Hello everyone, this is Morry.
Rachel left early this morning to get to the final day of her conference. Evan was staying over Cooper's so I didn't have to leave as early to get him to his games. I tried to sleep in some but Chewie and the cats made it somewhat difficult.
When I did get up, I made breakfast for Noah. He got ready for his football game and I drove him to the fields. I stayed with him until several of his teammates came. Then I drove up to Round Rock to get to Evan's first game so I could score it. Noah is playing up. He wanted to play with his coach from last year who is coaching a 5th/6th grade team. We got permission so Noah could play with the older kids. So Noah told me, he had a big run where he almost scored a touchdown. He caught two passes and he pulled two flags. Before the game I told him he didn't have any pressure. If he didn't play well then it probably because he was playing against older kids. If he did do well, then people would be impressed that a 4th grader was doing so well. It sounds like it was the latter. Rachel and I are really proud of him.
Papa came to pick Noah up and they got Chewie and spent the afternoon with Papa at their house until Rachel's conference was over.
In Evan's first game, he started at third base. He played well there. He popped up in his first at bat, and walked in his second at bat. In his third at bat he crushed a ball that was just foul. He and I both jumped up when he hit it. One of the father's was laughing because apparently we were both reacting the same way just feet from each other. He grounded to third with the infield in and they threw the runner going home out. But Evan stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and the scored on another wild pitch that didn't go far but Evan was being aggressive. It turned out to be the winning run. In the bottom of that inning, Evan made a good play to catch a foul pop up while playing catcher. And the final out was a great play by a boy named Owen on the team. It capped a big comeback after being down 7-1 after the 3rd inning.
We went to Popeye's for lunch and a few families joined us.
In the second game, Evan started at third. Moved to first in the second inning, but after the first two batters walked, Evan came in to pitch. He gave up a hit that scored those two runners but didn't allow another run. He ended up pitching 4 innings with 4 strikeouts and gave up 4 hits and just one run. Through 3 innings of pitching, he had only thrown 33 pitches. The team ended up tying but we had a chance to win. There was 8 minutes left in the game with Evan's team leading, if that half inning had taken up more than the 8 minutes without giving up a run, then they would have won. Instead, Evan got out of the inning in 2.5 minutes. He had a big double and scored what could have been the winning run again. He looked quite good pitching and playing.
Rachel had a great time at her conference. She met a bunch of really good, big, experienced bloggers. Today's speaker was Amy Robach from Good Morning America. Rachel actually got to meet her and talk to her for awhile.
When we got home, we ordered food from Madam Mam's. We had it delivered.
The boys are getting ready for bed now.
Until next time...
Showing posts with label pitcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pitcher. Show all posts
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Warrior
Hello everyone, this is Morry.
This weekend we were in Mansfield, TX (about 20 minutes due south of Arlington) for a baseball tournament. Evan was playing with the "B" team which they call the "Blue" team. After the third game today, one of the parents on the team came up to Evan and told him how well he played and he called Evan a "warrior". I don't think there is a better way to describe how Evan played today.
The whole family drove up to Mansfield on Friday after Evan got home from school. We went with two families to dinner at a pizza place. The pizza was just ok, but we had a nice time with the two other families and all the boys got along well.
On Saturday, the games didn't begin until 3pm. We just stayed at the hotel for most of the day. I took the boys to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. They also swam in the pool some with other boys from the team.
The games didn't go very well for Evan's team. Evan personally played very well. He was hitting the ball better than he has this season. He caught the second game and had one bad call on a potential runner at third and the second baseman dropped a perfect throw where he could have thrown another runner out. He was really throwing well. They lost both games.
After the games, both teams - the 12U teams and 13U teams went to a restaurant that had arcade games and pool tables that I had found for all of us. It was nice because all the parents could talk while the kids played. Then the coaches and a few parents took the kids out to laser tag. Trent, the head coach, said while we were there to play baseball, the weekend is a team building event as well and he was ok with sacrificing Sunday in order to do laser tag with the kids. Siblings joined so Noah went along. They were out late, getting home after 11pm. Both boys had fun though. I think Noah likes to be included with the older boys.
Unfortunately, Evans team was cursed with an 8am game because of their poor showing. We got to the fields at 7:15. The team played much better. Again, Evan caught and again he hit the ball well. Today he ended up having 4-5 straight at-bats where he had an RBI. The pitching was much better and Evan's team won.
