Life of a Bird.....: June 2008

So I am happy to report (Zack writing here just in case you couldn't figure it out) that the all important Palmdale Little League Minor Division 3 team playoffs are well under way. So to Acronym it down it's the PLLMD 3 Team Playoff. I would write about more inane things like school or life but this is PLLMD baseball. The top 2 of 3 teams goes to the Valley Tournament so the prize is great to the kids. If I don't report it first you will wonder why I didn't tell you after you read about it in USA Today. So before you go looking in the colored fish wrap read below for the happenings:

Game 1 - Dodgers Vs. Blue Jays

All year we have had pretty close games and while we have lost many of those games we have stayed in the game. Well, this game didn't follow suit. The Dodgers have some pretty good 11 year olds that should be in the major division but sweet talked their way to the Minor Division. Anyway, one of these kids pitched and could throw fairly fast. While I throw as hard in practice as anyone the kids are real intimidated and I think we had 3 hits in 4 innings. On the other hand the Dodgers hit the ball and we couldn't field. Long summary short - we got Mercyed (murceed). For those that don't know that means we were 10 runs + behind and couldn't get closer after a certain time. Final 13 - 0.

Game Notes: I realize that I did a horrible job of coaching. The kids were tight and I was tight for them. I wanted them to win as I knew they wanted. I didn't keep things as loose as I normally do and it showed.

Quick insert - Saturday the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers

Game 2 Monday 6/9 - Dodgers Vs. Blue Jays

We, as coaches, made a concerted effort to keep things loose and make sure we had fun. It worked to the nth degree. The kids were having fun and the game was one of those "real" baseball games. Through 3 innings it was a 0-0 tie with both pitchers doing well. Our pitcher went 5 2/3 innings (out of 6). He had a shutout until the top of the 6th when he got a bloody nose and a little tired. With the Little League rules with pitch count I had to take him out with 2 outs in the 6th. I write that as it was impressive.

We hit better and kids that hadn't hit too much hit today. We had a 3 - 0 lead going into the bottom of the 5th where we pushed 5 more runs across to go into the top of the 6th up 8-0. Final score 8-1 Blue Jays!

Game 3 - DBacks VS Blue Jays-we lost a tough one 7-4. So we ended up in second and the DBacks finished 3rd to last (a joke I stole from one of my coaches)

Below are the pics. The kids (led by Ty) decided before the game to dump the water bucket on me if we won. See it for yourself: