Wild Spring Championship Super NIT 13U Majors

The 4 day USSSA Spring Championship Super NIT 13U Majors tournament was among the most exciting yet!  The AZ T-Rex Baseball Club, a class act, took it all.  Yea for Arizona!  Ian's team, the East Valley Heat, played well and overachieved. The Heat went 2 and 2, placing 8th overall and were the highest ranked 13AAA team.  They faced the best from all over the western USA and held their own in a rough and tumble, wild west shootout.   

Club baseball is crazy rough and tumble.  Some teams are brutal in how they cream the best prospects, quickly dumping players who don't perform.  Some are franchises that run like slick machines.  Most cost a lot of money.  Some take their wins through brute strength, out slugging mere mortals and not caring too much about their lackluster defense.  Some are all about defense.  Most of the coaches are intense, capable, and good sports.  Some are absolutely, positively the worst examples of manhood with their cheating, bullying, and disrespectful ways.  It really is frustrating how often the bad guys win.

My kid is fortunate.  He plays on a small team with good players who are good kids from good families, too.  None are phenoms, but together they make each other better.  The key is the coaching and management staff, in particular, the head coaching of Ray.  He respects himself, the players, and the game.  He expects a lot out of his players, and they give it to him.  He sticks by his players and keeps perspective, wanting what is best for them in the long run.  Rare in the wild west of club baseball.     

Let the Sun Shine on Spring Training

Spring Training at Salt River Fields was phenomenal!  In its second year and with the Arizona Diamondbacks coming off of a winning season, the fans filled the place.  The game sold out to the tune of a record breaking 12,552 fans.

You could easily forget today was Tuesday, convinced that no one went to work.  Many schools are on Spring Break allowing students to attend.  More schools are on Spring Break next week, including ASU, giving more students the opportunity to enjoy baseball in the sun.

And the sun did shine all day at a perfect temperature of 78 degrees.  If felt hotter in the sun, like a perfect day at the beach.  We sat in the grass section, paying only $8 each for the privilege.  Among us we ate Crust pizza & Island Noodles.  We drank Fresh Squeezed Lemonade & Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy.  For dessert was Angelo's Italian Ice & Berry Kabobs. Seriously good eats and drinks.

Everything was perfect!  Except the Diamondbacks lost.  No matter because we know that a lackluster Spring Training outing doesn't correlate to the season.  The Diamondbacks will be ready to win then, so for now we get to stretch out on the grass, relax, and enjoy the Arizona sun.

Salt River Fields Spring Training

Our whole family is venturing to Salt River Fields to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play the Anaheim Angels.

Dressed in D-backs gear?  Check.
Concessions list ready?  Check.
twitter reply direct from Derrick Hall to check out Crust?  Check.  
Balls and sharpies to catch some autographs?  Check.
Blankets to sit on in the grass?  Check.
Sunscreen?  Check.
Cash?  Check.
Enthusiasm for a picture perfect sunshiny Arizona day? Check!!

We're a Team

Driving home from coach pitch practice today, JP talked about some of his teammates.  He is particularly concerned about CS.  From my mom perspective, I can see that CS is troubled.  He is the oldest player on the team yet he has the least self-control.  He is big, loud, and pushy.  He can't hit, throw, or field, poor kid.  JP, being among the youngest and smallest on his team, doesn't quite know what to do with CS.  JP said, "Mom, he is mean to every one.  But this is baseball.  We're a team.  I don't get it?"  The best I could come up with was to say, "You are right, kid.  Baseball is at its best when all players treat each other well.  But that doesn't always happen.  Just make sure that you treat others well."  He said that he will.

No Easy Way

Ian is reading No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams and the Last .400 Season to JP.  In between pages, they are talking about how crazy hard it is...was to hit .400 "all the way."  Ian reminds JP that Jose Reyes sat out last season to hold onto some record and how that's cheap.  "Can you imagine Ted Williams sitting out to ensure his record?  Of course not, because he didn't!"  Moral of the story:  Don't take the cheap way out.  There is no easy way to greatness.

JV First Game & MC Hammer

The first game of any baseball season is exciting, full of hope and anticipation of glory!  The first JV game didn't end with glory but definitely showed that there is much hope for a great season.  I was most impressed by the improved athleticism of the players combined with all out effort.

It was a blessing to be back with many families we came to know through Freshman ball.  Dave and I were also able to meet new families.  We definitely missed a few players and parents who didn't return for a variety of reasons (didn't make the team, moved, private concerns, etc.)  Every day we play is a gift to be appreciated.

Aiden started at 2nd and did a fine job.  The first ball to come his way was a pop fly...which got lost in the brutal sun.  Once lost, he did his best to find it, doing a spinning type of dance move.  Not pretty or glorious,and definitely not anyone's idea of a great start.  Yet he bounced right back and went on to play excellent defense, fielding cleanly 2 grounders for 2 outs and acting as cut-off often with no assist opportunities.  He batted 8th, went 0 (infield grounder, K swinging) for 2 with a walk, coming across the plate for 1 of only 2 runs scored.  Final score 9-2 loss.

On a lighter note, and back to dancing on the field, for a week prior to the game I heard about how much the players disliked their uniform pants.  I dismissed the whole chatter, chalking  it up to teen style preferences and the need to do what the coach says, even when he says to wear your pants long.  When Aiden stepped into the box, I stared...and thought...M.C. Hammer?  Hopefully coach will relent and allow the players to show sock next game:)

JP's Observations of First Practice

JP had his first Coach Pitch Little League practice.  He loved it!  He loved Coach Josh, who he quickly identified as an experienced player and maybe "the best coach I'll ever have."  JP also noticed that during the infield practice taking grounders, some players couldn't throw the ball back to the coach.  Finally he concluded with a matter-of-fact statement that, "Some of my teammates aren't athletes."  True.  Many of these young players are sweet kids, bravely attempting to learn one of the toughest games out there...and having a blast.

Casey at the Bat

This President's Day holiday weekend kept us busy with company, baseball practices, and enjoying the gorgeous Arizona weather at our favorite park.  After all were tucked in bed last night, I read Twitter, eager to hear all about the first day of Arizona Diamondbacks practice.  I was happy to read that shortstop Stephen Drew, after a horrific injury last season that we witnessed happen, took grounders and felt well.  I was happy to read ALL the hopeful news.

Today, with the sun shining and Spring Training in mind, the boys and I read Casey at the Bat.  This "we can't wait until spring" reading has become one of our favorite traditions.  This year, Aiden read the poem with much gusto imitating the mighty Casey (think Tim Tebow and Green Eggs and Ham) while the rest of us cheered, booed, and cried as the fans.

Right now there is plenty of joy in our home, somewhere in this favored land where the sun is shining bright.  The band is playing and hearts are light.  Adults are laughing and children shout.  Because as of yet, not one of our favorite Diamondbacks has officially struck out.

Baseball Mom Text

I just received this text from a baseball mom friend:

Major score: 2 baseball bats, 5 batting helmets, 3 pairs of cleats, complete catcher's gear with 2 pairs of shin guards.  Guess how much????

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

$20!

******

baseball gear + smoking deal + bragging rights = happy mom!

6 Year Old Tryouts?

I nearly missed getting John Paul to his tryouts.  Our family has been away from Little League for a few years so I'm out of the swing of it (pun intended.)  My older boys never tried out at this age and I'm still a little confused about why tryouts were held for 6 year old players.  We actually would have completely missed the tryouts if we hadn't stumbled upon them because we were at the field to watch our older friends play.

With a rush of adrenaline, borrowed bat & helmet, and sneakers made for style not baseball, John Paul took the field.  He made all his fielding plays, catching grounders and throwing to second.  His batting was great as was his run to second. Fifteen minutes and we're done.

I hope he lands on a fun team with great coaches.  I hope I don't make any more errors (couldn't resist.)

Top 10: Dbacks FanFest 2012

The Arizona Diamondbacks did right by 25,000  fans, and vice versa, at FanFest 2012.  Here's my top 10 list:

10.  Free admission.  Can you believe that?  Even if they charged a buck, they would make a mint!  D-backs management is smart.  Give to the fans and they'll give back to the team.  No doubt.

9.  Being with my husband and JP, a little threesome.  Our older boys were playing ball and our daughter was at the ASU Alumnae baseball game.

8.  Perfect weather.  Having lived through the heat of the 2011 All Star Game in AZ, I appreciated the sunshine and 80 degrees.  Spring (training) is right around the corner.

7.  Going on the Club House tour.

6.  Meeting Anthony Synegal, the Account Executive who has served our family for some time now with group ticket sales.  Look him up.

