Royal York Cardinals vs. Bolton Braves - June 12, 2014 (THIS ONE IS FOR ARIANA)

Well now that she is in a team herself, I won't have to listen to her complaining about a game being played on her birthday!

She already partied away last Saturday with her close friends and favourite cousins and tonight we had approximately 1/2 hour to celebrate her champagne birthday before heading out to watch the game between the RY Cardinals and the Bolton Braves at our home field in Toronto.  This is the first time these two teams faced each other.

Time sure flies by...12 years ago.

We got to the field just around 6:15 p.m. and immediately noticed that some of those Bolton boys were huge kids.  I know there is a lot of farm land in Bolton but I seriously wonder what they feed them up there!

 

After the thunderstorm we had last night, the fields were still a bit damp but dry enough to play a good game.  The weather was pleasantly cool so it was comfortable for both players and spectators.

The game started right on time at 7:30 p.m. and the Braves were up to bat first.  Aaron covered 1st base.  Our pitcher did a great job and the Braves did not score any runs.  There were 2 outs when one of the Braves' kid hit the ball just off of 1st base.  Aaron was able to get off the base, grab the ball and step back on the base to end the inning.  He's slowly becoming a really good first baseman!

Our boys were able to get an impressive 5 runs in the first inning.  It seems like our boys have a new burst of energy tonight...everyone of them was hitting HARD!

There were no runs scored in the second inning...by either team!  Aaron was up to bat first in the second inning and although he hits a really hard one in the outfield behind second base, it was caught!  What's with this kid lately...he has been hitting every time in the last few games.

In the 3rd inning, it was 3 up 3 down for the Braves!  Our guys got an additional 3 runs.  Aaron pops up one near short stop but made it safely on 1st, because the Braves missed it.  He stole second but was left on base when the inning ended.

The Braves finally got a run in the 4th inning.  I believe it was only because our pitcher was getting tired, pitching just over 65 runs by then.  Time was called and we changed pitcher...Great Job # 2!  I also notice that there's no cheering over at the Braves' bleachers!

Our guys only got 1 more run in the 4th.  Although the boys were still hitting hard, it appeared that the Braves were on to them...either that or their defence woke up.  One of our boys, # 25, hit one so hard I thought it would be a home run for sure!

In the 5th inning, it was 3 up 3 down AGAIN for the Braves! 

Our guys are up to bat in the bottom of the 5th and the score is already 9-1.  There is 1 more run and 1 out when Aaron comes up to bat.  He hits AGAIN and is safe on 1st...seriously, who's this kid and what did he do with my son!  He is able to score run number 11 and the game ends on the mercy rule.

What a game...and another win for our guys. These boys are all studying for / writing exams and still playing such great games!

I finally figured it out...Aaron has been using the $179.99 plus tax bat!  Yep, it's a number I won't easily forget...that and his $279.99 plus tax hand-made glove!!!   This is what happens when he goes shopping with his dad.

Tonight, us parents found new entertainment.  Tom Riley park right off Islington Avenue and the park is below road level.  It was quite entertaining to watch as the foul balls, and it happened at least 4 times tonight, landed on the road in between the cars!  Luckily no one, or any vehicles, got hurt or damaged.

Apart from the tournament, the Cardinals have played a total of 10 games, with ONLY ONE loss so far!  I think that's a pretty nice record.

What a great way for Ariana to end her Birthday...celebrating another win for her brother's team.  She was also happy because her team (Brazil) won their game tonight (Worldcup 2014).

Celebrating the end of her Birthday,
and another win for her brother's team
June 12, 2014.

 

Royal York Cardinals vs. Thornhill Reds # 2 - June 11, 2014

I couldn't be in 2 places at the same time, and believe me I wish I could, so Andy took Aaron to his game in Thornhill while I went with Ariana to her first game in Rexdale.  I asked him to keep track of the game for me so I can continue my blog, but as we all know...guys don't really pay attention to anything!

 

This is what I got from him - 'The field up there was really bad.  All the kids were struggling to pitch, even Aaron!  When Aaron was pitching the back-catcher was having a hard time.  He told the Coach he couldn't see the ball as they were coming, so they had to change him.  Aaron hit really nice again and got an RBI and scored too.'  That's all folks!

  

I had to wait until this morning to ask Aaron what the score was!  14-4 (for the Cardinals), and the game ended because of the mercy rule.  Good job Cardinals!

The only photo Andy took tonight was of some guy's dogs!  This what happens when Baseball Moms don't attend the game!
 

