Softball

Evey really enjoyed playing softball this year. Even though 5 of the first 6 games were cancelled and rescheduled due to rain flooding the field. It actually worked better for us to have the season shifted later, because at the beginning of the season the games over lapped with dance a lot and so dance was the priority.  Evey started the season at the top of the batting order, always getting a base hit.

All following pictures are from the city final game

This year new rules were added, and stealing was allowed. It made for a much funner game, that and the pitchers are refining their skills and can throw more hittable balls now.  They go through a draft at the beginning to the season so that the teams are more evenly matched, but there was one team who ended up with 2 or so AMAZING pitchers. Not sure how they pulled that off, except I think they were the coach and assistant coaches daughters! Oh well they were an awesome team and super tough to beat. But Evey's team gave them a run for their money, when they played.

Evey switched between outfield ( her coach says it's because she has a great arm to get the ball in field, but she rarely saw action out there) and 3rd base. But , it was so fun to watch her bat and steal the bases, it was pretty easy stealing 2nd and 3rd and then they would often send them to steal home, so that was always a rush watching the close calls and as my mom wrote on her facebook status after watching one game: " I watched my oldest granddaughter Evey slide into home base and emerge out of a cloud of dirt - SAFE!!! " 

Dang it coach!! Move!!

At the end of the season Evey's team had the second best record. Then the city holds a tournament, so through all of that they just couldn't beat that one team, and so they came out 2nd in the league, but, that was good enough to move on to the state tournament!

Receiving her 2nd place ribbon.

We had had a stomach bug run it's course through our house and on the day of the City final Evey had it. She rested the whole day, we thought she would have to miss the game. But because she is amazing she decided to suck it up and go to the game. They even gave her the "game" ball. She did great for wanting to throw up the whole time!

Down and dirty sliding into home!

Everyone else has fun at the games playing at the park, or like this day  we sat in the shade and ate lots of snacks and wrastled!

The state tourney was held not too far from our house, which made it really nice. It was double elimination so we knew we'd get to see her play at least twice.  The first game was a huge eye opener! We had always heard that Provo was a fairly easy softball league and that other cities were much more gung-ho about it. Well we got a taste of that right off the bat!! This team was all about bending the rules to the breaking point as far as stealing. They went so far as to distract with one steal, to steal another girl, and then were amazing at the "pickle", which threw our girls off because they weren't used to that. Yikes! They also threw our girls off with a bunt one time, something our girls had NEVER seen in city play! And, their pitcher was Mean and super accurate. She could switch up between a standing pitch and this running fast ball that was just plain scary!! The girls were a little intimidated in the first inning, but shook it off and didn't let them get away with it the next few innings, unfortunately the other team had won the toss for home field advantage and so were able to beat us by 2. Our team did make some amazing plays though, and our pitch chased down the runner trying to steal home and tagged her! It was an awesome moment! And a super fun game to watch!

The next game was with a team much more evenly matched, and we were pretty confident we could beat them. Well a team is only as good as their pitcher unfortunately. Our cutie pitcher was hurt twice in the first game, she twisted her ankle in an attempt to get out a base stealer and then was hit by a super hard ball as she was batting. So they ended up giving her a break in the second game, and the second pitcher although just as cute and sweet, wasn't at her best and the coaches waited too long to take her out, and we couldn't catch back up. That paired with a pair of teen aged umps who didn't really care (the field ump was throwing his own ball out in the field, not even paying attention) and made some rather stinky calls as far as balls and strikes. Oh, and the other team would waste incredible amounts of time getting out on to the field, wasting game time, and taking advantage of the stinky umps who did nothing about it. So when time was almost up, we we're down, but as long as we finished the inning they would start another if there was seconds on the clock. At the start of the bottom of that inning the clock said 1:45 and it began to thunder. After having petered out with all of the scoring the other team was able to do, this gave Evey's team and incredible boost of energy, because their team name is Thunder! They are so cute! Anyway, the clock said 1:45 and they needed to get the 3 outs to start another inning and have a chance to catch back up. And they did it!! With like a second left they got the last out, and after a little squabble between the coaches and the ump, the ump finally stood his ground and made a good call and let us start another inning! Unfortunately, they were up by a few too many and after a very noble effort we lost that one too! But it was a ton of fun and a great experience! Evey is looking forward to next season already!

