Finishing Strong

Middle School baseball ended their season on an up note, a 13-3 win! They really did play great, in spite of some questionable calls by the umps. Nathan played third base for the first two innings and pitched the last inning. At the plate, he walked, grounded out to first (although our coach swears he was safe!), and hit a TRIPLE into left field! His pitching was good, too. He gave up a couple of hits but picked off the runner on second base for the first out then struck out two batters in a row to end the game. A great ending to middle school sports!

Elizabeth's team is finishing strong, too. They are playing a few, good, larger schools to get ready for playoffs. Tonight they beat one of those teams 8-5. All we know is that she was 1 for 3 at the plate.

TRIPLE PLAY!!

In spite of our loss this afternoon, 7-4, the varsity boys executed a very exciting triple play in the field. It started with a grounder to the pitcher. He threw to home to hold the runner at third. Meanwhile, the runner on second didn't realize what had happened and was halfway to third base. The catcher threw to the shortstop covering second who tagged out the runner who had been on second. Then the runner went from third toward home. The shortstop threw home and the catcher tagged the runner out. The batter was now on his way to second. The catcher threw a bullet to second and the second baseman tagged the batter out! Amazing!

Aaron struck out once and grounded out to the second baseman. Only a couple more games to go.

District Track Meet

The District Track meet is finally over--and boy am I glad Jeff went instead of me! A long, hot day! Aaron started off well, taking FIRST PLACE in the 3200 meters (2 miles)! Woo-hoo! He shaved a minute off his time from last year and beat the second place finisher by 22 seconds!

He didn't fare as well in the 1600 meters (1 mile). He finished 5th out of a field of 11, with his slowest time thus far this season. So he'll represent us at the Regional Meet in the 3200, but not in the 1600. His team didn't place in points, either, although Aaron himself scored 12 points for the team.

Will he finish top 4 in regionals and qualify for the state meet? I don't know. Let's just say it will be a fun surprise if he does.

The Winning Pitcher

Nathan came out as the winning pitcher in tonight's middle school game. They won 8-5. He gave up a few hits, but most of the runs were from errors or walks. He made some really good plays in the field, both at pitcher and at shortstop after another boy came in to relieve him. He also scored 3 of our 8 runs after reaching base twice on walks and once on an infield grounder (the first baseman missed the throw.) All in all, a good game. And finally a baseball game in baseball weather--sunny and warm!

Extra Innings

We lost a heartbreaker in 9 innings (we usually play 7), 6-5. We tied it up 4-4 in the bottom of the 7th, held them in the 8th, gave up 2 runs in the 9th and could only find 1 run to answer, falling just short of the win. But they really did play well.

Aaron played DH again and went 0 for 4, (this picture is from a previous game), striking out the first at bat but then grounding out the other three times, usually with 2 outs. So he's getting the bat on the ball, he just keeps hitting right to the other team!

Prom

The kids had a great time at Prom last night--the only one Elizabeth and Aaron would both attend. Aaron took his friend Lana, the same girl he took to homecoming. Elizabeth went with her friend Spencer, from her class at school. The girls were beautiful. The guys were handsome. It was, of course, bittersweet for the seniors. Their last big thing together, except for their trip after graduation. And for the first time I think Elizabeth enjoyed the whole process--the shopping, the getting fixed up, everything. It was fun to watch her so grown up, so willing to enjoy being a girl! Aaron goes to these things because I make him. He's such a homebody he has to be forced to socialize, although he always has fun with his friends once he gets there.

Track Meet

We competed in a track meet on Thursday, meant as a "warm-up" for the district meet next week. Mostly bigger schools, but not that much bigger. Aaron placed 14th of the 19 in the 800 meter race, with a time of 2.33. In 1600 meters he finished 10th of 14, with a time of 5:45, almost the exact same as he ran it last time. At least he's consistent!

TWO WINS!!!!

Yes, the varsity boys team WON today!!! Woo-hoo!! They pulled out a 9-5 victory. Aaron was the DH for his friend who played 2nd base. He struck out, hit an amazing lead-off double over the head of the left fielder (and eventually scored), and hit a pop fly to shallow center field that was caught. It's the first game I've been to and it was so fun!

Elizabeth's team, of course, won again. 10-2. Elizabeth had a single and 2 RBIs and she threw a runner out at 2nd. 

A Win and A Loss

It's the usual: a win for the girls, a loss for the boys. The girls are officially District champs now, although they have one more game to play before playoffs. 

Aaron, apparently, had a walk and a strikeout. Elizabeth went 0 for 3, but made a GREAT catch in right field to stop a rally by the other team at a crucial point in the game.

A Quick Trip

Elizabeth and I took a quick trip to Louisiana so she could attend registration and orientation. It was truly a whirlwind tour, complete with back-to-back early morning flights, driving through unknown territories in a rental car (a PT cruiser--how fun!) without getting (too) lost (Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the use of the GPS!), and a one short-lived mix-up on our confirmation date of her attendance at the event! But we made it! She has a schedule and an ID and she feels "official." She caused quite the stir, being one of the few from out of state. I told her she'd be famous on campus as "that girl from Texas"! While the trip came in the midst of a very busy time, at least she doesn't have to sacrifice a day of work this summer to go do all that. She's set until we move her in the dorm on August 16! Can  you believe that's just 4 months away??

But one thing I did learn: it is not fun to go down on back--driving or flying--on consecutive days. Unless we run into an absolute necessity, it will have to always be a 2 night trip from now on!

Softball and Baseball

Elizabeth's team sewed up the district championship (even though there are 2 more games to play) with a 22-2 win. Elizabeth had 1 pop up for an out and 2 hits--both of which came in the same inning! If they keep playing like that, a run for the state championship isn't such a pipe dream.