This is probably what happened while I was cheering for Ariana!

Ariana's FIRST Baseball Game - June 11, 2014

Tonight, Ariana played her very first game with Rexdale Baseball League. Her team, the Canadian Jays faced the Neweduick Funeral Home team (also from Rexdale) at Rexdale Park in Toronto.

While I am here with Ariana, Andy went with Aaron to Thornhill as the Royal York Cardinals took on the Thornhill Reds # 2 for the first time. This is the first time I am missing one of Aaron's games but there is only one of me and I cannot miss my girl's very first game!

It was a very gloomy afternoon as the forecast called for rain and possible thunder. The game started just around 6:45 p.m. after a few delays.

The Jays were up to bat first and scored an impressive 3 runs before the inning ended. Ariana sat out the first inning as the team took to the fields.

In the second inning, she was 3rd up to bat and after fouling off a ball, she took a walk to 1st base. She managed to steal 2nd base on an overthrow at 1st! I guess paying attention to Aaron's game has really taught her a thing or two. Although she walked home, I could see the pride in her face when she jumped on the home plate and realized that she scored her very first run. She was sent to the right outfield when her team took the field and was able to show how good she is at running, when she had to get a ball and throw it to the pitcher.

Fouling off that pitch - June 11, 2014.

Scoring her very FIRST run - June 11, 2014.

She went up to bat again in the 3rd inning. It looks like batting against her brother's pitching has really paid off...she did not swing at one bad ball and walked to 1st base. She ended up walking home, bringing in the 5th run to end that inning. The 5-run mercy rule applies to this level. At this time, the Jays has 1 run more than Neweduick. I believe the score is 8-7 (for the Jays). I didn't concentrate on the runs as the game was more about the kids learning the game and the rules.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Coach sent her to cover 1st base and I thought this was going to be interesting...just yesterday she was complaining that her catching sucked (her words not mine)! She catches really well with her bare hands but she hasn't mastered using the gloves as yet. She is also using one of her brother's retired gloves tonight because she said she is more comfortable with it (Aaron was practicing with her on the weekend and gave her the glove). One of the kids hit a ball and it lands in the infield and our pitcher was able to grab it in time to throw him out at 1st. Then it hit me...Ariana is on first! I have to admit, when the pitcher made the throw to her, I closed my eyes thinking she was going to miss. It was only when everyone cheered for her that I realized she actually caught the ball...I guess we have another first baseman on our hands. Another ball was hit right to 1st base and although she tried, it went right past her. I knew she couldn't get it because it went too fast and they are using actual hard balls. She turns to the Coach and says "Sorry"...yep, that's the polite little girl I raised!

The game ended just around 8:30 p.m. when Neweduick scored 2 more runs giving them in the lead by 1 run.

Watching her play tonight you would never believe that this was her FIRST game. Up until two weeks ago, this was the same little girl who disliked everything baseball!

I wonder how Aaron's team is doing? We'll have to wait until they get home tonight to hear all about it...and knowing the two of them, there won't be much to announce!

Ariana went home bursting with pride...and just in time to celebrate her birthday tomorrow!
 

No. 4 getting ready to bat - June 11, 2014

Ariana's First Time on the Field - June 10, 2014

While we were on our way to Aaron's game in Richmond Hill yesterday, I received a phone call from "Bob"...who will be Ariana's Coach for her Rexdale team!  The League was able to find her a spot in a team after all.

 

Bob was calling to introduce himself and tell us that he needed Ariana on the field today, for practice and for a game tomorrow, Wednesday.  I knew this was going to happen sooner or later...there is a game for Ariana on Wednesday which is going to clash with Aaron's game in Thornhill!

 

I spent my lunch hour shopping or baseball gear...those pink cleats in small size are so hard to find!  I was able to get a pink helmet and a nice small cooler bag but not pink cleats.  When I arrived home, Ariana was all dressed and waiting for me on the front porch!  She had already packed a bag with both catching and batting gloves, a bat she inherited from her brother, water and an ice pack.  She also had a Sportschek gift card in hand and was ready to go shopping.  I had enough time to walk into the kitchen and smell the Tandoori chicken that Andy made for dinner before we had to leave.

We made it on the field just in time.  There were kids from 2 different teams in attendance for the training.  All I kept hearing while we were walking to the bleachers was - 'oh my God, she's so cute'!  Although there were a couple other girls there, Ariana was clearly the smallest.

