Owen played on Monday--and as the prior post recalled, the expansion Racers lost putting an end to their season.
Tuesday Wes' team--the Hammers--played. As the top seeded team, they got the advantage of playing the lowest seeded team.
Wes rounding first:
...making the first run for the night:
Here is Wes' buddy Garrett being congratulated after a home run!
They ended up winning easily by several runs and were scheduled to play again Thursday evening.
Wes rounding first:
...making the first run for the night:
Here is Wes' buddy Garrett being congratulated after a home run!
They ended up winning easily by several runs and were scheduled to play again Thursday evening.
Wednesday Jeremiah's team played. They were the top seeded team and got a buy in the first round of games. As they were undefeated their entire season, I was a bit nervous about them winning. When a team has yet to lose, you worry that a loss could be right around the corner. The game was a tight one for the first three innings. In fact, here is a picture of an impromptu meeting out on the field prompted by the shortstop, Drake:
Later, I asked Jeremiah what they talked about. He said, 'Nothing. We just all stood there and looked at each other.'
After the third inning, though, the Braves began exploding at bat. Here is Donye hitting a home run:
Jeremiah getting a piece of the action:
The Braves won 23-6, sending them to the Championship game on Saturday!
Later, I asked Jeremiah what they talked about. He said, 'Nothing. We just all stood there and looked at each other.'
After the third inning, though, the Braves began exploding at bat. Here is Donye hitting a home run:
Jeremiah getting a piece of the action:
The Braves won 23-6, sending them to the Championship game on Saturday!
The Hammers came out strong on Thursday.
Here is Wes leading them off:
Throughout all the tournament games, Wes either played short stop or third base. Here he is playing third:
Wes didn't get this guy out, but I thought it was a cool picture.
Trying to pick this guy off:
While the Hammers were pounding away, there was lots of fun happening on the sidelines:
These boys can make a competition out of anything, even jumping over chairs. I think A.J. was the fastest jumper--I almost didn't catch him.
But back to the game. The Hammers won easily, 11-3. They too were headed to the Championship game on Saturday!
Here is Wes leading them off:
Throughout all the tournament games, Wes either played short stop or third base. Here he is playing third:
Wes didn't get this guy out, but I thought it was a cool picture.
Trying to pick this guy off:
While the Hammers were pounding away, there was lots of fun happening on the sidelines:
These boys can make a competition out of anything, even jumping over chairs. I think A.J. was the fastest jumper--I almost didn't catch him.
But back to the game. The Hammers won easily, 11-3. They too were headed to the Championship game on Saturday!
I was so happy for them! Yet so distraught about the fact that they both played at 4:30 PM clear across town from one another!
NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
What's a mom and dad to do???!! What are grandparents to do????
There was only one answer, as much as I hated it. Split up--divide and conquer.
Such decisions are hard on a mama's soul.
Saturday afternoon, Wes and Jeremiah wished each other luck, good-byes were said in the driveway, and Eric and his dad left for Wes' game and his mom and I left for Jeremiah's.
and Eric and his dad left for Wes' game and his mom and I left for Jeremiah's.
Before the game, Jeremiah's team gathered, removed their hats, and bowed their heads in prayer.
All faced the flag for the National Anthem.
'PLAY BALL!'
And for the next hour and twenty minutes,I chain smoked and bit my nails I cheered on the Braves up-close while cheering for the Hammers via text status reports from Eric.
Here's a picture of the center fielder catching a fly ball:
Jeremiah swinging:
Drake hitting a homerun:
And the team congratulating him:
So here is Jeremiah going to second and obviously beating the ball.
But the umpire called him out.
Jumping out of my chair, I ran screaming out in the middle of the field, waving my camera in the air and showing him the evidence.
No, I'm just kidding. I didn't do that.
I just wanted to liven you up.
Actually, there was no drama in this game. The Braves led almost the entire game and ended up winning 16-5 (or something like that).
When the game was over, the team gathered together and bowed their heads in thanksgiving. Loved this.
Then we got some pics in front of the scoreboard that you can't read:
We celebrated for a moment with silly string,
Such decisions are hard on a mama's soul.
Saturday afternoon, Wes and Jeremiah wished each other luck, good-byes were said in the driveway, and Eric and his dad left for Wes' game and his mom and I left for Jeremiah's.
and Eric and his dad left for Wes' game and his mom and I left for Jeremiah's.
