These are no sugar canes. Behind in two of the four games played, these scrappy kids clawed and fought to win. If one boy had a problem, and every 11 year-old is going to have problems, others would pick him up. They look out for each other. Most of them have played together in different sports for years.
Gabe Albino, from South Side Little League, got a new bat for his birthday this weekend. I'm not really sure whether it's a bat or a cruise missile launcher. He sent two that are currently being tracked by NASA. When the team was down four runs, and we all thought we were going home, Alex Laudenslager blasted a 2-run homer that ignited the bats like Friday night fireworks at the 'Pigs. Dave Bertolati blasted double after double, and when it was needed.
Kyle Picht and Dat Lambert were like acrobats in the outfield, making diving catches, robbing certain runs.
Thanks to an iPad application, I was able to score the game. Not only does it generate stats (which are only about 80% accurate because this was my first real use), but it actually creates separate stories about each game.
Game 1: "Canes drubs Forks Tp Young Gunz, 12-3"
Game 2: "Canes offense too much for Frozen Ropes Elmsford in 10-2 rout"
Game 3: "Offenses dominate as Canes outscores West End Outlaws 15-12"
Game 4: "Bartolati (pictured left) helps Canes down Frozen Ropes Elmsford 11-6"
How cool is that?
It also creates the scoreboard you see above, at the top of this blog.
How cool is that?
Sunday morning, on my way to get my grandson, I bumped into Express Times editor Joe Owens. He was on his way to a Phillies-Mets game. As great as that is, and it's pretty high on the list for me, I'll take these tournaments any day of the week. These kids love it, and frankly, I don't think they care as much about the score as the rest of us. They just like to be out there, even when the rest of us are dropping like flies.
Kyle Picht and Dat Lambert were like acrobats in the outfield, making diving catches, robbing certain runs.
Thanks to an iPad application, I was able to score the game. Not only does it generate stats (which are only about 80% accurate because this was my first real use), but it actually creates separate stories about each game.
Game 1: "Canes drubs Forks Tp Young Gunz, 12-3"
Game 2: "Canes offense too much for Frozen Ropes Elmsford in 10-2 rout"
Game 3: "Offenses dominate as Canes outscores West End Outlaws 15-12"
How cool is that?
It also creates the scoreboard you see above, at the top of this blog.
How cool is that?
Sunday morning, on my way to get my grandson, I bumped into Express Times editor Joe Owens. He was on his way to a Phillies-Mets game. As great as that is, and it's pretty high on the list for me, I'll take these tournaments any day of the week. These kids love it, and frankly, I don't think they care as much about the score as the rest of us. They just like to be out there, even when the rest of us are dropping like flies.
13 comments:
Very nice and congrats!
Congrats as well!
The Banker
Nice spread ... but the principal objective of any game is to win.
What is the point of doing ANYTHING in life if the goal is not to reach the principal objective?
Who really wants to play with someone who is not willing to put forth maximum effort towards achieving the principal objective at all times?
Winning is okay.
Celebrating such is okay, too.
Apologies are surplus to requirements here.
Perhaps if the US women had more of a killer instinct and more of a professional sense of what needs to be done when, they would have killed the game off properly and not have blown a late lead --- TWICE.
But, it was nice to see Japan have a chance to be WORLD CHAMPIONS ... right???
:D :D :D
Oh, they play to win, especially the coaches. The kids definitely want to win, and are very competitive.
But the players are 10 & 11 years old, and are still learning. Dat learned what it was like to chase after fly balls soaring over his head this weekend in Center Field because he stepped forward instead of backwards when the ball was hit to him. I think he finally understands base running now. Little league does not allow leading at their level, but tournament rules did. Most of the kids took awhile to get that concept down.
It's a lot more fun to be on a winning team, but many of these kids would spend a weekend on a lousy team, too, because they love playing more than they love winning. And that's OK, too.
Did the parents give their permission to have their children's faces put on a blog such as this.? I know one parent who is very angry. They are aware of your blog and the type of things posted on it.
I believe it is illegal to put a minors picture on such a thing without signed consent forms by the parents.
If that is the case you may be getting a call from an attorney.
That's funny. Before the weekend tournament started, several parents asked me to make sure I write a story. After the game, these kids all posed for pictures. So far as I know, I am allowed by law to make editorial use of any picture I take, regardless of the age of the subject.
I suppose it is possible that a parent could be upset to see his or her child applauded in a complimentary article, but what is more likely is that you are just making this up.
Never tire of your baseball updates. The game has beauty at every level. But the beauty of kids playing hard never grows old. They're more fun to watch than professionals most days.
These are the blogs I enjoy the most, and I am very happy to read you never tire of them. I feel like every minute we spend watching kids play ball is a minute added to our lives.
None of those children are related to you Mr. O'Hare. Your going to these games is creepy.
Nowhere near as creepy as your comments.
GREAT bunch of kids - the American dream - just hope they don't grow up to be dems. If they are smart they will leave norco ASAP
future hood rats or tea partiers.
Some people are really sick.
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