Cardinals vs. Thunderbirds - July 10, 2016

For today's games it was the Thunderbirds' turn to travel, to our home field, Hermitage Park in Ajax, Ontario.  It was yet another HOT day here in the Ontario and the first game was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.  Ariana decided to skip the HOT weather and stay home today.  The boys had to be on the field at 9:00 a.m. so we dropped Aaron off, and I went plant shopping again.  This time I was both happy and lucky to find some clematis, in a few different colours...and on sale too.

We managed to make it back to the field just as the officials were going over the rules, and to hear Coach Carlton yelling that I was late and he might have to make me do some push-ups at the end of the game!  I guess we know who's keeping the score today!!!

 

Warming up in the early morning sunshine...

Game 3 - Cardinals vs. Thunderbirds

As with all at HOME games, the Cardinals' boys took the field for the top of the first, with Aaron covering left-field.  With 2 already out, the next Thunderbird batter walks...and eventually scores the first run in the game.  An error at third base gave the Thunderbirds their second run, before the inning ended.

The Cardinals' boys didn't get any runs in the bottom of the first.  Aaron was second in the line-up...but he struck out.

Top of the second and Aaron dives for a catch, which was just inches beyond his reach...and he lands on the ground without the ball.  He kept rubbing his chest after that fall.  I can only imagine how it hurt to land on the rock-solid ground! He takes a nice catch to get the second out.  The Thunderbirds only got one run in before the inning ended.
 

Checking to make sure his glove is ok, after the fall...

Although the Cardinals managed to get runners on base, they couldn't score any runs in the bottom of the second.

Neither team scored in the third inning.

The top of the fourth felt like a long inning and it ended with another two runs for the Thunderbirds.

Bottom of the fourth and Aaron is first up to bat.  He goes up and hits the first pitch and is safe on first.  He advances to second but the next batter hits right to short...and with no where to go, he is tagged out at third!  The Cardinals finally scores their first run in the game...and then they started coming in, one at time!  With a total of six runs scored and the bases loaded,  Aaron is back up to bat (in this same inning).  He is thrown four straight balls and walks...and another run is walked in.  Another walked in run, Aaron advances to second, and time is called...to change their Pitcher.  The new Pitcher walks in another run, and Aaron is advanced to third.  The next batter also walks, and Aaron walks home, scoring the 10th run.  The next batter pops up and the last one is caught in centerfield.  Wow, 10 runs in this inning alone!!!
 

With no where to go, he's tagged out at third!

He gets another chance to score when he goes back up in the 4th inning...

Top of the fifth and because of the errors in the infield, the Thunderbirds got two runners on base.  With one out and one runner on third, our Pitcher balks and the Thunderbirds gets another run.  Aaron caught the second out in left-field and the next batter is caught in centerfield. 

 

The Cardinals had runners on base, with one in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth but the inning ended without any runs.  Aaron was left in the hole, again!

 

The Thunderbirds didn't get any runs in the sixth even thought they got a runner on base.  The inning ended when Aaron caught the last out in left-field.

 

Nice Catch!!!

Aaron starts off the bottom of the sixth and he goes up and hits...and it's close but he's safe on first.  The next batter is hit with a pitch and Aaron advances to second.  The next batter hits in the infield and Aaron is thrown out at third again!  The boys scored two runs before inning ended.
 

It's a good thing the pants are NOT white this season!

Top of the seventh, and the score is 12-6...for us.  If the Thunderbirds can't score at least seven runs, the game will end.  Two errors at third and 1 run is scored early in the inning.  The bases are loaded, with no outs, and another run is walked in.  Time is called and our Pitcher is changed.  The next batter strikes out and then the next one hits right to third base...and our defense couldn't get the out...or stop another run from being scored!!! Another run is walked in. OMG, the score is already 12-10.  It looked like the boys were in for some trouble but, thank God, the next 2 batters both struck out!  Whew, that was definitely one of those nail-biting inning!!!

