I made it out to Moultrie and Shelby counties' new Junior Legion baseball team's practice today.
It was early, 9 a.m., but the kids were still having some fun playing ball. But it wasn't all fun and games, as these ball players aren't out there to pull dandelions out of the ground, they're playing to one day soon be all stars on their high school team, and one day play college ball and professional ball.
Seeing fun like this makes me a little jealous. I wish I would have been smart enough to try out for a Junior Legion team, I loved baseball and who knows where it could have taken me.
I just typed up an article for this week's paper, which you will be able to read shortly, but one thing I touched on was an inability for organizers to be able to sift through some of the Moultrie County "us against them" mentality, some rivalries between local communities. I certainly hope that ends soon, because the ones that lose out are the kids. Having a legion team in Moultrie's back yard is a blessing, and it needs to be embraced with open arms.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sullivan loses in Sectional, 5-1
Tough news, Redskins fans, the baseball team lost to Danville Schlarman in the Sectional tonight, 5-1.
Starter Zach Lane came out and pitched well after a rocky first inning, when he loaded the bases on walks and hit a batter to give the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead, and then another Danville Schlarman run scored on a questionable call on what could have been a double play. He then settled down and started throwing strikes and hitting spots with his curveball, but the Hilltoppers also scored one in the second and two in the third, which was more than enough for the win.
Redskin hitters couldn't get a pace going against the Hilltopper starter, who was "effectively wild," coach Troy Rogers told me.
The only offensive bright spot was a rocket off the bat of Corben White, which landed him at second and scored Tyler Frerichs.
There were a few questionable calls by the umps that led to some frustration from the Redskins fans.
Sullivan's season ended with a regional championship and a 14-13 record.
Lane had a few bumps along the way, inc
Starter Zach Lane came out and pitched well after a rocky first inning, when he loaded the bases on walks and hit a batter to give the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead, and then another Danville Schlarman run scored on a questionable call on what could have been a double play. He then settled down and started throwing strikes and hitting spots with his curveball, but the Hilltoppers also scored one in the second and two in the third, which was more than enough for the win.
Redskin hitters couldn't get a pace going against the Hilltopper starter, who was "effectively wild," coach Troy Rogers told me.
The only offensive bright spot was a rocket off the bat of Corben White, which landed him at second and scored Tyler Frerichs.
There were a few questionable calls by the umps that led to some frustration from the Redskins fans.
Sullivan's season ended with a regional championship and a 14-13 record.
Lane had a few bumps along the way, inc
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Take me out to the ballgame!!
Sometimes you just have to see it to believe it.
In order to know that something really exists, that it isn't just a myth and that the characters are truly living, breathing human beings, we have to see it with our own eyes, and Sunday I did just that when I saw Wrigley Field for myself.
I had been to Wrigley Field for games dozens of times and grew up watching it for countless hours on TV. After the telecast, or during, I would run outside to replicate my favorite players in the back yard, or throwing a baseball against a brick wall or hitting a wiffle ball over the short fence. Or I would gather neighborhood friends to throw a ball around, or take a few slaps at a ball, and we would proclaim ourselves to be our favorite players.
I was often Andre Dawson, Shawon Dunston or Mark Grace. It was kind of hard to believe, now that I look back, that these were real people, not mythical, because my re-enactments would often portray them as super heroes, and sometimes they seemed invincible on their own.
Well, on Sunday, for the first time in years, I again tried to embody them. I had acquired press passes through this newspaper(News-Progress), and I was given the access of my dreams - to step down on the field and into the dugout. I saw the ivy just as Dawson did, and I saw the bleachers overflowing with fans, just as Dunston did.
I took a seat in the same narrow dugout that Dennis Eckersely sat in, and stood by the same rabid beat reporters Kerry Wood has avoided.
I stood in the second oldest Major League Baseball stadium and soaked in my surroundings. Several of the best baseball players in the world were tossing baseballs back and forth right in front of me. I stood right behind the Pirates as they took batting practice, directly behind a coach that was "gently" hitting grounders to infielders, and they all flawlessly threw them on two hops back to the coach. If they missed at all I would have been pelted and hurting, but every throw was on the mark. All of the other reporters stood beside me, not even flinching, not even looking.