We introduced ourselves to Bob and Ariana took her place in the dugout.  The kids did some basic training on how to throw the ball, field and bat.  At the end of the training session Bob did a bit of batting practice with the kids on his team.  Ariana goes up to bat but has a hard time hitting the ball.  She keeps moving out of the batters box trying too hard to hit ball.  Bob was pitching too slow and the ball was not even crossing the plate.  After I pointed it out to him, he pitched a bit better and she was able to hit a few before the pitches were slow again.  I guess she must have been frustrated so she says to him - 'can you pitch underhand'!  Yeah, these games are going to be interesting with her on the team...I hope Bob has patience!

At the end of the evening, they handed out the uniforms.  Ariana is on the Canadian Jays team and is number 4!  Number 4 is the number Aaron left Rexdale with (as a Renegade Select).  It is also the number he wore for a couple years when his pitching really took off.  Is that a coincidence or what!

We left the field and headed out to Canadian Tire to look for these very hard to find pink cleats but found nothing in her size.  She ended up settling for a black and white pair.  I guess it's not too bad as they will compliment her blue and black uniform.

Royal York Cardinals vs. Richmond Hill Phoenix - June 9, 2014

Tonight we travelled to Richmond Hill to face the Phoenix at their home field, the Richmond Green Sports Centre.  This is the only team our boys have lost against to date.

It was a beautiful evening...the weather was neither too hot nor too cold.  The Sports Centre was a big area with many different baseball and soccer fields.  There were alot of games going on, at many different levels.

The game started on time, around 7:30 p.m. and our boys were up to bat first.  We managed to get in 1 run before the inning was over.  One of our guys (# 2) was getting angry at his bat!  He fouled 14 balls before striking out on a high pitch.  It was funny to watch as he kept fouling the balls, and smacking his bat!

The Phoenix were up next and didn't get any runs.  It appeared that these boys came out with a vengeance tonight.  One of their kids, while stealing 3rd base, dove helmet first into our player at 3rd.  That could have seriously injured someone!

In the second inning our guys got another 2 runs in, including Aaron's RBI.  Although he hit a nice one he was out at 1st base.  The Phoenix didn't get any runs in the 2nd inning.  We later found out that they lost one of their outfielders during the first inning as he got sick and had to leave, so they were playing with 1 less player.  Althought it is not an excuse for the missed plays and dropped catches, it is a disadvantage to any team if you are short players.

Our boys raked in another 8 runs in the 3rd inning.  Aaron hits one into the outfield and was save on 1st, then steals 2nd but was left on 3rd base when the inning ended.  When the infield Umpire called Aaron safe on 3rd, one of the parents from the Phoenix...a lady... commented that he better not be in the parking lot!  Seriously lady...these Umpires are just kids themselves.  Maybe you should consider staying at home during these games!!!  She was given a warning by the home plate Umpire.  The Umpires did not call anything in their favour for the rest of that inning.  Sometimes it pays to keep your mouth shut...even I know this!

NICE hit - June 9, 2014

'Running for his Life', after that hit - June 9, 2014 (in the colours of the Trinidad flag)!

The Phoenix managed to get their first, and only, run in the 3rd inning!

For the forth inning, the Phoenix changed their pitcher.  Our guys got 2 more runs in this inning, including another RBI from Aaron, but he was left on base again when the inning ended!  One of the players from the Phoenix got hit in the face with a ball, reminding us AGAIN that baseball can be dangerous!  We changed pitcher for the forth inning and the Phoenix still didn't get any runs.

We got 2 more runs in the fifth inning even though they changed pitcher, again.  The Umpire made some really unfair calls against our boys in that inning.  One our of kids was called out because the ball hit his foot!

In the fifth inning, we saw the true colors of these kids from Richmond Hill.  There were 2 players on base with 2 outs.  The next kids comes up to bat and ducks from a pitch, even though there was no need too.  He looks at the Umpire and said he got hit with the ball...and to think our Coach was feeling sorry for them!  He gets a walk to 1st but was left right there when the next kid struck out and the game ended because of the Mercy rule, with a score of 15-1 (for us).

Wow, rude parents, dishonest kids and inexperienced Umpires...surely makes an interesting game.  You never stop learning in baseball!

Even though our boys won by a landslide it didn't feel right!  I am sure they would have still won but the score might have been closer if the Phoenix had a fair amount of players, and if the Umpires were a little more experience.

Tonight Aaron did not pitch but played 1st base.  I am amazed that he hit all 3 times he went up, AGAIN.  I guess getting some practice in between the innings is helping.