Thirty minutes break and then it's game 2.

Game 2 - Cardinals vs. Thunderbirds

For game two the Thunderbirds head out into the field as Aaron starts the inning off.  He hits right through second but he is still thrown out at first.  The boys didn't get any runs before the inning was over.
 

Close, but he is thrown out!

As the Cardinals' boys headed to the field, Aaron was sent out to cover centerfield.  He caught the first out and the other 2 were both out at first, and no runs for the Thunderbirds.

Nice Catch...just keep your eyes open!

Top of the second, with 2 already outs and the bases loaded, the next batter gets caught in centerfield...and still no runs for the Cardinals.  Aaron was left in the hole when this inning ended.

The Thunderbirds didn't score in the bottom of the second.

Aaron starts off again in the top of the third and he is hit with a pitch and walks to first base.  The next batter hits right to second and is safe on first...but Aaron is out at second!  With 2 outs, our first run is finally scored but the inning ended when the next batter strikes out.

Still no runs for the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the third, and the Cardinals' boys didn't get any more runs in the top of the fourth.

Bottom of the fourth and there are runners on base when the next batter hits a nice one in left-field (near the fence) and the Thunderbirds get their first run...and ties the game!  With one 1 out and 2 on bases, there's another good hit and another run is scored!  Still only 1 out and 2 on bases, the next batter hits in centerfield and Aaron catches it...and then he throwns the ball right into the catcher's glove, to get the third out at home!  Wow, holy smoke...he just threw that ball all the way from centerfield right into the catcher's glove....AMAZING!!!

Amazing throw from centerfield right into the catcher's glove...WOW!

Top of the fifth, with 1 already out, Aaron goes up and strikes out.  The boys were not able to secure any runs in this inning.

Bottom of the fifth and Aaron takes another nice catch in centerfield, for the first out.  One run is scored and our short-stop gets hurt.  Another error at short and the bases are loaded and then a run is walked in!  The Thunderbirds are ahead by 3 runs.  Finally, a double play gets us out of the inning!

The boys got 1 run in because of errors and a second one is scored before the inning ended in the top of the sixth.

The Thunderbirds scored another run in the bottom of the sixth before Aaron got all three outs...catching 2 in centerfield and throwing the ball all the way home to get the third out, AGAIN!!!  This kid just continues to amaze us every Season...

That's ONE!!!

Another catch!

The score is now 5-3, for the Birds, and it's the top of the seventh.  We need at least 3 runs to stay alive...and we couldn't do it.  The first and second batters both strike out and then Aaron goes up and the Umpire call 3 straight strikes. Were they actual strikes, or was the Umpire ready to go home...we will never know!

Not a bad weekend...the Cardinals won 3 of the 4 games, and I believe this puts them in first position in the league.

Now it's time to go home and do some more gardening!!!


Can't wait until I have flowers like this again...



Cardinals vs. Thunderbirds - July 9, 2016

Well it was another HOT weekend here in Toronto but we were headed out to the Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario for the team to take on the Thunderbirds.  I am not too sure if we've seen this team before but the coaches looked familiar!

The stadium, I found out, was once the home of the minor league Hamilton Redbirds of the New York Penn League.  It is named after the former Hamilton police sergeant, Bernie Arbour, who was the director of the Hamilton youth baseball.

Like I mentioned before, it was a HOT day and at 9:00 a.m., you could already feel the heat and the rays stinging on your bare arms!  The game was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. so Andy and I headed out to the local McDonalds as he wanted a coffee.  I was lucky to find a small Garden Centre right next to the McDonalds.  So, while he was in line for his coffee, I was looking for perennials for my garden, and I was lucky to find some columbine plants.  Andy wasn't too pleased...I guess it's because he knows he will have to do some more tilling in the garden!