In high school games, I would have walked away with several bruises and a missing tooth. No offense, though, high schoolers, these are just the best of the best.
I looked to my right and there was new Cub Jim Edmonds, who was formerly a Cub-killing Cardinal. I'm no longer a bitter Cubs fan who would hold a grudge, thankfully. I looked to my left and there was the Cubs dugout, which I wasted no time to step down into and take a seat. It's surprisingly narrow. As my mind was racing with excitement, I looked up and realized that Cubs' ace starter Ryan Dempster and his red goatee were five feet in front of me, both being interviewed by famous Cubs writer George Castle. The goatee didn't have much to say.
The other reporters were muttering something amongst themselves about Castle, who I later got to interview for this week's News Progress story, and his opportunity to talk to Dempster, who has been blazing opposing hitters this season.
I watched a few excited fans and their families be escorted onto the field. Forty-five year-old-men lit up like 12-year-olds, and their 12-year-olds were frozen in awe. Two boys, probably no older than eight years old, stood in the dugout wearing Cubs uniforms and hats with big, wide eyes, and each held a baseball covered in signatures.
A tall, muscular Cub wearing dark sunglasses and a beard breezed past me and the other reporters and stepped into the dugout, and he took the children's baseballs to sign them, giving each a pat on the head. I'm pretty much positive that was Kerry Wood, who is much taller and even more intimidating than I expected.
The Cubs players then took off for the clubhouse and the media followed. I wasn't granted clubhouse access, unfortunately, but I still got to see more than most eyes ever do, and I'm very thankful for that, too. I can't do too much more talking to do the sights justice, so here are several pictures to help do the talking:
Here's the Cubs dugout. Here have sat Sutcliffe, Durocher, Stone, Garciaparra, Dawson, Sandburg and Rennels.
And Dempster. Here is Ryan Dempster being interviewed by George Castle.
Here is the water fountain that Grace, Sosa, Santo, Girardi, Banks and Rennels have drank from.
Jim Edmonds being helped by another Cub and I'm standing only a few feet from them. Edmonds ran right past me and into the dugout, and as he ran past us reporters he kept his head down. I bravely said hello and asked how he was doing, and Jim told me "good." It was awesome.
There, on the right, stands Lou Piniella, the Cubs' grizzly coach. Lou was the first face I saw walking onto the field, and right then I remembered where I was at. Lou is a tall man, and nevermind that he is 60 years old, he is still built like a brick house. Seriously. I had no idea, either.
Kerry Wood signs autographs for the youngsters.
Here are dozens of rabid fans eagerly requesting a pat on the head from players.
Bratwurst.
Here is the organist that plays all the ragtime and blues between innings and all the sound effects when a player hits a foul ball.
My favorite picture. Here is Ron Santo, the (should be) Hall of Fame former third baseman for the Cubs and now their radio color commentator. I lurked around in the press box hallway every chance I got and constantly looked into his booth to see if I could say "hi" to Ronnie, and then I had my chance. In one inning I looked in the booth window and saw Santo getting up, so I waited for my chance. When he walked out of the booth and into the hallway I said, "Hey Mr. Santo!" and he turned around(and he's really tall!), and then I told him who I was and where I was from, but as I was introducing myself I dropped my tape recorder on the ground and it busted open! Ronnie said "Ohh Gawdt!" just like he says when a Cub outfielder drops a pop-up. (Devoted Cubs fans out there know what I'm talking about) But both he and I regrouped for this nice photo.
Here is the Cubs press room. It, too, is smaller than I would have thought.
Disgruntled Cubs beat reporters.
Did you know that during every press conference they conduct a 15-minute nap for coaches and reporters. OK, not really. I just caught a lot of people with their eyes closed. No flashes allowed. This is Lou Piniella talking about how happy he was with their win and their 10-game homestand.
I want to sum this blog entry up by saying that it was a real blessing to be able to do all of this, and I thank the News Progress for providing me with the opportunity. If any readers have any Cubs memories or anything else Cubs, please share them here.
Check this week's News-Progress for a feature column about the trip and the Cubs' heritage.
In order to know that something really exists, that it isn't just a myth and that the characters are truly living, breathing human beings, we have to see it with our own eyes, and Sunday I did just that when I saw Wrigley Field for myself.
