Although we would all rather be at a ballgame tonight, our baseball journey ended last night at 11:15pm...the boys fought SO hard...let me break it down for you.
We played a game at 6pm last night...this was to advance to the semi-finals of the U9 State Championship. We faced the same team we lost to in our first game this past Saturday...they beat us 13-12 in the bottom of the 6th inning. Our boys were so pumped up to beat this team...and beat them, they did! We won the 6pm game 11-5. It didn't come without consequences...one of Jake's teammates broke his arm during this game. He was playing right field and he and the center fielder collided...when he fell, he landed on his left arm and it broke near the wrist. It was upsetting for the boys, but once Patrick headed to the hospital, it seemed to energize them and winning became all about "Let's do it for Patrick." And so they did. It was a very exciting, intense, HOT game. It ended late due to the delay for the ambulance, etc...so the second game started at NINE pm...it was under the lights and the kids were once again energized...we went down in the first inning...the other team came on strong and we were losing by 6 early. Honestly, two different times during the game, the other team almost ended it with the "mercy rule" that we have loved so much during this tournament...but our boys fought HARD...and two times that the other team only needed ONE more run to win, we stopped them. Our boys fought with a ton of heart all the way to the 6th inning when we lost 13-4. There were TONS of tears...most of them because this incredibly fun season had come to a close. Jake just kept crying saying, "I don't want it to be over." Those same words were said through tears two weeks ago by Connor. These boys LOVE baseball and just want to keep playing.
Last year Jake's same team went to the state tourney and came in 4th. This year, 3rd place. This U9 team has made the state aware that Urbana Baseball is something to keep an eye on. We like that a lot...and plan to win 1st place next year!
I have a few pix to share and will try to get them up this weekend. I will admit...I don't have the usual amount of pix...I am SO superstitious and since I didn't start taking pix early on, I didn't want to mess with the mojo. You think that's bad?!?!...our coach didn't wash his shorts...from the first win 'til the last...that's superstitious!
Connor, Jake, Kate, and Bob are at the cottage today, Thursday, and Friday with Pat and Chip...I have class...and while I'm in a classroom, they are fishing, tubing, playing on the beach, and kayaking...can you guess where I'd rather be? I should have good pictures for the blog upon their return.