We went back to the hotel and got Rachel and Noah. Then we went with another family to brunch.
Evan started the next game at third base. They wanted to use him as the second pitcher if they needed him so they didn't want to pull him out to pitch if he was catching. The first pitcher only got one out and gave up 6 runs so they put Evan in. Evan quickly got the next two outs. Evan gave up one run in the next inning, although, if I recall, it was unearned. Evan's team then took the lead going up 9-7. In the bottom of that inning as time expired, a poorly played ball in the outfield allowed two runs to score to tie it with the winning run on third base with two outs. Evan set up make the next pitch and the runner took off for home to steal home. In my experience, that's a very bush league move. The idea isn't really to steal home, but rather to fluster the pitcher and cause him to balk. Essentially the team was trying to win on a balk. Evan, however, appeared unfazed, stepped off the rubber and threw home getting the runner out and sending the game into extra innings. Extra innings begin with bases loaded and one out. Evan's team erupted for 6 runs. Evan came in to pitch for the bottom of the inning and quickly got the second out. He gave up a fly ball to center for what looked like the winning out but the centerfielder dropped it leading to two more runs. But Evan induced the next batter to ground out to win the game.
Evan was very efficient and only threw 40 pitches in that game. The coaches came to me and said they really needed Evan, would it be ok if they allowed him to pitch 75 and let him start the next game. Knowing he won't be playing next week, I said that was fine. So Evan started the game pitching. He gave up one run in the first (again with more poor defense) and no runs in the second. His last inning pitched was his most efficient. He finished with 69 pitches, 70% strikes. The game was tied 1-1 after his two innings pitched. Unfortunately, the next two pitchers could not keep the game close. Evan played third base in the third inning and threw a runner out and he caught the final inning. He looked exhausted in that final inning but he was still trying to give it his all.
Some other highlights from today - as a pitcher, he picked off two runners at first. He also recognized that a ball fielded to the first baseman's right, needed him to cover first. It was going to be close so Evan caught the toss from the first baseman and then dove and tagged the bag to end one inning.
Meanwhile, Noah seemed to have a great time. He worked the scoreboard in the second game today keeping the score, balls and strikes. In the third game he was having fun with other siblings on the team. It was fun to watch him have so much fun.
We drove home after that last game. Evan was exhausted though he never actually fell asleep. He had his pillow with him and he just rested most of the way. Both boys are in bed now.
Until next time...
This weekend we were in Mansfield, TX (about 20 minutes due south of Arlington) for a baseball tournament. Evan was playing with the "B" team which they call the "Blue" team. After the third game today, one of the parents on the team came up to Evan and told him how well he played and he called Evan a "warrior". I don't think there is a better way to describe how Evan played today.
The whole family drove up to Mansfield on Friday after Evan got home from school. We went with two families to dinner at a pizza place. The pizza was just ok, but we had a nice time with the two other families and all the boys got along well.
On Saturday, the games didn't begin until 3pm. We just stayed at the hotel for most of the day. I took the boys to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. They also swam in the pool some with other boys from the team.
The games didn't go very well for Evan's team. Evan personally played very well. He was hitting the ball better than he has this season. He caught the second game and had one bad call on a potential runner at third and the second baseman dropped a perfect throw where he could have thrown another runner out. He was really throwing well. They lost both games.
After the games, both teams - the 12U teams and 13U teams went to a restaurant that had arcade games and pool tables that I had found for all of us. It was nice because all the parents could talk while the kids played. Then the coaches and a few parents took the kids out to laser tag. Trent, the head coach, said while we were there to play baseball, the weekend is a team building event as well and he was ok with sacrificing Sunday in order to do laser tag with the kids. Siblings joined so Noah went along. They were out late, getting home after 11pm. Both boys had fun though. I think Noah likes to be included with the older boys.
Unfortunately, Evans team was cursed with an 8am game because of their poor showing. We got to the fields at 7:15. The team played much better. Again, Evan caught and again he hit the ball well. Today he ended up having 4-5 straight at-bats where he had an RBI. The pitching was much better and Evan's team won.
We went back to the hotel and got Rachel and Noah. Then we went with another family to brunch.
