Vaughan Vikings Tournament - July 25-27, 2014

This weekend the boys were entered in the tournament hosted by Vaughan Vikings.

It was a beautiful Friday here in Toronto...not too hot and a nice breeze blowing.  I was very fortunate to leave work early today as we had a staff barbeque / picnic in one of the nearby parks.  Also the field were the first game is being played is just a short 10-15 minutes from our home, so that worked out great for us.
 

Ariana, getting ready to take in the game.

For our first game the boys faced Barrie Red Sox, again!  This is the same team they just faced on Tuesday and had a difficult time before the game got called due to lightening.  Let's see how they'll do tonight.

 



Let's go Cardinals

Barrie was up to bat first when the game got started and it was a very quick inning.  Aaron covered the right outfield and our pitcher did a fantastic job...3 up 3 down with no runs scored.  Way to start the game boys!

Our boys were up to bat next and got some really good hits.  Although we had three players on base, we only got 1 run before the inning ended.

In the second inning it was the same line up for our defence, and Aaron was back in the right outfield.  It seems like this inning went on forever!  The Red Sox got players on base and had some nice hits and managed to score 2 runs.

With one out, one run and one on base, Aaron is up to bat.  He gets a walk to first.  We get another run and another out and Aaron is on third.  The Red Sox's pitcher balks and Aaron get to walk home to bring in the 3rd and last run in this inning.  In baseball, a pitcher can commit a number of illegal motions or actions that constitute a balk.  Most of these violations involve a pitcher pretending to pitch when he has no intention of doing so.

Will it be a ball or strike?

Walking in a Run - July 25, 2014.

In the third inning we sent out the same defence.  Aaron was able to get a ball and throw it in time to second base to get the second out...Nice!  The wind was starting to pick up now.  I am sure this will affect the pitching.  I also noticed that the home plate umpire is running around in the field after the ball is hit.  I thought he had to stay put and the infield umpire is the one who would move around...hmmn, interesting!  Although the Red Sox got players on base, they were left there when the inning ended with no runs scored.

 

Our boys managed to get 3 more runs in the bottom of the third.  One player had a really nice hit bringing in 2 RBI and we scored one on a wild pitch.

 

In the 4th inning, the Red Sox didn't get any more runs.  It seems like they were hitting the ball right in the gloves of our boys!

 

Bottom of the 4th and Aaron is second in the line up. With one already out, Aaron strikes out after fouling one.  The inning ended and we didn't get any more runs.  The score is still 7-2, in our favour.

Come on...swing that bat!

Top of the 5th and we had the same defence but changed our back catcher. Our pitcher was starting to struggle and with one out and the bases loaded, time was called and we changed pitchers...not Aaron, thank God!  Changing pitchers didn't help us at all in this inning.  With one hit the Red Sox scored 2 runs, and then another on a wild pitch, and another RBI, and another on an overthrow by our catcher...OMG!!!  Our defence really fell apart in this inning.  They couldn't get the ball in time to get the third out and stop the next run from being scored.  Finally our catcher caught a foul tip from the next batter to end the inning...and the game is now tied.  This inning was difficult to watch and I know everyone was thinking the same thing -  I bet I know who's not making the team for next Season!

 

We didn't get any runs in the bottom of the 5th.  We already had 2 outs when they changed their pitcher for the first time...because he reached his maximum amount of pitches.  It looked hopeful for a while until the umpire called a really low strike on one of our boys, for the third out!

 

Aaron sat out the sixth inning.  It was 2 up 2 down...they were hitting right to short and being thrown out at first.  With 2 on base, time is called and we changed our pitcher, hoping to get the last out and still salvage the game.  The Red Sox had one hit and scored 2 runs, then another hit and another run scored.  They had another hit and a broken bat, but we managed to get the out.  It's already 10:40 p.m. and we need 4 runs to win!

 

Bottom of the sixth and with 2 already out and one on base, Aaron goes up to bat...I can't watch anymore!  He manages to hit the ball, right past second base in the outfield and is running safely to first.  The Red Sox's defence throws the ball the third to try and get the out and Aaron takes off for second...OMG, NOOOO!  He slows down and looks back at first but continues to second, where he is thrown out.  Game Over...and we lost by 3 runs!!!

 

We went home with a very sad kid.  I hate when the games with him in these positions...then he feels like it was all his fault.

 

How did I end the night?  Giving him a pep talk, then putting his clothes in the wash and killing time by making this lovely flower for a friend.  By the time I made it to bed, it was well past 1:30 a.m.

 

Hope she like it!

Saturday morning and we are back on the field at 9:30 a.m., this time in Thornhill!  The game was supposed to start at 10:30 a.m. but didn't until 10:50 a.m.!

 

Our opening pitcher this morning, against Oshawa is Aaron.  After last night's disaster, let's home the boys can win this one...to stay in the tournament.

 

Oshawa was up to bat first and it was a quick inning with an impressive 10 pitches from Aaron, and no runs scored.  Six of those ten pitches were strikes, including the very first pitch of the game.

 

Our boys scored 2 runs in the bottom of the first before the inning ended.

 

Warming up to open the game - July 26, 2014.

The second inning was another good one but Oshawa managed to score 1 run. Aaron pitched a total of 20 pitches, of which 11 were strikes. Nice.

We only got 1 run in the bottom of the second. Aaron went up to bat and walked to first, stole second and third but the inning ended with him running home.

Another Run - July 26, 2014

In the third inning, Aaron pitched a total of 20 pitches, 14 of which were strikes, with no runs scored.

 

We got some nice hits in the bottom of the second...and 2 more runs, bring the score to 5-1, for us.

