 2014 Vol. 1

JUNE: Yep, so far behind here are some pics of the boys playing baseball in June. Brian was playing for the Angels, and Trevor was lucky enough to play for his favorite team, the Cubs. I really had a lot of fun coaching the Angels, and being an assistant coach for the Cubs. There were a lot of great kids on both teams. The weather was still a little cool, but we made the best of it and had a good time.

Baseball Begins...Inside, As Usual

I am so very happy that Little League baseball has started up again here in the Soo. I do wish, however, we were playing outside in the warm and sun, which we probably won't see up here for another month or so. I'll be the head coach of Brian's tee ball team again, and assistant on Trevor's team due to my work schedule. Until we get outside, though, Brian is having fun at the clinics, though there's not too much kids in Trevor's age group can do.

Emotional Week of Baseball

The last week of baseball season is always a bit emotional for me. The kids don't worry about it too much, but for me this is bitter sweet. This season was my last opportunity to coach Lily and Trevor on the same team. Lily will move on up to girls softball next season. She proved she can play with the boys, but has been the only girl in the division the last two seasons. Trevor thinks he wants to play soccer again. All his friends play soccer, so it's a tough decision for him. I'll try to bribe him next year with a new glove, though. We lost both of our last games, but had fun and saw some improvement. Lily ended the year in kind of a slump, was still able to get a couple of hits. Trevor ended the season on a tear, going 4-5 the last two games and making some nice plays in the field. If I coach next year, it will probably be an assistant on Lily's team, and two more years before Brian is ready to go. Speaking of Brian, he really wanted to be part of Little League Fun Day last Friday. Lily and Trevor got to hit some, and test their throwing speed. They wouldn't let Brian hit, but let him pitch off of the mound and run the bases.

Busy Week of Baseball

Busy last week with two games going down. The kids are adapting pretty well to the rules, strikes, outs, and so on. Monday's game we dropped 8-5. As a team we did a little better, but still striking out too much and leaving men on base. Trevor went 1-3 with a nice hit, and Lily went 2-4. Both were swinging the bat really well. Lily is making some nice plays in the field, too. Wednesday we went down by the score of 16-8. Not much defense for us, as the other team scored four runs in every inning. We hit better, but still striking out. Trevor went 1-3 again, but really hit the ball hard his last time at bat that hit a kid and landed in another kids glove right behind him. He tagged first, but I kept telling him what a great job of hitting he did. He made a really nice play in the field, too. Lily didn't feel well, so she went 0-2 at the plate and missed an inning in the field. She tried her best, though, and give her credit for being a trooper. Last games coming up this week, so sad for us.

'Almost' Like Real Baseball...

Well, Monday we had a real good practice as a team. Only six kids showed, but, hey, it's late in the season and it's only a practice, right? We did need to get ready for Wednesday, which was our first 'real' type game. All the players were so excited...that only FOUR showed up. Yep, we played 4-on-9, and lost 10-1. Lily did well at the plate, going 2-3 including a triple in the second. Trevor went 1-3, but had the RBI single that drove Lily home from 3rd for our only run. In the field, Lily played first, and I put Trevor at the 'hot corner'. Both made some good plays, and kept the ball in front of them. Before the game, a league official asked how my attendance had been. I told him we've had nine consistently. I know my assistant coach was out of town with his son, and another had a tooth out, so I was aware we'd be a couple short...but only four? Oh, and the other team had four coaches, too. One at first and third while they were hitting and one even helped us out catching. The kids that showed really work hard and were given double snacks after the game. Hope next week we have a better turn out.

Beatin' The Heat With Baseball

Rough week up here in the Sault, as the temps were reaching the upper 80's. Hard to get the kids motivated, but we're trying our best anyway on the baseball field. Lily and Trevor complain, but in actuality have played their best ball of the summer this week. Both kids had two great hits in Monday's game. Each of them hit a liner over third base, which are solid hits. We only had a handful of players since it was the day after the 4th, so each player got to bat around three times. Wednesday, I must have had a target on me, as Trevor hit a shot right at me on the mound, and Lily hit one right up by me, too. In the field both did well. Trevor is fielding the ball nicely, but just has to work on his throwing accuracy. Lily keeps impressing everyone with her all around play. Not too many games left, and next week we'll start playing with stricter rules and outs. It will be harder for them, but they both hit the ball within the first few swings, so I hope it goes well.

Also this week, we had the 4th parade again and took Brian to the park. He was more interested in running around on the baseball field next to it than playing on the swings and stuff. That's my boy. Left is just a gratuitous pic of Lisa just to get her on the site a bit...cute pic though...

Lily and Trevor Play Ball

Papa and Nana made the trip from Cadillac to watch the kids play ball this week. Neither kid disappointed, either, and played a great game.

Trevor played catcher again, and Lily played a couple of different positions on the infield. Both hit the ball well in their at bats. It also gave me the chance to have someone else take some pictures, as it's hard to do that and coach at the same time. Papa took some great pics for us this week. We have the 4th of July parade this weekend we're looking forward to and games next week.

Kids' Team Dodges Rain Storm

Luck was on our side Wed. night, as we dodged a couple of rain storms to get our baseball game in. Papa and Nana were going to come visit and watch the kids, but thought it was going to rain. Hopefully they'll come up on Monday for the game. Lily and Trevor both did well at the plate. Lily got a hit on the first pitch, and had a good line drive toward third. Trevor hit a monster foul ball, but was able to get single on the next pitch. His second time up he hit a solid ball to first. In the field they are making some really good plays. Lily still gets frustrated when the person she's throwing to misses the ball, though. Busy the next few days with a hockey game on Fri., car show on Sat., and another game on Mon.