Before the game, Jeremiah's team gathered, removed their hats, and bowed their heads in prayer.
All faced the flag for the National Anthem.
'PLAY BALL!'
And for the next hour and twenty minutes,
Here's a picture of the center fielder catching a fly ball:
Jeremiah swinging:
Drake hitting a homerun:
And the team congratulating him:
So here is Jeremiah going to second and obviously beating the ball.
But the umpire called him out.
Jumping out of my chair, I ran screaming out in the middle of the field, waving my camera in the air and showing him the evidence.
No, I'm just kidding. I didn't do that.
I just wanted to liven you up.
Actually, there was no drama in this game. The Braves led almost the entire game and ended up winning 16-5 (or something like that).
When the game was over, the team gathered together and bowed their heads in thanksgiving. Loved this.
Then we got some pics in front of the scoreboard that you can't read:
We celebrated for a moment with silly string,
Then hurried on out to try to make it to the end of Wes' game. The Hammers were down 2 runs.
Oh, good gravy.
As we tracked clear across town, I spent much of the time on speaker phone with Eric giving me the play by play.
By the time we pulled up, the game was tied 6-6 in the bottom of the last inning and the Hammers had two players on base with no outs. Tense, it was.
We hung on every pitch...
Finally, the end we were all hoping for...
The Hammers won!
And here is the other coach apologizing for losing his temper in the middle of the game. What a way to own up. If only more of us adults could learn to do this when we mess up.
Two championship games and two wins. You'd think we'd go celebrate privately with our teams with a little pizza and trophy presentation, then go home, kick back and relax, right?
No, oh, no. That's not the way they do things here in Western KY.
No sir-ee.
The party's just getting started.
Every first and second place team that played in a championship game from every division--both young and old--AND every team that placed first in the regular season, along with ALL the family and fans, come together at the Lone Oak ball field. All 2000+ of us, cars parked every which way, as far as the eye can see.
And then the most bizarre event ever in the history of baseball unfolds.
First, the emcee calls the baseball teams forward and plays the Cha Cha Slide so they can all dance:
Then the emcee calls on the moms of the baseball players forward and they play the Cha Cha Slide for a SECOND time so the mamas can boogie.
The experienced people bring goggles.
But most just wing it:
And sometime in the midst of the shaving cream flinging, trophies are presented and fireworks are set off.
But I never really could get past the line dancing and shaving cream...I could only stare at everyone, dumbfounded, trying to understand this yearly tradition.
This madness.
It still makes me laugh and the only thing I know to say about it all is:
Oh, good gravy.
As we tracked clear across town, I spent much of the time on speaker phone with Eric giving me the play by play.
By the time we pulled up, the game was tied 6-6 in the bottom of the last inning and the Hammers had two players on base with no outs. Tense, it was.
We hung on every pitch...
Finally, the end we were all hoping for...
The Hammers won!
And here is the other coach apologizing for losing his temper in the middle of the game. What a way to own up. If only more of us adults could learn to do this when we mess up.
Two championship games and two wins. You'd think we'd go celebrate privately with our teams with a little pizza and trophy presentation, then go home, kick back and relax, right?
No, oh, no. That's not the way they do things here in Western KY.
No sir-ee.
The party's just getting started.
Every first and second place team that played in a championship game from every division--both young and old--AND every team that placed first in the regular season, along with ALL the family and fans, come together at the Lone Oak ball field. All 2000+ of us, cars parked every which way, as far as the eye can see.
And then the most bizarre event ever in the history of baseball unfolds.
First, the emcee calls the baseball teams forward and plays the Cha Cha Slide so they can all dance:
Then the emcee calls on the moms of the baseball players forward and they play the Cha Cha Slide for a SECOND time so the mamas can boogie.
Then the emcee calls all the dads of the baseball players up and guess what they play for a THIRD time? Yep, you guessed it--dads all around us bustin' a move to the Cha Cha Slide.
And as dust is a flyin' from all the dancing, people run left and right, squirting shaving cream at one other:
The experienced people bring goggles.
But most just wing it:
And sometime in the midst of the shaving cream flinging, trophies are presented and fireworks are set off.
But I never really could get past the line dancing and shaving cream...I could only stare at everyone, dumbfounded, trying to understand this yearly tradition.
This madness.
It still makes me laugh and the only thing I know to say about it all is:
WELCOME TO WESTERN KY, Y'ALL!
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