It's Over....

Spring Baseball for Sammy is done. His team went to the State Tournament, won 1, but lost 2, so they are out.

It was a fun ride while it lasted and we are so proud of Sam. He found his niche at 3rd base and threw some great pitches as well.

Apparently Fall Soccer is out... so we are looking forward to Fall Baseball. We'll keep you posted....

The Trojans March On....

One of my first posts back in May highlighted Sammy's first baseball game of the season. Amazingly enough, Sammy's baseball season is still on going. Last weekend was completely dedicated to Sammy's baseball team, the Wilson Trojans. Their team is a Senior (oldest group before high school although most of the team is made up of 7th graders, with one 6th grader and three 8th graders) National (level) Clackamas County team and they came in first in their division (13 wins, 2 losses, 1 tie) and second overall for their league. They were seeded 2nd in the County Tournament which was held this past weekend in Molalla, OR. They played two games on Saturday, winning both and then they played West Linn on Sunday afternoon for 1st place. After a pretty brutal game that was poorly officiated (by West Linn officials), they lost (6-9)--but they did take 2nd place (which is phenomenal) and will start State Tournament games on Thursday. It is quite amazing that they have come this far... they started with 15 players and then lost 2 players the first week of practice. Late in the season, they lost another player who moved out of town. Down to 12 players, their star broke his arm pitching in the last regular season game. They were devastated. But, they pulled it together and are still going strong, although a bit beat up. Here's a few highlights:

The dugouts were like brick ovens

National Anthem

John & Sammy--pitchers talking strategy

This inning... 11 pitches, 1-2-3, they're outta there!

Big hit--run Sammy run....

Receiving their trophy for first in their division

Another game, more pitching... this is the 3rd game for 1st place

A couple of our parents almost got thrown out of the game this inning

Receiving their 2nd place medals

And the season continues....

The not so Dark Knight

So, the new Batman movie came out last Friday which prompted many Batman discussions with friends and family. Batman seems to be a phenomenon that brings out obsession in some... especially young boys. Yes, Joey was our obsessed little Bat Man. For quite a few years, Batman costumes were regular every day attire. Sometimes it was as simple as a t-shirt with cape attached. Sometimes Joey's outfits included full on chest plates and bat ears. Costumes ranged from cloth to plastic to rubber. I wish I had more pictures... I am surprised I don't have more because this was not a short-lived obsession. Some days the costume went from head to toe, other days the outfit was minimized for comfort and fast running. The first time my friend Dana visited our house on 31st Drive (maybe 12 years ago?), we were chatting at the dining table and Joey, dressed in Batman underwear, t-shirt with cape attached and bat ears, was making his bat circle--running like the wind around the living room, dining room, kitchen and hallway--over and over and over again. At first Dana was taken aback, then amused, then she took it in stride like everyone else. This was not an attention getting activity for Joey... it was training, and it was daily. So, years have passed and although he does have a pair of Batman pajama bottoms, the costumes and bat caves, bat mobiles, bat planes and bat men figurines are all gone, but the old Batman cartoon VHS videos remain and every new Batman movie prompts a Batman video marathon and some fond memories.