I had been to Wrigley Field for games dozens of times and grew up watching it for countless hours on TV. After the telecast, or during, I would run outside to replicate my favorite players in the back yard, or throwing a baseball against a brick wall or hitting a wiffle ball over the short fence. Or I would gather neighborhood friends to throw a ball around, or take a few slaps at a ball, and we would proclaim ourselves to be our favorite players.
I was often Andre Dawson, Shawon Dunston or Mark Grace. It was kind of hard to believe, now that I look back, that these were real people, not mythical, because my re-enactments would often portray them as super heroes, and sometimes they seemed invincible on their own.
Well, on Sunday, for the first time in years, I again tried to embody them. I had acquired press passes through this newspaper(News-Progress), and I was given the access of my dreams - to step down on the field and into the dugout. I saw the ivy just as Dawson did, and I saw the bleachers overflowing with fans, just as Dunston did.
I took a seat in the same narrow dugout that Dennis Eckersely sat in, and stood by the same rabid beat reporters Kerry Wood has avoided.
I stood in the second oldest Major League Baseball stadium and soaked in my surroundings. Several of the best baseball players in the world were tossing baseballs back and forth right in front of me. I stood right behind the Pirates as they took batting practice, directly behind a coach that was "gently" hitting grounders to infielders, and they all flawlessly threw them on two hops back to the coach. If they missed at all I would have been pelted and hurting, but every throw was on the mark. All of the other reporters stood beside me, not even flinching, not even looking.
In high school games, I would have walked away with several bruises and a missing tooth. No offense, though, high schoolers, these are just the best of the best.
I looked to my right and there was new Cub Jim Edmonds, who was formerly a Cub-killing Cardinal. I'm no longer a bitter Cubs fan who would hold a grudge, thankfully. I looked to my left and there was the Cubs dugout, which I wasted no time to step down into and take a seat. It's surprisingly narrow. As my mind was racing with excitement, I looked up and realized that Cubs' ace starter Ryan Dempster and his red goatee were five feet in front of me, both being interviewed by famous Cubs writer George Castle. The goatee didn't have much to say.
The other reporters were muttering something amongst themselves about Castle, who I later got to interview for this week's News Progress story, and his opportunity to talk to Dempster, who has been blazing opposing hitters this season.
I watched a few excited fans and their families be escorted onto the field. Forty-five year-old-men lit up like 12-year-olds, and their 12-year-olds were frozen in awe. Two boys, probably no older than eight years old, stood in the dugout wearing Cubs uniforms and hats with big, wide eyes, and each held a baseball covered in signatures.
A tall, muscular Cub wearing dark sunglasses and a beard breezed past me and the other reporters and stepped into the dugout, and he took the children's baseballs to sign them, giving each a pat on the head. I'm pretty much positive that was Kerry Wood, who is much taller and even more intimidating than I expected.
The Cubs players then took off for the clubhouse and the media followed. I wasn't granted clubhouse access, unfortunately, but I still got to see more than most eyes ever do, and I'm very thankful for that, too. I can't do too much more talking to do the sights justice, so here are several pictures to help do the talking:
Here's the Cubs dugout. Here have sat Sutcliffe, Durocher, Stone, Garciaparra, Dawson, Sandburg and Rennels.
And Dempster. Here is Ryan Dempster being interviewed by George Castle.
Here is the water fountain that Grace, Sosa, Santo, Girardi, Banks and Rennels have drank from.
Jim Edmonds being helped by another Cub and I'm standing only a few feet from them. Edmonds ran right past me and into the dugout, and as he ran past us reporters he kept his head down. I bravely said hello and asked how he was doing, and Jim told me "good." It was awesome.
There, on the right, stands Lou Piniella, the Cubs' grizzly coach. Lou was the first face I saw walking onto the field, and right then I remembered where I was at. Lou is a tall man, and nevermind that he is 60 years old, he is still built like a brick house. Seriously. I had no idea, either.
Kerry Wood signs autographs for the youngsters.
Here are dozens of rabid fans eagerly requesting a pat on the head from players.
Bratwurst.
Here is the organist that plays all the ragtime and blues between innings and all the sound effects when a player hits a foul ball.