Evan started the next game at third base. They wanted to use him as the second pitcher if they needed him so they didn't want to pull him out to pitch if he was catching. The first pitcher only got one out and gave up 6 runs so they put Evan in. Evan quickly got the next two outs. Evan gave up one run in the next inning, although, if I recall, it was unearned. Evan's team then took the lead going up 9-7. In the bottom of that inning as time expired, a poorly played ball in the outfield allowed two runs to score to tie it with the winning run on third base with two outs. Evan set up make the next pitch and the runner took off for home to steal home. In my experience, that's a very bush league move. The idea isn't really to steal home, but rather to fluster the pitcher and cause him to balk. Essentially the team was trying to win on a balk. Evan, however, appeared unfazed, stepped off the rubber and threw home getting the runner out and sending the game into extra innings. Extra innings begin with bases loaded and one out. Evan's team erupted for 6 runs. Evan came in to pitch for the bottom of the inning and quickly got the second out. He gave up a fly ball to center for what looked like the winning out but the centerfielder dropped it leading to two more runs. But Evan induced the next batter to ground out to win the game.
Evan was very efficient and only threw 40 pitches in that game. The coaches came to me and said they really needed Evan, would it be ok if they allowed him to pitch 75 and let him start the next game. Knowing he won't be playing next week, I said that was fine. So Evan started the game pitching. He gave up one run in the first (again with more poor defense) and no runs in the second. His last inning pitched was his most efficient. He finished with 69 pitches, 70% strikes. The game was tied 1-1 after his two innings pitched. Unfortunately, the next two pitchers could not keep the game close. Evan played third base in the third inning and threw a runner out and he caught the final inning. He looked exhausted in that final inning but he was still trying to give it his all.
Some other highlights from today - as a pitcher, he picked off two runners at first. He also recognized that a ball fielded to the first baseman's right, needed him to cover first. It was going to be close so Evan caught the toss from the first baseman and then dove and tagged the bag to end one inning.
Meanwhile, Noah seemed to have a great time. He worked the scoreboard in the second game today keeping the score, balls and strikes. In the third game he was having fun with other siblings on the team. It was fun to watch him have so much fun.
We drove home after that last game. Evan was exhausted though he never actually fell asleep. He had his pillow with him and he just rested most of the way. Both boys are in bed now.
Until next time...
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Baseball is Back
Hello everyone, this is Morry.
Baseball is back. Evan is playing on both the "A" and "B" teams for TPRD. This weekend, both teams are playing. He was scheduled to play in 3 games today. The first game time was at 8am. That meant that I got up at 5:30 and I got Evan up 15 or 20 minutes later. We went to Donut Taco Palace on the way to the fields.
In the first game, Evan started at catcher. It only took until the second inning before he threw his first base stealer out. That one was when the runner was trying to steal third. He almost had another one at second. He also led off the game hitting for his team. It didn't go so well - he struck out - but it was an honor to be the lead off batter for the season. In his second at-bat, he worked the count to 3-2 and then took a ball off his leg, just below his knee cap. He acted like it was nothing, flipped the bat towards the dug out, and jogged to first. Bases were loaded at the time so he drove in a run. His friend Cooper was up next and Cooper hit his first career home run - a grand slam. Evan was very excited for Cooper. TRPD won the game.
The "B" team was up next but Evan caught the entire game and another player had to leave early so they gave Evan the game off.
In the third game (but Evan's second game), he was the starting pitcher. Rachel came to watch Evan play. He gave up one hit and some poor defense (including a failed pick-off move by Evan) resulted in 2 runs (the only runs he'd allow all day). Nevertheless, he struck out two batters. In the second inning, he struck out two more batters. He made a nice defensive play in the third to field a comebacker and easily got out of that inning. TRPD was leading 3-2 after Evan's three innings of pitching. Unfortunately, his replacements did not fare as well and TRPD lost the game.
We came home and ate quickly. Then Rachel, Noah and I went to a "Mardi Paws" parade. It was a Mardi Gras parade put on by a local dog food company. Rachel got invited as part of the blog. We took Chewie. He enjoyed seeing all the other dogs but it wasn't quite what we thought it would be.
We came home and relaxed for a bit and then went out and got dinner at Freebirds.
We're home now and the boys are getting ready for bed.
Until next time...
Baseball is back. Evan is playing on both the "A" and "B" teams for TPRD. This weekend, both teams are playing. He was scheduled to play in 3 games today. The first game time was at 8am. That meant that I got up at 5:30 and I got Evan up 15 or 20 minutes later. We went to Donut Taco Palace on the way to the fields.