I took pictures at these games, and loaded them on the computer and then erased my memory card. But, something happened and only the thumbnails are in the compute! Argh! So no pictures, sorry!

Play Ball!

The kids have all had a ton of fun playing ball this summer!  Lex is in T-ball, much better that stupid start smart!!! But, he would still rather have a pitcher. The "T" is for wussies!!! I, as stated previously, am a bum, and again, waited until the last games to bring out the camera. And of course the last game was played on a makeshift field instead of their regular diamond with awesome red dirt and lines and everything!  Ugh! It's just what I get for being a procrastinator!

Lex had had a nasty stomach bug the day and night before his last game. We were all sad he would miss his game....but Lex had other plans. His game was a little bit later in the after noon, and he sucked it up and wanted to play. We went ahead and took him. I know we may be bad parents for this, but Lex LIVES for sports and counts down the "sleeps" until his next game, whatever it may be. So this being the last until fall soccer, we let him play. He did well, but I could tell he wasn't on his best game, poor guy.

The city makes it so there is a gradual learning process in each progressive league. They learn basics like throwing and catching in start smart. Then in Tball they go to a game set up, and have them run bases, but there are no outs and every kids is out on the field. This bums me a little because the kids need to learn that getting "out" is part of the game and not to get hurt feelings over it. More on that later. But, Lex's coach was awesome and really taught them some fundamentals: how to stand with one foot on base and reach for the ball, where the play is and other stuff  like that. Lex was a great First baseman and Pitcher. He can catch most any ball thrown to him and throws really well too. Can wait to see him progress!!

I'm pretty sure they got this kid out, but since there are no outs he gets to run the bases still. Dumb, if you ask me! But if you ask other, less competitive parents.... 

This is where I can tell Lex isn't feeling well...his form isn't as rigid as normal.

But a good hit still!

The last batter is the "grand slam hitter" in that he hits and gets to run the bases no matter who gets  "out" Lex was that hitter this time and as you can see, the coaches get the kids to get the ball to the catcher so that as each kid on base runs home they can tag them out....but there's not outs...DUMB!!

Let's give a cheer. There's no winner, but hey we had fun!

What a cute little athlete!

Paris was in coach pitch this year, the step up from tball. The only thing different is, obviously, the coach is pitching the ball to them. There are still not outs, even though if you have a good coach -we did- if you are gotten out, they make you go back to the dug out. It doesn't count against the team though, and most teams just left the out girl on base.

Paris was a great hitter! She usually hit the first ball thrown to her! Love the face!!

She would throw off her helmet as she was running to first. Which made me laugh, and no one ever corrected her on it. Apparently it's not a rule to have a helmet on as you run the bases. Paris is a little diva. She has a pink glove and a pink helmet and uses the pink bat. AND, hates to be the "grand slam hitter"!! She is very particular and likes to have everything go just the way she wants it to, so being tagged out at home does not work for her. This is why I hate these stupid no outs rules and the last hitter thing. It isn't teaching our kids good sportsmanship. We try to tell Paris it is okay to go last and be tagged out, that is part of the game and every kids has to do it sometime, and sometimes she'd cry because she'd have to be last, and she wanted to be first or third or whatever number she hadn't been yet. Her coach is her friends dad and he and his wife adore Paris and don't mind catering to her. We are annoyed to no end with Paris' attitude sometimes and get on her about crying and pouting. One time Jon yelled out "There's no crying baseball!"  Not mean or anything, and he was actually quoting a movie, but I'm not sure the other parents picked up on this and he got some weird looks. I laughed!! We have another year of this division of coach pitch, and so we will be helping Paris to become a better team member. The next league up is much better! There are many more regular softball rules! But, for now, it was fun to watch Paris, and all her cutie little girly things she did as she played. And she really did enjoy playing!

Evey's regular season is over. I missed taking pictures!! I have some on my phone if it comes to that, but lucky for me they play a city wide tournament. She missed the first 2 games of the double elimination tournament, but the team won one and lost one, so they played again yesterday (6/28) and won putting them in the number two seat for the state tournament and in the finals for the city tournament. So, I will have another opportunity or two to get pictures of her. Phew! So, until then...