My favorite picture. Here is Ron Santo, the (should be) Hall of Fame former third baseman for the Cubs and now their radio color commentator. I lurked around in the press box hallway every chance I got and constantly looked into his booth to see if I could say "hi" to Ronnie, and then I had my chance. In one inning I looked in the booth window and saw Santo getting up, so I waited for my chance. When he walked out of the booth and into the hallway I said, "Hey Mr. Santo!" and he turned around(and he's really tall!), and then I told him who I was and where I was from, but as I was introducing myself I dropped my tape recorder on the ground and it busted open! Ronnie said "Ohh Gawdt!" just like he says when a Cub outfielder drops a pop-up. (Devoted Cubs fans out there know what I'm talking about) But both he and I regrouped for this nice photo.
Here is the Cubs press room. It, too, is smaller than I would have thought.
Disgruntled Cubs beat reporters.
Did you know that during every press conference they conduct a 15-minute nap for coaches and reporters. OK, not really. I just caught a lot of people with their eyes closed. No flashes allowed. This is Lou Piniella talking about how happy he was with their win and their 10-game homestand.
I want to sum this blog entry up by saying that it was a real blessing to be able to do all of this, and I thank the News Progress for providing me with the opportunity. If any readers have any Cubs memories or anything else Cubs, please share them here.
Check this week's News-Progress for a feature column about the trip and the Cubs' heritage.
Monday, May 12, 2008
In the Bleachers - Senior Night
Friday was a big day for 11 Okaw Valley seniors, as it was the last time they would suit up in gray and blue and hear a hearty cry of "Play ball!"
It was Senior Night at OV's baseball field, and they certainly came to play one last time on the field, winning 4-1 against a tough hitting South Piatt team.
While nine of the Wolves were busy winning on the field, the rest of the team(and they've got a deep bench), may as well have worn pom-poms, because they were cheering like a championship were on the line.
OK...so maybe not pom-poms.
And while all those were busy with that, the Timberwolves' parents were busy with hot dogs. Their truly beloved fans, and there were dozens more than a normal home game, were busy flipping hot dogs and catching up.
For those unable to make it, see below for visuals:
As for my time In the Bleachers, the most interesting observation was their baseball speak. I've noticed this with several teams, not just the Timberwolves, but once players get on the field their rural, farming roots and heritage fade away, and suddenly they become New Englanders, talking with some a Bostonian accent - nasal, short on vowels, and with greater usage of the word "kid."
"Ayyy, way to stay alive. Way too fight it ouff, kid," one dugout member would say after the batter fouls it off.
"Come on, 12, stort us off he-re, kid.
It was Senior Night at OV's baseball field, and they certainly came to play one last time on the field, winning 4-1 against a tough hitting South Piatt team.
While nine of the Wolves were busy winning on the field, the rest of the team(and they've got a deep bench), may as well have worn pom-poms, because they were cheering like a championship were on the line.
OK...so maybe not pom-poms.
And while all those were busy with that, the Timberwolves' parents were busy with hot dogs. Their truly beloved fans, and there were dozens more than a normal home game, were busy flipping hot dogs and catching up.
For those unable to make it, see below for visuals:
As for my time In the Bleachers, the most interesting observation was their baseball speak. I've noticed this with several teams, not just the Timberwolves, but once players get on the field their rural, farming roots and heritage fade away, and suddenly they become New Englanders, talking with some a Bostonian accent - nasal, short on vowels, and with greater usage of the word "kid."
"Ayyy, way to stay alive. Way too fight it ouff, kid," one dugout member would say after the batter fouls it off.
"Come on, 12, stort us off he-re, kid.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Fantasy Focus
So, here's the deal...
I have an AWFUL fantasy baseball team. I'm not sure how many of you have fantasy baseball teams, or how many of you are wondering what the heck I'm even talking about... but if you do know what I'm talking about, then good.
And if you don't, it's not bad, I'll just tell you. Fantasy baseball is a sports geek's dream, taking all the athletes and their stats from a pro sport, be it baseball, basketball, football and anything else, probably even chess, and allowing the user to assemble their own fantasy team, trading or playing the virtual free agent market.
If any of you are still confused, you should wikipedia it, or just join a league.
