Thank you players & families for the WONDERFUL gift... I hope to hit the links quickly!
The final pitch of 2009 has been thrown, the last crack of the bat heard and the last cloud of dust settled... All to soon, the chalk lines of baseball season will be washed away by the rains of winter. All is not sad though, as every player should look back at this fallball season with a great deal of pride, knowing that this team really was something special. Sure we started off closer to the The Bad News Bears than the Baltimore Orioles, but that quickly changed. In fact, it was our third game that the team really turned the corner and started playing well. In that game we started to field better and our bats started to wake up. By the sixth game, our bats were blazing, our pitching had REALLY improved AND our fielding was really going strong. We were a well-balanced and very powerful team.
All told, I hope that every parent saw the improvement in their child and the team as a whole. I have said this to many parents, but I want to say it once more... It will take one THOUSAND (yep, 1,000) repititions of a correct movement before the body will make that motion “natural.” That is a whole lot of throws, a whole lot of swings, a whole lot of fly balls, grounders and line drives. Sure the pros make it look easy – it is for them, because they have had tens of thousand of repetitions of the movements the boys are just staring to do at 8, 9 or 10 years old.
Spring baseball tryouts are early in December, and I really encourage everyone to at minimum try out for AA. Those that really want to go for AAA... go for it. Show your next coach that you know how to practice hard, that you have the right attitude for the sport, that you “are a baseball player,” not just that you play baseball. (There is a big difference, and mostly it is attitude -- not skills.)
I hope to see all of you again on the field or cheering from the stands...
Coach Greg
Week 8: NOW THAT WAS FUN!
A BIG thanks to all the adults that participated in the practice yesterday. I know there is a lot of sore muscles out there today. I'm sore and I throw, catch and bat with the team twice a week! Lots of fun by all, no injuries (even with Justin being taken out two times by guys twice his size.) Kudos to Danielle for being beaned -- by yours truly. Next time we will be using hard balls. = )
Last game of the season is tomorrow. We were missing two of the boys yesterday at practice, so we will try to retake the team picture after the game. I know that Ben and Grant will be a bit late due to soccer - please let me know today if anyone else will be late or can't be there.
11/01/09 | Noon | Pine Valley #2 | AA-PHILLIES | AA-ORIOLES | Mitchell | Hirtle |
Pizza party - 5:30pm Sunday at Ascona Pizza at Gayle Ranch Map:
Next door is a frozen yogurt shop. Coach Greg will take the boys over for desert.
Tonight we turn back the clocks. 11a for warm up will feel like noon. Not too early for one of these?
Finally - if you have taken digital pictures of the team over the season, please share them with the team.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN - Be safe!
Week 7:
We're practically in Dublin on Sunday (see map below). Leave some extra time to get there. I think we will have a full squad. See you in a few hours!
Thanks Ted for taking over for practice!
*** Next practice I will need someone to take my place due to an all-day meeting *** I could use two volunteer(s)?
Just two drills for the day
1 - Base running with ground balls. Two or three laps will do, unless they get out of hand... = )
2 - Sand lot, 3-pitch speed game. I LOVE this one as the boys get a lot of at bats and lots of opportunities to make plays. (needs 8 or more at practice.)
Sunday 10/18 Game Wrap-Up
Now we really have a team on the field. Once again the bats were hot, and the gloves showed up to play as well! Today was an excellent all-around game. We hit, we fielded, we pitched and we made plays. (Dugout behavior needs a bit of help, but the boys get a bit 'amped up' with all the scoring.)
Today's totals:
Offense:
2 Triples
1 Double
23 Singles (TWENTY THREE!)
Defense/Pitching:
9 Ks (Strike Outs)
5 Put outs
2 Fly outs
This is the third game in a row where the boys have played well. I truly believe that this is an indication of their dedication and hard work. Nearly our entire team has been showing up an hour before game time to warm up (which really helps in field prep as well - thanks!!!!!). Our practices also have had eight or more players every week. Thank you parents for all your help getting the boys to the games and practices.
We have two more games left. = ( As I told the boys, my intent is to play these last two games with players in their best roles for most of the game(s). BUT, if your child has not pitched at least twice and wants to... let me know and I will make sure they get their time on the mound. It is a tough assignment... the boys put a lot of pressure on themselves, etc., but I want everyone get their opportunity to build confidence (again if they want the rock.)
Next game:
Date 10/25/09 | Time Noon | Location Arlington | Visitors AA-ORIOLES | Home AA-BRAVES | Snacks Ritter | Drinks Meyer-Overstreet |
10/13 Update:
Sunday's field location has changed! We will be at Pine Valley #2 (same field, same dugout - hopefully same result.)
Warm up starts at 11AM, Game starts at Noon.
10/18/09 | Noon | Pine Valley #2 | AA-ORIOLES | AA-PADRES | Douglas | Huston |
The winds of change are on us and they blew in some serious offense! I want to recognize EVERY SINGLE player this week for a job very well done. We sent 30 batters to the plate in three innings. In baseball terms this is called 'batting around' and is a both a treat to watch and a blast as a player. Batting around happens in Little League, but to do it THREE TIMES in a row! Well that is something special. Here are today's stats: Hits/at bats, type(s) of hits, times they crossed the plate (runs scored).