In the first game, Evan started at catcher. It only took until the second inning before he threw his first base stealer out. That one was when the runner was trying to steal third. He almost had another one at second. He also led off the game hitting for his team. It didn't go so well - he struck out - but it was an honor to be the lead off batter for the season. In his second at-bat, he worked the count to 3-2 and then took a ball off his leg, just below his knee cap. He acted like it was nothing, flipped the bat towards the dug out, and jogged to first. Bases were loaded at the time so he drove in a run. His friend Cooper was up next and Cooper hit his first career home run - a grand slam. Evan was very excited for Cooper. TRPD won the game.
The "B" team was up next but Evan caught the entire game and another player had to leave early so they gave Evan the game off.
In the third game (but Evan's second game), he was the starting pitcher. Rachel came to watch Evan play. He gave up one hit and some poor defense (including a failed pick-off move by Evan) resulted in 2 runs (the only runs he'd allow all day). Nevertheless, he struck out two batters. In the second inning, he struck out two more batters. He made a nice defensive play in the third to field a comebacker and easily got out of that inning. TRPD was leading 3-2 after Evan's three innings of pitching. Unfortunately, his replacements did not fare as well and TRPD lost the game.
We came home and ate quickly. Then Rachel, Noah and I went to a "Mardi Paws" parade. It was a Mardi Gras parade put on by a local dog food company. Rachel got invited as part of the blog. We took Chewie. He enjoyed seeing all the other dogs but it wasn't quite what we thought it would be.
We came home and relaxed for a bit and then went out and got dinner at Freebirds.
We're home now and the boys are getting ready for bed.
Until next time...
Sunday, October 7, 2012
More Baseball
Hello everyone, this is Morry.
Rachel always has me write the blogs on game days. She knows how excited I get about the games. Evan and Noah had their first baseball games in two weeks since last week's games were rained out. Both boys were excited.
At around 10:15, I got a text from Noah's coach. He was asking me if it was ok if he started Noah at the pitching position. The pitcher has to wear a chest protector and face mask. I told Noah and he was super excited.
We had lunch and then I took the boys to the fields. Rachel was going to come later. Evan had a catch with one of the kids from the team while Noah and I had a catch.
Noah's team was the visitors and so they batted first. Then I put the gear on Noah and he went out to be pitcher in the bottom of the inning. Two balls were hit to him. He fielded both. On the first one, the ball slipped out of his hand and went backwards on his throw to first but he had a great throw on the second one. Later he played second base.
Evan's friend Jack was the one sitting out the bottom of the first and I hadn't taken Evan over to his field yet. So the two of them were able to play in the dugout. We have some pictures of them being silly down below.
I ran Evan over to the batting cages for his warm up and came back. Unfortunately, I missed Noah's first hit. I guess he got a hit and the boy behind him hit a home run so Noah came around and scored. He was excited to tell me about it when I got back. Noah got another hit in the game.
In the top of the first in Evan's game, he came up. He seems to be getting comfortable with the new bat I got him before the season which was a bit heavy. He had a great swing and laced a double into the gap between right field and right center. In his next at-bat, he hit a grounder to first and he attempted to slide into first which earned him a rebuke from both his coach and me. But then he singled in his third at-bat, again to right field. He got a kid out when he was playing second base on a force. And he generally played well in the field again.
After the games we watched the Steelers game recorded. I did not have to put the boys to bed so the Steelers won. You may dispute whether has any impact but the facts are clear - the Steelers are 2-0 in games the boys watch the entire game and 0-2 when I put them to bed (with the lead). I'm just saying.
The boys are in bed now and, I think, sleeping. Nope, Evan just came down telling me he can't go to sleep.
Until next time...
Rachel always has me write the blogs on game days. She knows how excited I get about the games. Evan and Noah had their first baseball games in two weeks since last week's games were rained out. Both boys were excited.
At around 10:15, I got a text from Noah's coach. He was asking me if it was ok if he started Noah at the pitching position. The pitcher has to wear a chest protector and face mask. I told Noah and he was super excited.
We had lunch and then I took the boys to the fields. Rachel was going to come later. Evan had a catch with one of the kids from the team while Noah and I had a catch.
