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Post by trevor9 on Jul 16, 2007 19:26:51 GMT -8
I would have loved to include Trev's homerun but I had to go to work early and missed it. I'm sure he'll hit another one soon.....with Craig's coaching. Hopefully I'll be there for the next one.
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Post by crash23 on Jul 16, 2007 19:51:18 GMT -8
Lil Chaney had a gap toothed smile from ear to ear all around the bases and the rest of the night... Prolly woke up with it!
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Post by crash23 on Jul 17, 2007 12:22:36 GMT -8
I'm hoping there's a few more to be made tonight in Madera!
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Post by scrapper on Jul 17, 2007 15:55:39 GMT -8
Good Luck Crash, I know you will battle those guys.
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Post by crash23 on Jul 17, 2007 21:35:08 GMT -8
Well, let's jusy say we had an off night and tip our hats to Riverpark. I don't know how they've managed to have so many loaded teams the last four years. The 11U and 12U teams this year are solid 1 - 9, great fundamentals htting and on defense.
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Post by mflema on Jul 17, 2007 22:43:13 GMT -8
Favorite memories: I have been in LL so long I have a ton of them. But I have had fun watching ZO run, (should I say stride) the bases, and his home base stealing style. I love Danny Caldera's smile, along with Curtis Lotspiech's. Watching the National South's 9-10 AS, was wonderful because there was no quit in those kids. My respect for Ralph Serpa went sky high as I watched him night after night make sure that City Championship games, TOCs, and All Star games were covered and taken care of. All of the umpires who make sure that so many of our players could play at home by volunteering their time so that our kids had home field advantage, and the voluteers in the concession stands, the pitch counters, the scorekeepers, the announcers and the scoreboard volunteers. All of these people make wonderful memories because I remember the years when no one would volunteer. So thanks to all of you for these memories. This isn't to forget the field prep people or anyone that I may of forgotten. This was a great all star year. I am proud to be a part of National and National South. These leagues have really stepped up and taken care of business. The best memory is my Dustin, for his plays on his regular team the Angels, and his All Star play. Most of all because he never gives up. He tries his hardest, and he makes something happen. MEL
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Post by crash23 on Jul 18, 2007 10:18:01 GMT -8
Now that the last pitch if the LL season is over some of the memories that come to mind first as a coach are: 1. Watching the Cubs win as a team all year. Everyone contributed with key hits and defensive plays all season long, including our 10 year olds. We had no superstars on the team but had plenty of depth. The emergence of Kyle Hatcher as a pitcher was especially fun to watch and was the key to our success at the end of the season. Brent Backlund really stepped it up too on the mound. Trevor Chaney got hot at just the right time, coming up with several key hits. The best part is that they are a great bunch of kids that won and loss with class. 2. Carson Allen's two-strike, two out home run to tie the game in play-offs. 3. Having the AE 10U all star team last more than two games after having to troll the minors for players b/c some of the major league players were unable to participate. 4. The AE 11 All Stars battling back through the losers bracket to the district finals after dumping their second game... They've done it two years in a row and it speaks volumes to their talent but more important to their resiliency. And we didn't rely on one or two stars, someone different seemed to contribute every night. 5. Watching the success of Turlock as we battled each other in all stars and represented District 10 at each level in the finals. 6. Inter-league & City Championship Tourney. As someone said, "it made the town a whole lot smaller." Turlock LL got a whole lot better (fun!) this year because of inter-league. It was nothing short of a huge success. Congrats to all! 7. The improvements at Soderquist. A park that used to be old and somewhat run down became a clean, well kept, fun place to play and watch a game. 8. the countless other day to day events that make it all worthwhile... As a Dad... 1. Handing the ball to an 11 year old in the Championship game and watching him rise to the occasion, winning with guile and composure. And he did it w/o his coach calling the game for him. Probably a good thing b/c he just might be smarter than me 2. Watching the little sh*t go 2 for 3 with a double and then coming in to earn the save in the all star semi-finals the day after splitting open his shin and getting 16 stitches (no worries folks the doctor gave him the thumbs up to play). 3. Watching him pitch in the finals against Riverpark - and lose - but he never stopped battling and never hung his head. He even managed to make a few Riverpark hitters look foolish and strike out 3 or 4. It was the best LL season I've experienced and that was b/c of inter-league. We've got a good thing, let's keep it going! BTW, this discussion board was the catalyst for it all. Thanks to all those who care enough to voice their opinion!
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Post by trevor9 on Jul 18, 2007 12:36:59 GMT -8
I will give credit where credit is due......Riverpark has a great program. From top to bottom they are nails. Turlock is almost there, rather than get discouraged and make excuses I will look forward to a rematch next year.
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Post by scrapper on Jul 18, 2007 14:05:25 GMT -8
After watching them (Riverpark) for the first time. I am beginning to think that we should only have two leagues.
Based on their website, they have over 700 kids to draw from, I think N/NS only had 270-300 AM/AE have what 250-275. I think the numbers are there, it just getting these kids to commit to a more structured program in terms of developing skills. Because, if you have 12 dedicated kids, who are all on the same page, I think we are not far off.
It is pushing these kids. Every kid, even the ones who don't want to be there. There are other factors, but we have to get some of the travel ball kids back and put them to the test. If they are as good as they think they are. Then lets make it challenge to upstage RiverPark and knock them off of that pedestal they deservily are on. I think with interleague, and other things that we can do, we can make things happen.
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Post by highhardone on Jul 19, 2007 13:28:38 GMT -8
Playing at Soderquist was sure fun. I didn't remember how nice the field was, it's been awhile since I've been there. Inter -league was awesome, to bad we couldn't do that before our last year.
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