Anyways, I need your help, and will all year long. My team is next to dead last in the 10-team league of 26-68. It doesn't take an education in fantasy baseball to know that is AWFUL!!!
It's not that I have an awful team...I started the season with some really good offensive threats, including David Wright, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Magglio Ordonez, Johnny Damon, Brandon Phillips, and our Cubs' very own, Alfonso Soriano.
Of course, Wright had a slow start before just picking up, Jeter has hit for average but not much else, Posada got hurt, Ordonez was black-listed for steroids, Johnny Damon has been good, Brandon Phillips forgot how to be good, and Soriano, well, you know the story there.
My pitching, on the other hand, has never been deep with talent, but I'm trying to make do. I picked up Royal Zack Greinke, who has been awesome, compiling a 4-1 record with a 1.8 ERA and 1.02 WHIP(Walks and hits allowed in innings pitched). I drafted John Lackey, a real success last year, but he's been hurt since the start, though his teammate Joe Saunders has come in and pitched some lights-out ball, rocking a 6-0 record.
I also picked up former Cub-now Cardinal Todd Wellemeyer, a starting pitcher who has shown you Cardinals fans that sometimes the Cubs actually do draft some good talent.
Anyways, I could go on for hours if I explain this position by position, so here's my current team:
Batters:
A.J. Pierzynski (CWS - C)
James Loney (LAD - 1B)
Kazuo Matsui (Hou - 2B)
David Wright (NYM - 3B)
Derek Jeter (NYY - SS)
Johnny Damon (NYY - LF,CF)
Juan Pierre (LAD - LF,CF)
Magglio Ordóñez (Det - RF)
Mark Reynolds (Ari - 3B, currently my utility)
Brandon Phillips (Cin - 2B, bench)
Eric Byrnes (Ari - LF,CF,RF, bench)
Jorge Posada (C, Disabled List, bench)
Alfonso Soriano (ChC - LF,CF, bench)
Pitchers:
Zack Greinke (KC - SP,RP)
Clay Buchholz (Bos - SP)
Francisco Rodríguez (LAA - RP)
José Valverde (Hou - RP)
Matt Capps (Pit - RP)
Jason Isringhausen (StL - RP)
Todd Wellemeyer (StL - SP,RP)
Joe Saunders (LAA - SP)
Gavin Floyd (CWS - SP,RP)
As you can see, I need some help at first base and I also need some advice about Mark Reynolds. After a sizzling start, the under the radar has player has calmed down a bit. Should I drop him, bench him, or keep him there?
And I'm sure you all you Cardinals fans have the same question about Izzy, and I'm talking about real baseball. Trade him!
I have an AWFUL fantasy baseball team. I'm not sure how many of you have fantasy baseball teams, or how many of you are wondering what the heck I'm even talking about... but if you do know what I'm talking about, then good.
And if you don't, it's not bad, I'll just tell you. Fantasy baseball is a sports geek's dream, taking all the athletes and their stats from a pro sport, be it baseball, basketball, football and anything else, probably even chess, and allowing the user to assemble their own fantasy team, trading or playing the virtual free agent market.
If any of you are still confused, you should wikipedia it, or just join a league.
Anyways, I need your help, and will all year long. My team is next to dead last in the 10-team league of 26-68. It doesn't take an education in fantasy baseball to know that is AWFUL!!!
It's not that I have an awful team...I started the season with some really good offensive threats, including David Wright, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Magglio Ordonez, Johnny Damon, Brandon Phillips, and our Cubs' very own, Alfonso Soriano.
Of course, Wright had a slow start before just picking up, Jeter has hit for average but not much else, Posada got hurt, Ordonez was black-listed for steroids, Johnny Damon has been good, Brandon Phillips forgot how to be good, and Soriano, well, you know the story there.
My pitching, on the other hand, has never been deep with talent, but I'm trying to make do. I picked up Royal Zack Greinke, who has been awesome, compiling a 4-1 record with a 1.8 ERA and 1.02 WHIP(Walks and hits allowed in innings pitched). I drafted John Lackey, a real success last year, but he's been hurt since the start, though his teammate Joe Saunders has come in and pitched some lights-out ball, rocking a 6-0 record.