Getting some practice in between Innings - June 9, 2014

 

Royal York Cardinals vs. East York Bulldogs - June 5, 2014

Tonight the boys faced the Bulldogs for the second time at our home field, Tom Riley Park in Toronto.  Our guys already beat this team on Mother's Day when we travelled to their home field in Scarborough.

The Bulldogs were up to bat first and our pitcher walked one kid who ended up scoring the only run in that inning.  Aaron sat out the first inning.  Our boys did  not get any runs in the first inning and we also had another confusing call by the infield Umpire.  One of our boys (#5) hit the ball and was running to first base when he tripped over the base.  The Umpire called him safe, the someone on the Bulldog's side said something as #5 was getting up and the Umpire called the kid out!  What the hell!

In the second inning, it was clear that our pitcher was struggling.  He walked one kid to 1st and then our back-catcher overthrows the ball so that same kid was able to steal 2nd and 3rd bases and later scored.  Time was called after our pitcher continued to throw balls and our Coach relieved him.  We later learnt that our pitcher # 97 had a sore neck but he never told our Coach.  The Bulldogs were able to cash in a total of 2 runs in that second inning. 

Aaron was up to bat first in the second inning and to my surprise, he hits ball 3 straight to 3rd base.  It looks like he was going to be thrown out at 1st but the player overthrows the ball and he automatically gets an extra base...whew!  He was not able to score as he was thrown out at 3rd base.  It looked like he was safe as his foot touched the base and the kid tagged his helmet instead of his body.  The Umpire were not on our side for sure!  Our boys didn't get any runs in the second inning and the Bulldogs already had a total of 3 runs.

Aaron played 1st base for the rest of the game.

The Bulldogs didn't get any runs in the third inning but our boys scored their first and only run so far!  Although Aaron hit a nice one between 2nd and 3rd base, he was left on 2nd base when the inning was over.

In the forth inning the Bulldogs didn't get any runs but our boys scored another one bring the scored to 3-2 (for the Bulldogs).  Although the boys were hitting...hard...the kid playing 3rd was not missing anything and everyone was being thrown out at 1st!

In the fifth inning, it was 3 up 3 down again and the Bulldogs didn't get any runs.  Our boys were able to get a 4 more runs in the fifth inning.  Aaron sends the ball to 3rd and was thrown out at 1st, bringing in an RBI.  I was starting to wonder who was wearing my son's uniform tonight...he hit the ball all three times he went up!

In the sixth inning, the score was 6-3 (for us), our pitcher was running into trouble and the bases are loaded.  Our Coach calls time and changes the pitcher.  Our boys managed to get a double play but it didn't take long for the bases to be loaded again!  Our outfield drops a catch but the ball somehow got to our back-catcher in time and he was able to stop the kid on 3rd from scoring.  That kid runs back to 3rd, the kid on 3rd runs back to 2nd and somehow there were 2 players on 2nd base!  With 2 already out, the inning was finally over.  That was a nail-biting inning for sure!  The Bulldogs got 2 runs in that inning.

We got 1 more run in the sixth inning, and another broken bat...this is the 3rd bat this particular kid (#13) broke for the Season so far!

In the 7th inning, it was another 3 up 3 down with no more runs for the Bulldogs.  Our boys didn't need to bat again as the score was 7-5 (for us).

Way to send those Bulldogs back home boys!!!

I Did NOT See This Coming!!!

We were at the field on Monday, waiting as Aaron umpired a game, when Ariana sprung this news on us!  She, the same girl who thought Baseball was "Aaron's Thing", now decides she wants to try it herself.  Andy and I were both shocked...and pleasantly surprised!  I guess spending all this time watching her brother on the field and playing with him in the backyard has finally rubbed off on her!  I knew she was taking an interest this Season as she is understanding the game better now.

 

Andy made some phone calls to see if there was still time to get her into a team.  We weren't sure which level she would have to play because she will be turning 12 in a couple of days.  Andy thinks she'll be at the Mosquito level but I am guessing it will be PeeWee!  The Season officially began last week so she will miss at least 1 game but because Rexdale Baseball League is not very well organized, it wouldn't surprise me if they haven't played any games as yet.

 

We asked if she was completely sure of this and she claims to be.  When asked what changed her mind, her response was - well Soccer is boring and Baseball looks like fun.  I told her she would have to catch up on the rules because she will be starting at a later level and her response was - Aaron can teach me.

 

Later that evening she decided to tell her brother her news, and she promised him that she will listen to him and learn all she can and they can practice together.

 

The question now is...which parent is going with which child!

 

I guess this Baseball Mom is going shopping for PINK cleats earlier than planned!