Soccer!!

I waited until the last game of each kid to take pictures.
It's been a crazy season, lots of rescheduled games for weather.
I'm glad I waited though, They all played fantastic games!

Paris has decided she likes playing again. I'm pretty sure it's
because her friend's dad was their coach and her bestest friend
was also on the team. At this level it starts to get harder to score,
because the kids start getting it, and the numbers of kids starts to
dwindle, it starts to become the kids that actually enjoy and want
to play.She really did good at most of the games.
Her favorite positions are defense and goalie, but she plays
offense rather well too and has some super speed when she
turns it on!
She was really close to scoring a couple of times in this game,
and had an awesome breakaway!

Evey has just gotten better and better every season.  As I said
before it gets harder as they get into the older leagues, Evey
is now in the highest league provided by the city. I guess it
just goes to school teams after this and there are a few club
soccer teams in the valley.  Evey loves to play offense and
is generally put as a forward. She is also one of the smallest
in the whole league and it is so funny to see her show down
with a huge girls that dwarfs her. She has no fear though and
is awesome at being aggressive and charging.  She has been
so close so many times to scoring a goal, but either the goalie
gets it, or it just misses. Her last game was a double header,
and the team has never looked better! They worked so well
together to move the ball, and coach was on top of giving them
rests so that even in the second game they weren't overly tired!
Well Evey got her goal in the first game, and I amazingly got a
picture of it!! We were so happy we sent all of the family texts.
Then not 10 minutes later in the next game, against a different
team, she got another!! And I got a picture! Amazing!
She was so happy and we were so proud!

Goal # 1

Goal #2

And there was much rejoicing! 

Evey missed team pictures, even though
 we were at the field watching Lex,
 we didn't hear my alarm...oops!
So this will have to do this season.

Lex is absolutely amazing! The kid is a natural at sports!
He absolutely understands everything that is happening in the
game and will help his team mates to know what to do, or help
the coach to know who the ball went out on or whatever, he is
just totally focused on the game and it is so fun to watch. His
league is the beginning league, where there are a million kids and
only a handful that really know what to do. Most of them don't follow
the ball or cry if it touches them. There are 8 on a team and only 4 on
the field at a time and no goalie (see why it's easier at this younger level)
and the games are only 24 minutes long, so each kid would get to play
for 6 minutes then rest for 6. Lex had a teammate that was awesome
too and they would dominate! They would break away from the pack
and run it down to score every time. The coach ended up trying to not
play them at the same time because the score would end up being like
15-0! But, we don't keep score in this league!! Lex's average goals were
about 3. But sometimes would score as many as 6. We started telling
Lex to help some of his other team mates, so he would pass them the
ball or throw it to them. He was so good about it even when though he
would usually end up having chasing it back down to get it to the goal.
He is so fun to watch! Next up (no break, we are already playing) T-ball (Lex),
Coach Pitch (Paris) and softball (Evey)

Winter can't wait to play! She is such a good cheerleader. She shouts
"go,go,go, (insert sibling)!!"  I think she'll be great too, she loves to dribble
the balls around on the sidelines and even understands that she can't cross
the white line.

Kick it!

I figured since I have already posted about Lex and his

awesome soccer abilities, I should let you know that Evey

and Paris are playing too.

Evey is having a ton more fun this year. She is actually to

the age level where the girls start caring about playing as

opposed to their moms making them play. Evey has always

loved playing and is actually thinking about trying out for

the competitive team-rather than just park and rec. I'm

all for it, I played competitive starting about 5th grade

and had a blast!

This girl was at least a foot and a half taller than Evey,

but Evey had no problem taking the ball from her!

Paris has been a different story this season. We are

one of the parents forcing their kids to play. She

does well when she feels like it, and so I know she

has the ability, but her mind is just on other things.

We'll make her play a few more seasons, and if she

doesn't warm up we'll think about dropping it. She

has expressed interest in hockey, so that could be

an option. But she loves T-ball and it's really only

this season that she has said she doesn't want to

play soccer (it kills me!!), so we'll just give it some

time and work with her in the off seasons.

She did have fun playing goalie a few times and

expresses to her coach she would like to do that more,

but he doesn't really pay attention to her.

Maybe that's the problem...