Noah's team was the visitors and so they batted first. Then I put the gear on Noah and he went out to be pitcher in the bottom of the inning. Two balls were hit to him. He fielded both. On the first one, the ball slipped out of his hand and went backwards on his throw to first but he had a great throw on the second one. Later he played second base.
Evan's friend Jack was the one sitting out the bottom of the first and I hadn't taken Evan over to his field yet. So the two of them were able to play in the dugout. We have some pictures of them being silly down below.
I ran Evan over to the batting cages for his warm up and came back. Unfortunately, I missed Noah's first hit. I guess he got a hit and the boy behind him hit a home run so Noah came around and scored. He was excited to tell me about it when I got back. Noah got another hit in the game.
In the top of the first in Evan's game, he came up. He seems to be getting comfortable with the new bat I got him before the season which was a bit heavy. He had a great swing and laced a double into the gap between right field and right center. In his next at-bat, he hit a grounder to first and he attempted to slide into first which earned him a rebuke from both his coach and me. But then he singled in his third at-bat, again to right field. He got a kid out when he was playing second base on a force. And he generally played well in the field again.
After the games we watched the Steelers game recorded. I did not have to put the boys to bed so the Steelers won. You may dispute whether has any impact but the facts are clear - the Steelers are 2-0 in games the boys watch the entire game and 0-2 when I put them to bed (with the lead). I'm just saying.
The boys are in bed now and, I think, sleeping. Nope, Evan just came down telling me he can't go to sleep.
Until next time...
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Football and Baseball
Hello everyone, this is Morry.
The boys got up some time after 8am. Since yesterday was a long, exhausting day, I thought they may sleep in, but they didn't really.
Rachel had a luncheon to go to for the Breast Cancer Resource Center. She left around 11am for that. I made pancakes for the boys and me for our brunch.
After eating the pancakes, we all settled in to watch the Steelers game. Unfortunately, the game was really really bad - one of the worst I can remember in a long time. The boys didn't mind. They were having a good time. Evan had me throwing the football to him. I was leading him and he'd dive to get the football. (It was a stuffed football)
Rachel came home around 2pm and laid down.
At 2:30, Evan and I left for his first tee ball game of the season. It was really hot out, about 100 degrees. It felt gross. Evan was pretty tired initially but he got excited when the game started. He batted third and he played right-center, shortstop and pitcher. He loved playing pitcher. Last season, only the older boys who really knew how to field got to play pitcher. I think he took it as an honor that he got to play there. He did really well. He fielded every ball that game to him. He was running off the mound fast to get it. That's something new that he didn't do last season. He's really progressed well.
Rachel and Noah came towards the end of the game. I drove the boys home while Rachel went to tutor. We stopped and got Powerade on the way home.
At home, I led the boys in cleaning up. It did not go well.
For dinner, Rachel stopped and picked up Papa John's. They now charge to deliver. It's very expensive there.
We gave the boys baths and they are in their rooms now.
Until next time...
The boys got up some time after 8am. Since yesterday was a long, exhausting day, I thought they may sleep in, but they didn't really.
Rachel had a luncheon to go to for the Breast Cancer Resource Center. She left around 11am for that. I made pancakes for the boys and me for our brunch.
After eating the pancakes, we all settled in to watch the Steelers game. Unfortunately, the game was really really bad - one of the worst I can remember in a long time. The boys didn't mind. They were having a good time. Evan had me throwing the football to him. I was leading him and he'd dive to get the football. (It was a stuffed football)
Rachel came home around 2pm and laid down.
At 2:30, Evan and I left for his first tee ball game of the season. It was really hot out, about 100 degrees. It felt gross. Evan was pretty tired initially but he got excited when the game started. He batted third and he played right-center, shortstop and pitcher. He loved playing pitcher. Last season, only the older boys who really knew how to field got to play pitcher. I think he took it as an honor that he got to play there. He did really well. He fielded every ball that game to him. He was running off the mound fast to get it. That's something new that he didn't do last season. He's really progressed well.
Rachel and Noah came towards the end of the game. I drove the boys home while Rachel went to tutor. We stopped and got Powerade on the way home.
At home, I led the boys in cleaning up. It did not go well.
For dinner, Rachel stopped and picked up Papa John's. They now charge to deliver. It's very expensive there.
We gave the boys baths and they are in their rooms now.
Until next time...
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