Gang Aft Agley

So we didn't get to the ball game on Sunday. I got up early and biked down to the stadium to pick up the youth passes for the children, and while I was there asked about tickets for that nights game. They had only about 25 left at that time, and I was told that while the Youth passes are good for the Sunday and Monday home games they were not for this particular Sunday game. Oh well, one game this week would have to be enough. I headed back out to my bike, and realized I had come woefully unprepared for what I needed to carry home. Each child received a plaster figurine, complete with commercial sponsorage plastered all over it, as well as a t-shirt and a certificate. I had brought my coffee cup, as it is always at my side prior to noon, and some days I swear its more like an extra appendage. Luckily I have the rack on the back, so I was able to hook on the figurines and the shirts. Drinking the last of my coffee, I crammed the cup into a pocket, cargo pants are a lifesaver, and carefully carried the certificates in one hand cradled into my chest to prevent them from bending. The truly important items, the passes went into a pocket.

On Monday I spoke with someone about the game, seems like we made a real good decision, they lost 10-4.

Not sure if it’s a pandoras box, but I took the boys to the Eugene Ems game tonight, Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Not quite the friendly confines, nor the exploding scoreboard of my youth, but to young boys a baseball game is a magical place. As you can see, they brought home some nice treasures, the bottom two for fan appreciation, and the top one because Keigan scrambled for the foul ball. The Ems had a shutout going until they gave up 2 runs in the ninth inning, but by that time they had already clinched the game with an explosive 9 runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Keigan gave me a real odd look as we all stood up for the 7th inning stretch. Almost as if he couldn't believe a bunch of adults were singing. At least he didn't die of embarrasment, and they both begged to go back tomorrow. Something we can easily do, as for $5 I can get the kids in the Ems juniors club, which entitles them to free sunday and monday home games. I expect to see a lot of baseball this summer.

I know he's my son, so he already had my vote, but Keigan had an excellent game Tuesday night. Early in the first inning he took a throw from the pitcher and beat the runner to first.

But the real story starts in the middle of the 3rd inning. He had just started to play shortstop, when his team started running into trouble with their pitching, so Keigan got a chance to try out the mound. He ended up pitching for two innings, striking out 5, walking 2, catching a popfly, and allowing 1 hit. Excellent Job, it definitely breathed new life into the team.

For their last chance batting Keigan managed to get a solid drive deep into the outfield and converted it into a homerun on an error made by the other team. Add 2 RBIs to his stats for the night and you have a boy floating high on cloud 9.

Keigan came home from practice all fired up about pitching. Abe, the coach has let it be known that they need to exand their bullpen. If you remove all the runs scored by walks they are a competitive team. Keigan, Kiaya and I made it to his game about 45 minutes early, giving him plenty of time for practice and warm up. He's getting better at throwing the 45 feet, though we need to work on accuracy, mainly bringing the throws down.

For the game they tried a new strategy, staggering those players that make it to practice throughout the line up as opposed to the order in which they show up for the game, and you could see what a difference it made. The first inning they made it through the entire lineup before having to take the field. Keigan batted seventh, getting a triple for his first at bat. I had to leave early to take Caden to his team photos, so I missed Keigan's fourth trip to the plate but I was able to see his walk and single in the second and third innings.

Caden had not been feeling well the night before, same thing Kiaya had on thursday. So he wasn't sure he was going to play in his game, but he decided he was up to it. In hindsight he should have stayed home, but how do you say no to a child wanting to be outside playing ball on a beautiful, cloudless, 80 degree day (here in Oregon even). He missed the first three pitches so Had to use the tee, the opposing coach encouraged his entire team to move in, and Caden reacted in kind, belting it over their heads for the second family triple. He got a single during the second inning, and sat out for the third inning. His fielding reflected the fact that he wasn't feeling well, not that he made any errors, but that he wasn't running like he usually does.

We had a rocky week, two of Keigan's games were rained out.

By the time he got to play again, he was feeling a little nervous, wondering if he could continue, the season at the same level as the first game. Before his first game, he was feeling a little under the weather, enough so that we left a message for the coach, letting him know Keigan was going to miss the game. A litle food in the belly and he decided to rally, by the time he took the field he had made a full recovery and looked to be enjoying himself. He came up to bat late in the third inning, he was last in the lineup because of the call to the coach before the game. He had an unimpressive strikeout at the plate, getting burned swinging early at a ball, then letting a strike go past him. But on defense he was on top of things, starting off at shortstop again, he managed to touch the ball more than anyone else on the field with the exception of the catcher and pitcher. During the third inning he switched over to first base, and almost got himself a double play, though with two outs already he didn't need it. He let the runner slide past him and took the easy out at the base.

Keigan's second game was last night, and once again defensively he played at first and shortstop. before sitting out for an inning late in the game. He had a better night at the plate, getting walked in his first time up, stealing second and third on successive pitches. It's fun to watch them steal, given a good jump, there is no way the catcher can get the ball back out to the base in time, so its almost a given that a base runner will advance to the farthest open base. Keigan ran in for the first run of the game on a nice grounder by Jonathan before the side was retired. It was a nice start to the game for them. After that they ran into pitching problems and watched a slew of batters be walked. Keigan was able to bat a second time, lastnight, getting struckout once again, one foul ball thrown into the mix, but he missed the last pitch thrown on a full count.

Caden had a game this last weekend, where he managed to get a double, and played first base and the outfield. He does quite a good job at first, though it must be tough watching the balls that get thrown towards him. At that age they dont have the aim developed, and some times they are quite suprised at the direction the ball actually takes.

I unfortuantely missed Caden's second game, I was with Keigan for his first game, but I heard all about his hitting, he needed to use the tee but got a single. They get three pitches from their coach, and then bring the tee out to take a few more swings, the idea being that everyone gets a hit. He didn't give me any highlights on his fielding, though he got to play pitcher, though he doesnt throw the ball it's just for the fielding.

Practice tonight, with both boys having games tomorrow afternoon.