More Little League Action

We had the late game on Monday and Wednesday practice was rained out. At least we got the game in, a full three innings to boot. All the kids seemed to have trouble hitting the first time around, but picked it up in the last two. Trevor had some really solid hits and Lily is back pounding the ball like her old self. She is really playing well in the field, too, making some great plays and throws. Trevor is getting better but needs to keep his body in front of the ball. Everyone is getting better each time, though, so that's all that really counts. We'll be missing Monday's game because we'll be out of town, but will be back for the second game Wends day.

'Orange' You Glad We're Playing Baseball?

Well, we finally got our uniforms this week for the 2010 season, and our three year lucky run of blue jerseys has come to an end. This year we got...orange. Kinda makes me feel like I'm coaching in the California Penal League. Anyway, with Memorial Day on Monday, we just had our one game on Wed. Last weeks practice paid off as both kids hit the ball very well. Trevor had a monster hit and we finally got Lily hitting again after switching her bat. Lily also made some good plays at first base, which will probably be her position of choice as she gets older. We'll try to get to the park this weekend for some extra practice and maybe even get Brian involved, too. That kid likes baseball more than his siblings I think.

Busy With Baseball

We've all been pretty busy this last week. With baseball and school coming to an end, not much time to relax. That's not a bad thing, though. The only tough part was battling the heat. Lily and Trevor had a game on Monday, which they both played well. No one is hitting the ball real great, but our practice on Wed. seemed to help this out. I expect a little better next week when we play. Tues. at the kids' school was Field Day. I spent the day helping all of the kids learn to throw a baseball. Lucky I got to spend some time with Lily and Trevor, too. Really a fun week, but glad it's over and the kids are glad to be done with school. They both did really well in the classroom this past school year, though. Nothing for us on Memorial Day, but we have a game next Wed.

First Little League Game of 2010

This year's Little League games got off to a good start on Monday. Despite only having a few practices, and only one as a team, Lily and Trevor did very well. They both did well at the plate, scoring two solid hits a piece. Lily played third base in the first inning, and made some really good plays. She covered her base well, and made good throws to first. The second inning she played center field, and did a great job of backing up the infielders. She actually was getting frustrated because they kept letting the balls get by them and she had to chase them down. Trevor played both innings at catcher. This was a new experience for him, and he handled it well. He made some good stops and covered the plate when he needed to. He realized it's the toughest position, though. Only one game this week, as we have practice tonight, which we need. I'm real happy with how they both played the first game, though.

Opening Day on the DL?

Yesterday was opening day around Major League Baseball, and it was opening day for official practice for Sault Little League. The kids and I had a good practice and a lot of fun. They were promised Dairy Queen afterwards, for getting good grades in school, not just because of baseball. When we get to Dairy Queen and get out of the car, I hear Lily make this blood-curdling scream! I rush around the car to see her poor little finger stuck in the now shut door. I pulled the door open and got a glance of her finger-not good! I shoved her in the back seat, jumped the curb, and headed for the hospital. I called Lisa on our way there and she arrived just minutes after we did. They put her finger on ice, gave her some Motrin for her pain, and x-rayed her finger. We still don't know if it's broken yet, but at least she's wasn't feeling a lot of pain by the time we left. If it is broken, the poor girl will likely start this season again on the DL (disabled list for you non-sports people). Last year she missed much of the season due to surgery she had on the same hand. I'm praying it's not broken and she can get healed up-she is such a tough little girl, though.

UPDATE: Lily's finger is NOT broken, thank God. She'll only miss one week of practice, if that. Again, she's a tough little girl and I am so proud of her.

Feels Like Spring for Spring Training...

This season we got a late start for our Spring Training. We usually try to get things going in January, but this time we started at the end of February. It really feels like spring, though, as the last few weeks most of the snow is gone and we've hit 60 degree temps. Pretty soon we'll be able to forget about the gym and do our practices outside...unless mother nature his us with another storm or something. Despite the looks on the kids faces, they really do enjoy going to the gym and playing. Don't know why they look so morbid in these photos.

We have a Little League meeting on Monday, so those practices should be starting in a few weeks, too. Can't wait for the season to start.

Weekly Roundup July 20-24

First off, let's go over last week. I didn't do a post because all we had was one baseball practice and one soccer game. Our baseball game on Wed. was rained out, and we headed downstate on Thurs., so Trevor had to miss that game. The Hawks unfortunately lost both games last week. Lily did have a doctor's appointment on St. Ignace, and they said her hand is doing really well and her x-rays looked good. So, this week she returned to the lineup, so we can recap that...

Monday Lily returned to the lineup and did pretty well. She went 2-3 at the plate and hit the ball pretty well. Trever went 1-3, but he hit the ball well, too. Sometimes they hit it hard, but right at someone. On Wed., it was the last game of the season. All of the kids seemed distracted by this, but we did ok, anyway. Both Lily and Trevor went 2-3 at the plate again, but had some trouble making contact at first. I don't think any of the kids were really paying much attention, just trying to get through the last game. Both kids also made some nice plays in the field, though. It was kind of a sad day for me.

In soccer, the Hawks won both game to improve their record to 3-2 in the playoffs. Next week they'll play for either 1st or 3rd place. They won 3-1 on Tuesday, and 4-2 on Thursday. Trevor played well in both games and got an assist in the first game. I think all of their players showed up this week, which made a big difference. Lisa even came to Thursdays game to root him on.

Friday we had Fun Night for baseball. The kids got to partake in various activities and had a lot of fun. I even took a turn in the dunk tank and got extremely wet. I told Lily I'd double her allowance if she knocked me in, and she did the very next throw. Lots of fun and I wish we would have gotten some pictures of that.