Berkowitz 3 for 3, 3 singles, 3 runs
Douglass 2 for 3, 2 doubles, 2 runs
Mitchell 3 for 3, 2 singles, double, 3 runs
Buechler 2 for 3, HBP, si
ngle, triple, 2 runs
Ruthruff 2 for 3, 2 singles, 2 runs
Hirtle 2 for 3, 2 singles, 2 runs
Huston 3 for 3, 3 singles, 3 runs
Ritter 3 for 3, 3 singles, 2 runs
Becker 3 for 3, single, double, triple, run
Meyer-O 2 for 3, single, HR, run
That is 21 runs in three innings! NICE WORK GUYS!
(added 10/12)
I forgot to say that the runs scored were not without sacrifices. We got a bit bumped and bruised this game... BUT, all of the damage was done while
going for the ball, or running the bases. So, good job in being aggressive, running the bases hard and trying to make tough plays. When you have a bruise on a bruise, you know you are a baseball player!
This Friday I will see about playing a scrimmage game against another SR team - I will keep you posted. Otherwise, regular practice if you don't hear from me. Speaking of practice - expect the same as we had last week. It apparently worked well.
Game 5 warm ups start at 2pm sharp. Location is at Pine Valley #2. Here is a street view and the map (we were here for the 2nd game of the season):
NOW WE ARE PLAYING BALL!
Generally, on-field talks are kept within the team -- 'what goes on between the lines, stays between the lines'. But, today I'll break the baseball code. After the game, just before we shook hands with the Livermore team I gave a brief talk to the team. My comments were: "I could not be any more proud than I am on how the team played in this game. Every player contributed either on the field or at the plate."
We sent 32 players to the plate (an average of 6.4 players per inning), and had at least one strike-out and one put out per defensive frame. Simply great ball! I think that everyone, fans included had a good time! =)
FRIDAY PRACTICE:
Pick-up game cancelled - REGULAR PRACTICE ATTIRE FOR THIS FRIDAY (10/9)
THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE ON US:
Just in case you didn't notice, we went from about 102 to 62 in about 7 days. Now is the time for the boys to be sporting a long sleeved under shirt of some type. This can be a regular baseball shirt or one of the new high-tech UnderArmour, Nike, etc., type of material. A few of the boys were cold.
ANYONE READING THIS?...
Finally, please add a quick comment here or send me a note letting me know that you are able to read the blog. I think that communications between the team and parents is very important, and I want to be sure that this blog is the best way to keep up the dialog. Thanks!
A GREAT GAME!
I want to say to everyone that today was a really great game played (again) under really tough
conditions. We saw several players really step up their games today and it really brought everyone's game along with it. An old saying is that all boats rise with the tide --- the same can be said of baseball. Once a few players start to really dial their game in, the rest of the players will naturally emulate and raise the overall level of play. So, hats off to the entire team for a truly well played game. The forecast for next week is for much cooler weather, so while it might be a shock to go from the 90s and hundreds down to the 70s, the boys should really enjoy the break f
rom the heat. I know I will. = )
BE READY TO PLAY
A note about myself (OK, my rather loud self) on the field. Please notice that the only time I really have to yell is to tell players to "watch the rock" (the ball) or get in a proper "ready position". I do this for safety reasons, and I get more than my share of grey hairs worrying about one of my boys getting clocked. ANY player at this age can and will get a clean hit of the ball. If a fielder is not watching the rock, they
can't make the decision to catch or move out of the way of the ball. Being ready and watching the ball is CRITICAL to learning to play safe and being safe. So, when I am yelling - it is because something unsafe is happening.
NEXT PRACTICE
San Ramon Valley School District has this Friday (Oct 2nd) off for an in-service day. I will be holding a practice at our regular time and place. We have a short season and I want to be sure that every player ha
s the opportunity to practice and play as much as possible.
If you can't make practice or the next game, let me know so that I can set up the playing positions and line up.
The next couple practices will have a couple opportunities for the boys to "earn an Coldstone ice cream". This will be my treat, and the team will meet at the Coldstone Creamery in The Marketplace in San Ramon after the game at Pine Valley on the 11th. Everyone gets a sundae... the drills will be an opportunity to get a 2nd, 3rd or maybe a 4th topping? [You might have heard 'slurpie' mentioned a few times since the game... I'm more a Coldstone type of coach.]
NEXT GAME
The next game will be a real "travel game" with the boys playing in Livermore! the location is the Junction Middle School [click here for a larger map.] Add another 30 minutes to your plans that day so that everyone will have their equipment on time and we can get everyone warmed up.
SCHEDULE:
*Warm-ups start 1 hour prior to game time
Date | Time* | Field | Visitor | Home | Snacks | Drinks |
09/13/09 | Noon | Country Club | AA-ANGELS | AA-ORIOLES | Buechler | Buechler |
09/20/09 | 03:00 PM | Pine Valley #2 | AA-L16 | AA-ORIOLES | Hirtle | Mitchell |
09/27/09 | Noon | Emerald Glenn - A | AA-ORIOLES | AA-Dbln-A’S | Becker | Ruthruff |
10/04/09 | 03:00 PM | Junction Middle School #3 | AA-ORIOLES | AA-L18 | Douglas | Berkowitz |
10/11/09 | 03:00 PM | Pine Valley #2 | AA-ORIOLES | AA-A’S | Ruthruff | Ruthruff |
10/18/09 | Noon | Pine Valley #2 | AA-ORIOLES | AA-PADRES | Douglas | Huston |
10/25/09 | Noon | Arlington | AA-ORIOLES | AA-BRAVES | Ritter | Meyer-Overstreet |
11/01/09 | Noon | Pine Valley #2 | AA-PHILLIES | AA-ORIOLES | Mitchell | Hirtle |
A GREAT GAME!