 

Aaron is still on the mound for the 4th inning and he ended that inning with a total of 12 pitches...of which 7 were strikes and no runs scored.

 

Oshawa sends in a new pitcher for the bottom of the 4th inning.  Aaron in second in the lineup and strikes out.  The boys didn't score any more runs in this inning.

 

Aaron is back out for the top of the 5th and pitches a total of 12 pitches to end this inning with no runs scored.  He only had 5 strikes in this inning and 1 walk.

 

The bottom of the 5th was an interesting one.  The bases were loaded for the entire inning but we couldn't get a single run in.

 

Top of the 6th and Aaron is back on the mound again.  Rumor has it that he is nearing the maximum pitches allowed.  He walks the first batter and time is called and he is replaced.  Our new pitcher hits the first batter and it didn't take long for him to load the bases...OMG, I hope they don't throw away this game like last night, especially when Aaron worked so hard and didn't load the bases in any of the 5 innings!  One run is walked in...what the hell!  Aaron is sitting in the dugout icing his arm, and I can only imagine what he is thinking.  This must be hard to watch!  Oshawa gets another hit and our short stop and centre field both ran for the ball.  No one called it and they both collided!  It was the most terrifying thing to watch...they could have been anyone fo our kids!  It took a long time for one kid to get up but when they eventually did they were both escorted off the field.  One's head crashed into the other one's shoulder and they both has busted lips.  Thank God, they are both ok and hopefully it's nothing serious.  Aaron was sent into the outfield, as we had limited players for this tournament.  The game resumed and at the end of the inning, Oshawa had 2 runs.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, the boys managed to get 2 more runs.  Aaron has a nice hit but he was thrown out at first. 

 

The game ended with a final score of 7-3, for us.  Yes, we still in this tournament!!!  Next game in a couple hours.

Apparently Oshawa's coach had good things to say to Aaron about his pitching.  I didn't hear it but Andy said the coach went up to Aaron to compliment him.  I would too, because he did another amazing job today!

 

We had enough time to have lunch and relax a bit before returning to the field at 3:15 p.m. for Game 3.  There's nothing better for lunch than freshly made pizza!

 

For our third game, the boys faced Brantford.  One of the boys who collided on the field earlier, had to be out of this game as he was complaining of headaches.  Aaron cannot pitch again today, or tomorrow, if we advance.

Brantford got to bat first and it was a quick inning, with 3 up 3 down and no runs scored.  Aaron sat out this inning, I guess he still has to rest his arm.

Although our boys got some hits and a couple on base, we didn't score any runs in the bottom of the first.

Aaron is covering the right outfield as they boys took the field for the second inning.  It was another 3 up 3 down with no runs for Brantford.

In the bottom of the second Aaron goes up to bat.  He gets hit with a pitch, on his butt, and walks to first.  The next kid hits the ball right to second and Aaron is thrown out while running to second.  The inning ended with our boys scoring 3 runs.

In the third inning our boys got a beautiful double plan for 2 outs.  Then one of Brantford's boys hit a nice one and brought in 2 runs before the inning ended.

We got 2 more runs in the bottom of the third, after # 25 hits a nice one and lands safely on third.

In the 4th inning Aaron is still covering right outfield.  Although our pitcher ran into some trouble Brantford only got 1 more run before the inning ended.


Searching for foul balls.

With 2 on base, Aaron is up to bat in the bottom of the 4th.  He gets hit again, on his butt, but on the other cheek...by the same pitcher!  He walks to first and time is called.  Brantford has to change their pitcher now, because this is the second time he hit a batter (unfortunately it was Aaron both times)!  The next batter pop up and ends the inning, leaving the bases loaded...what a shame!

We sent out the same defence for the top of the 5th.  Aaron took a nice catch in the right outfield for an out.  In fact, it was all 3 outfields who took a catch for the 3 outs.  Brantford scored 1 run before the inning ended.

The score is now 5-4, for us.

We only got one on base in the bottom of the 5th and then a nice hit brought him home but the batter is out and the run didn't count.

We changed out pitcher for the 6th inning and it ended quickly without any runs for Brantford.

There is one out and one on base when Aaron goes up to bat in the bottom of the 6th.  After fouling a couple, he hits and there's no way they could catch him.  He's safe on first, steals second and third and is able to score the second run in this inning.  We get 2 more runs bringing the score to 9-4, for us, before the Umpire called one of our boys out at second.  It looked good but the Umpire said he's out!

There's no way they're going to catch him- July 26, 2014.

We're in the top of the 7th and it is already 6:03 p.m.  We send out the same defence and it is getting windy.  Aaron takes a catch in the outfield for the first out...Nice!  Although Brantford got 2 players on base, the inning ended before they scored any runs.

 

Bottom of the 7th, and final inning.  The score is 9-4, for us, and we still had time to score a few more runs.  The Umpires couldn't decide if we should bat or not.  After a bit of delay, they decided to call the game...and I knew this could come back to bite us.  Same thing happened at one of our tournaments last year and it ended in a 3-way tie and because of the runs, we lost the chance to move on!

 

Good game boys...

We had to wait on the field to see how the other two teams were doing to know if we moved on or not.  It was Barrie vs. Oshawa.  After a short time it was announced that Barrie gave up to Oshawa and because Barrie beat us on Friday, we didn't get to move on, by 0.3 of a run.  If Barrie had continued playing it would have kept the run ratio lower and we would have had a better chance to move on the next game...which by the way would have started in approximately an hour.

 

Imagine how these tournaments work, Oshawa ended up winning...and we beat them!!!