I also picked up former Cub-now Cardinal Todd Wellemeyer, a starting pitcher who has shown you Cardinals fans that sometimes the Cubs actually do draft some good talent.
Anyways, I could go on for hours if I explain this position by position, so here's my current team:
Batters:
A.J. Pierzynski (CWS - C)
James Loney (LAD - 1B)
Kazuo Matsui (Hou - 2B)
David Wright (NYM - 3B)
Derek Jeter (NYY - SS)
Johnny Damon (NYY - LF,CF)
Juan Pierre (LAD - LF,CF)
Magglio Ordóñez (Det - RF)
Mark Reynolds (Ari - 3B, currently my utility)
Brandon Phillips (Cin - 2B, bench)
Eric Byrnes (Ari - LF,CF,RF, bench)
Jorge Posada (C, Disabled List, bench)
Alfonso Soriano (ChC - LF,CF, bench)
Pitchers:
Zack Greinke (KC - SP,RP)
Clay Buchholz (Bos - SP)
Francisco Rodríguez (LAA - RP)
José Valverde (Hou - RP)
Matt Capps (Pit - RP)
Jason Isringhausen (StL - RP)
Todd Wellemeyer (StL - SP,RP)
Joe Saunders (LAA - SP)
Gavin Floyd (CWS - SP,RP)
As you can see, I need some help at first base and I also need some advice about Mark Reynolds. After a sizzling start, the under the radar has player has calmed down a bit. Should I drop him, bench him, or keep him there?
And I'm sure you all you Cardinals fans have the same question about Izzy, and I'm talking about real baseball. Trade him!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
When it rains...
Man, am I tired of the rain. I suppose it happens every spring here in Central Illinois, but it gets old EVERY YEAR at this point.
It rained all day today, and it yesterday evening. It was beginning to rain as I was walking away from a baseball game in Bethany between two of our area's teams, the Knights and Timberwolves, two teams that have been rained on a lot this season, both literally and not. A few blocks over was a softball game between the same two schools, the Panthers and Lady Timberwolves, and while I'm sick of the rain, I'm sure all four teams are also tired of the rain, and I'm sure they're also tired of not winning.
The wheels have fallen off of the Okaw Valley baseball and softball teams' seasons, and there were unfortunately never really any wheels to start with for Lovington-Arthur's softball team and Arthur-Lovington's baseball team. (Note: You have to love the confusion behind co-ops)
To give a quick summary, the better teams won, though not by much. The Timberwolves came back from a 5-1 deficit to defeat the Knights 7-5, and the Lady Timberwolves beat the Panthers 4-2 in 4 1/2 rain-shortened innings.
Both Okaw Valley teams came into this season talented and feisty, though injuries and tough losses have crushed each of them, and though each team was competing strongly even a month ago, both have been shell-shocked and now the Timberwolves' record is 8-14 on the year, and the Lady Wolves' is 8-13.
Arthur and Lovington's co-ops both started at disadvantages. The Knights didn't have any players come out from Lovington High School this year, leaving them with less talent to work with, and the Panthers had to scramble at the last minute to even be able to field a full team.
I'm looking forward to some sunny weather, and though that's bound to come soon, maybe even tomorrow, both Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington's teams will likely have to wait until next year for things to truly shine. Okaw Valley baseball fields a big team, and the younger players are getting a lot of experience and are playing pretty well, and the Knight's young offense is learning how to play together, too.
It rained all day today, and it yesterday evening. It was beginning to rain as I was walking away from a baseball game in Bethany between two of our area's teams, the Knights and Timberwolves, two teams that have been rained on a lot this season, both literally and not. A few blocks over was a softball game between the same two schools, the Panthers and Lady Timberwolves, and while I'm sick of the rain, I'm sure all four teams are also tired of the rain, and I'm sure they're also tired of not winning.
The wheels have fallen off of the Okaw Valley baseball and softball teams' seasons, and there were unfortunately never really any wheels to start with for Lovington-Arthur's softball team and Arthur-Lovington's baseball team. (Note: You have to love the confusion behind co-ops)
To give a quick summary, the better teams won, though not by much. The Timberwolves came back from a 5-1 deficit to defeat the Knights 7-5, and the Lady Timberwolves beat the Panthers 4-2 in 4 1/2 rain-shortened innings.