Aaron is filling in on the varsity baseball team while they have a few ineligible players. He played 2nd base today. He walked on his one at bat but was thrown out stealing 2nd. Obviously these coaches haven't seen him much or they'd know he isn't fast enough to steal!

Something New, Something Old

Aaron went to his first track meet today. It was a track meet of mostly large private schools, so we don't expect to place, we just want our kids to get some experience and to see where they are on their times or distances.

Today Aaron did a few new things: triple jump and 800m. He also ran his old race: the 1600m (or 1 mile.) He didn't come in last in his new events and he came in above the middle of the pack in the 1600. He was pleased with his performances but is now ready to concentrate on his better events for the district meet coming up in a couple of weeks. 

The Silver Tongue

Elizabeth proved her silver tongue once more. She finished 2nd in the TAPPS State Persuasive Speaking competition. This involved pulling a random current events topic, being given a few minutes to jot notes and then giving a persuasive speech in support of the issue. She put off preparing her research until the night before and still managed to "persuade" the judges to give her 2nd place! That just shows--it isn't about the facts as much as it is your passion and ability to sway with your words. She got that ability in spades!

3-0 in District

Today, the girls showed they could overcome adversity and pull out a win. Up 6-0 in the 4th, they began to flounder. Suddenly, it was 6-6. It remained 6-6 going into the final inning. That's when our girls stepped up to the plate--literally! They scored 4 in the top of the 7th and held the other team in the bottom of the inning. They won, 10-6.

Elizabeth had two strikeouts and two singles (well, on one she reached on an error actually) and fielded one ball cleanly. 

Now we head to our home field to play three more district games before we head into the playoffs. The girls know the district title is theirs to lose. Hopefully, like today, they can dig deep and come up with victory.

Another District Win

The girls racked up 14 runs versus their district rival yesterday afternoon. They allowed only 2 runs to cross the plate for the other team. Elizabeth struck out twice but hit on her final at bat and got credited with an RBI as well. She played right field and threw out a runner going to first base! More district play later this week.

A Chilly End

We braved the 25 degree wind chill for our first game this morning, which we won 14-0. Elizabeth was hit by 2 pitches (she's okay) and hit a good double.

We knew the second game would be much harder--and we were right! We lost a heartbreaker, 3-4. Elizabeth struck out, walked and singled as well as caught 2 pop flies. We just came up a bit short. 

But all in all, they did well, playing close with the bigger schools and annihilating the schools our size. That, we hope, bodes well for district play and on into the playoffs. We'll see!

Football Weather for Softball Games

Elizabeth's team is in a softball tournament this weekend. That wouldn't be so bad except a cold front moved in this afternoon. It went from 69 to 42 in a few hours, with about 20 mph winds. Needless to say, it was not fun sitting in the cold (which most of us weren't totally prepared for) watching softball!

Here is a brief summary of the three games:

Game 1: We won, 10-0. Elizabeth had a double and a walk.

Game 2: We lost (to a bigger school), 6-9. Elizabeth had a great bunt which scored a run and she made it to 3rd on the overthrow. She scored on a passed ball. She also struck out for the final out of the game.

Gam 3: We won, 10-1. Elizabeth hit two doubles and a single, scoring each time on overthrows or passed balls.

And guess what? We get to brave the 30 degree weather in the morning to do it all again. Yea, us!

Back to the Bases

Well I really thought the games today would be rained out, but after a quick, hard shower, the sun and wind dried everything pretty quickly. Unfortunately, the games were still kind of a bust.

Elizabeth's team played a district rival--except that no umpires showed up! So they scrimmaged. They won, but it didn't count.

Nathan's team also played an area rival, but one whose "school" team is playing in a competitive league and has players (most of the good ones) that don't go to the school that is our rival. (Did you follow all that?) We got trounced 13-1. Nathan had a good stop at shortstop. Not such a great throw, but the first baseman made a good play and we got the out. He struck out once, walked once, and got thrown out at home plate. He also came in to pitch in the last inning with bases loaded and no outs. Given the situation, he did ok. He struck out one. Gave up three hits (all but one had fielding errors), fielded a ball hit back to the mound and threw out the player coming home, and caught a pop fly to end the inning. Not bad for not having thrown at all during Spring Break AND having both his Tetanus and Hep A shots this morning!

A Great Vacation

This is a view from the balcony of our hotel room at the Boardwalk Inn Resort at Walt Disney World. It's one of the reasons I love Disney vacations: when you aren't in the park, you feel like you are at some ultra relaxing resort! What we loved about this hotel (besides a fun view) was the proximity to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (both a short walk away) and the several sitting areas inside the hotel and out (including one right outside the door of our room!) where Jeff and I often took our books and read during our "down times." 

Disney's newest roller coaster is Mt. Everest, pictured above. It was very fun. In fact, while we are not known as a "roller coaster family," our motto on this trip was "everyone rides everything." Unlike our last trip to Disney (when the kids were 10, 8, and 7), they had to coax us to ride rides instead of us coaxing them! And we did. We all rode all the "big" rides. And it was fun! Of course, the kids were embarrassed when I screamed through several of them. 

And yes, we saw Mickey. This time (again, different from last time), they didn't care about seeing the characters. But we did make them stand in line to get this picture. Oh, and they willingly stood in line to have their pictures taken with Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen from Cars. All in all, it was a very fun trip. Since this was the last time we'll all have spring break together (Elizabeth's college has theirs in April and the boys' will be in March), we are happy to have good memories. 

District Play Begins

The girls began district play on Monday with a 5-4 win! Their pitching has been tremendous with fielding and batting pretty good, too. But the difference in close games comes down to our aggressive base running. They are brash in their steals, even stealing home when the ball is in the hands of the pitcher! We'll see if they can keep it up, but so far so good.