5.  Gerardo Parra pitching to JP.  JP got a home run.  Parra should stick to the outfield:).

4.  Baxter signing JP's hat.  Baxter is a top-notch mascot!

3.  Having a great seat at the filming of Fox Sports Arizona's Grace and Sutton interviewing coaches and players.  (Check out my pics on twitter.)

2.  Getting Daniel Hudson's autograph in the Digital Clubhouse.  I'm not much of an autograph collector but he.was.right.there! If you aren't following @dhuddy41 on twitter, do.

1.  Saying "Hi" to Ryan Roberts and wishing him well as he headed into the Club House at the same time our family was entering.  He asked, "Excuse me", which was awfully polite of him seeing as we were fans in *his* house.  And I have proof - the whole 3 minutes is on my phone:)

Thanks, Dbacks.  See you at Spring Training and Opening Day!  

Tournament Win!

Club ball is the rough-n-tumble wild west of youth baseball.  Last summer Ian's Muddogs team, after a great run, closed shop.  Ian went looking for another team and was happy to find a new franchise, the Wizards.  In January his coaching staff and most players left the franchise, went solo, picked up a handful of players from another team, and formed The Heat.  Yep, enough change and drama to make a reality show... and a mom go pale.

After months of ups and downs for Ian, and only in their second tourney together, this past weekend his team won the  championship!  And they did it the right way; with good sportsmanship, sacrifice, filling individual roles, and a team effort.  Oh...and their pitchers were on, defense was nearly without error, base running was smart & aggressive, and their bats were hot!  

My kid?  It was a privilege to watch him.  He dug deep, contributed when it mattered most, and was grateful for the opportunity.  My favorite moment?  When Ian's head coach put an arm around his shoulder after a rough patch.  I don't know what the coach said, but I do know that they both smiled and moved on...to become champions.  

         

Support Cory Hahn

Word travels quickly in baseball circles.  Last spring I heard about a player being severely injured while playing for ASU early in the season.  Quickly our family learned that the player was paralyzed from the waist down from a spine injury after sliding head first into second base, a freak accident.  I remember losing my color and fighting back tears.  That could be my boy.

As a mom watching my boys play, I feel like a mom to all these young men who play the game, have big dreams, and work so hard.  Rationally we tell our boys that eventually the day comes when every player, no matter how great, leaves the game.  But emotionally it is utterly shocking and gut-wrenching to watch a young player's dream shattered in a second.  It is impossible to know what long, hard recovery lies ahead, but most decidedly it will demand every ounce of their determination and guts, virtues honed playing baseball.

It's a year later and I read this article, Paralyzed ex-O.C. star fights through challenges and I see that Cory Hahn is back at ASU.  I was blessed to read his story, look at his slideshow, and see an opportunity to help:

Monetary donations are being accepted to assist the Hahn family with medical expenses. Checks made out to the “Cory Hahn Fund” can be mailed to Mater Dei High School, 1202 W. Edinger Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92707.

Congratulations to Cory and all who have supported him.  My family is cheering for you!

D-backs FanFest 2012 Tomorrow

Tomorrow my husband and I are taking JP to D-backs FanFest.  Aiden and Ian can't join us because the former has JV practice and the latter has an early tourney game.

 I see the irony that the baseball players in this family can't attend, and they are bummed.  I'll enjoy the perks of being only a fan!

Tryouts Over. JV Begins.

It's official.  Aiden made the JV team!  His acceptance letter begins:

Congratlations and welcome to the 2011-2012 Junior Varsity Baseball Team. You have earned the privilege of representing...

your high school. That sums it up! Congratulations to all players who made their team this season. My sincerest condolences to those who were disappointed.

High School Tryouts

Sure, the Super Bowl party was fun and the food was yummy. The game was exciting too. In that order.  But I woke up this morning dreaming of baseball.

After our usual morning routine of homeschool studies and breakfast, my three boys and I headed out to what may be the last lesson with our favorite hitting coach, Ralph, before he goes to Florida to work a Spring Training gig. Aiden especially wanted to see Ralph for last minute instruction.

High school tryouts begin today. Aiden has been through this before and is eager to do well. He played freshman ball last year with all its ups and downs. This year, he wants to improve his play and enjoy the ride more. If, as Earl Wilson said:

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.

then tryouts divide the suffering into three days. Two more to go.