Game 1 - Saturday, July 9, 2016

As we are the visiting team, we were up to bat first.  Aaron was second in this morning's line-up and, with one on base, he fouls one which was almost caught but they dropped it!  Then he hits a nice one in centerfield, but it's caught!  We didn't get any runs in before the inning ended.

Nice hit but it's caught!

Bottom of the first and Aaron is sent out to cover centerfield as the team takes the field.  The Thunderbirds managed to get one runner on base but didn't score any runs.

Neither team scored in the second innings.

Top of the third and the bases are loaded, with no outs, Aaron goes up and he hits a nice one in right-field...but it's caught...and the first run in the game is scored.  Way to go, getting the RBI!!!  A couple more nice hits from the boys and 2 more runs are scored and then another one on a wild pitch, before the inning ended.

Aaron is back in centerfield for the bottom of the third and this kid is all over the field...running to cover his team-mates.  It was 3 up 3 down as all three hits were caught in the outfield, and still no runs for the Thunderbirds.

Covering centerfield...

With 2 runs already scored, 2 outs and 2 on base, Aaron goes up and hits one down centerfield, near the fence...and he's safe on second and gets 2 more RBI's.  Wow, what a hit...and I got it on video too!!!  The next out left Aaron going home.

It was another 3 up 3 down for the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the fourth. The boys didn't score any runs in the fifth inning, but the Thunderbirds finally got their first run in.

Top of the sixth, with 1 on base and 2 already out, Aaron goes up and hits another nice one over short stop, and he's safe on first.  He quickly steals second but is left there when the next batter strikes out.

Bottom of the sixth and the bases are loaded (and I am not too sure how many outs)...and the next batter hits one right over Aaron's head.  With the wind blowing like crazy, there was no way to get the ball in time to stop the 2 runs from being scored.  Another couple errors by the defence in the infield and the Thunderbirds get 2 more runs before the inning was over.

Top of the seventh, and we gave away the inning!  Our first batter hits a nice one down left-field near the fence and he's safe on second.  I am not sure what he was thinking but he decided to steal third before the ball made it back to the pitcher...and he is tagged out at third!  The next 2 batters both pop up and are caught.

Bottom of the seventh and thankfully, it wasn't a repeat of the sixth.  It was 3 up 3 down to end the game with a final score of 8-5...for us.

Half hour break...and then on to game 2!

Game 2 - Saturday, July 9, 2016

For game 2, the Cardinals boys take the field first...and Aaron remains in the dugout.  The Thunderbirds got their first run early in the game, before the inning ended.

Bottom of the first, with 1 on base, Aaron goes up and hits and he's safe on first.  He advances to second, and a run is scored.  He advances to third and the bases are loaded.  The next batter strikes out and then the next one pops up.  The final batter in the inning hits but the runner at second is tagged out...leaving Aaron running home!

That one's gone...

Top of the second, and it just hit me that Aaron is the DH in this game.  The Thunderbirds managed to get 2 runners on base but couldn't score any runs.  The Cardinals didn't get any runs in the second, either!  The Thunderbirds didn't score any runs in the third inning.

Bottom of the third, and our DH goes up and hits one in right-field...but it's caught.  The boys managed to get their first 2 runs in before the inning ended.

Yep, this one's caught!

Neither team scored in the fourth or fifth innings.  Aaron went up in the bottom of the fifth and walks, and eventually steals second.  He had to slide and got his foot on the base before the second baseman tagged him...but the Umpire called him out.  Everyone, was saying he was safe, even the parents from the other team.  The Umpire, who wasn't in uniform, we found out later is a parent who was helping out that day because one of the official umpires didn't show up!

Our DH in Game 2...

Although both teams had runners in scoring position in the sixth inning, no one scored.

Top of the seventh, and the score is 3-1...for us.  If the Thunderbirds couldn't score a few runs here, the game would be over.  And, they didn't do it.

The Cardinals boys walked of the field, with both wins...

Beast of the East Tournament - West Virginia

TO BE UPDATED SOON!