Both Okaw Valley teams came into this season talented and feisty, though injuries and tough losses have crushed each of them, and though each team was competing strongly even a month ago, both have been shell-shocked and now the Timberwolves' record is 8-14 on the year, and the Lady Wolves' is 8-13.
Arthur and Lovington's co-ops both started at disadvantages. The Knights didn't have any players come out from Lovington High School this year, leaving them with less talent to work with, and the Panthers had to scramble at the last minute to even be able to field a full team.
I'm looking forward to some sunny weather, and though that's bound to come soon, maybe even tomorrow, both Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington's teams will likely have to wait until next year for things to truly shine. Okaw Valley baseball fields a big team, and the younger players are getting a lot of experience and are playing pretty well, and the Knight's young offense is learning how to play together, too.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
In The Bleachers
Last night I attended Arthur-Lovington's home baseball game against East Central High School. It's not hard to tell by the Knight's 4-17 record this season that it has been a tough year, but these families still come out to every game.
And they, of course, carry conversation during the game. It can be a little bit tricky sometimes, especially when their Knights were down 3-0, then 6-0, then 6-1, and then 10-1.
But, they endured. I couldn't help but hear how the popcorn was a bit too salty, how Arthur could use a new baseball field because their outfield is downright dangerous, how they couldn't understand why they didn't just send the runner to second, they're down by nine runs already, what's it going to hurt? And what's on for dinner.
And when the times are tough, the parents are a lot of fun to be around, because they don't let anything bring them down. When their team's player, whether or not their son, strikes out, they assure them they will get them next time. If they line a shot to the outfield for an out, they clap and yell "good hit!" If they blast one a home run's distance, but just barely foul, the moms and pops let that kid know that it would have been a home run if it were only fair.
I love sitting in the bleachers.
And they, of course, carry conversation during the game. It can be a little bit tricky sometimes, especially when their Knights were down 3-0, then 6-0, then 6-1, and then 10-1.
But, they endured. I couldn't help but hear how the popcorn was a bit too salty, how Arthur could use a new baseball field because their outfield is downright dangerous, how they couldn't understand why they didn't just send the runner to second, they're down by nine runs already, what's it going to hurt? And what's on for dinner.
And when the times are tough, the parents are a lot of fun to be around, because they don't let anything bring them down. When their team's player, whether or not their son, strikes out, they assure them they will get them next time. If they line a shot to the outfield for an out, they clap and yell "good hit!" If they blast one a home run's distance, but just barely foul, the moms and pops let that kid know that it would have been a home run if it were only fair.
I love sitting in the bleachers.
My Very First Post
So here we are in 2008.
Blogs are the rage these days. People love them, whether teenagers, young adults, middle agers, or even, yes, senior citizens. Certain age groups have been reading them from the start, and certain age groups are learning more about them every day and also learning to like them.
And newspapers are becoming more and more multi-formatted every day, including your very own News Progress. This newspaper was early to put its content on the Web, hence, the newsprogress.com URL, and now we're expanding to blog format, hence, this.
Come on by all the time, please. I can't promise an update every day, though there may be two or three in one day, one the next, then none and then four. It's hard telling, but it will still be fun.
I'll be chatting about sports in Moultrie County, sports across the world, and things that maybe aren't even sports, like bird watching. I've never actually gone bird watching, but it sure would be fun to talk about.
So, please come on by and let's have some fun with this.
Blogs are the rage these days. People love them, whether teenagers, young adults, middle agers, or even, yes, senior citizens. Certain age groups have been reading them from the start, and certain age groups are learning more about them every day and also learning to like them.
And newspapers are becoming more and more multi-formatted every day, including your very own News Progress. This newspaper was early to put its content on the Web, hence, the newsprogress.com URL, and now we're expanding to blog format, hence, this.
Come on by all the time, please. I can't promise an update every day, though there may be two or three in one day, one the next, then none and then four. It's hard telling, but it will still be fun.
I'll be chatting about sports in Moultrie County, sports across the world, and things that maybe aren't even sports, like bird watching. I've never actually gone bird watching, but it sure would be fun to talk about.
So, please come on by and let's have some fun with this.
Friday, May 2, 2008
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