All-Star Season Thoughts

I love All-Star season because I don't have a pony in the race, so to speak. As long-time readers know, I never had a pony in the race, as Jack was designated an "alternate" for the tournament team when he was 12 years old.

I get to enjoy the excitement of Little League postseason as a fan, cheering at the games and outstanding play, visiting with the kids and their parents, and soaking in the atmosphere of youth baseball and softball.

I love that each game represents two communities, usually from just outside your normal sphere of school, work, grocery store, mall, ballpark... Maybe your opponent is from "just over the hill." Or maybe they are from the farthest corner of your county. Or maybe they will feed into your rival high school. Or maybe you know them from church. Or you manage the grocery store where all their moms shop. Maybe they look and dress like you, or maybe they are hipper than you :) Maybe there is an open parking space next to an SUV painted "Go Eric, Tualatin All-Stars 08" and you say "nope, I'll walk across the parking lot in the 100 degree heat before I park next to anyone from Tualatin Little League." Not exactly Yankees vs. Red Sox territory here, but your place on this earth takes on a different meaning during All-Star Season.

Then, one night, it's done. It's over. Your team has lost and there are no more games or practices and its time to hand in your uniform. The painted car is washed clean and you go from an All-Star family to "family with brown lawn."

So you end up with the rest of your summer to enjoy family and friends, maybe take a vacation, let the kids go swimming without worrying if it is a game day, paint the living room...

And as the tension of competition subsides, you find yourself smiling at that leftover painted car in the parking lot and you hope you run into them to say "How was State?" You stop after church to ask your former rival "hey, where's Joey playing next year?" Because (here comes a cliche) LIFE GOES ON. The cushion of time eases you out of the Tournament Time Mindset and hopefully you look back with a smile and with pride how you handled the Mindset.

It's that smile that I can't hold back when I walk up to a ballfield and see a game being played. It is the glance I make as I drive by any school or park looking to see if girls or boys are playing on the ballfield, and the smile that emerges if there is a game going on. If I have time, I pull over and hang out for a little while.

So smile. Win or lose, you were part of a special group of folks around the world who are taking part in the 2008 Little League International Tournament. And if you were not on an All-Star team: smile. Neither was my son. But he is still playing the game that we love, and has perhaps even more respect for the game. Life is a series of experiences (cliche) and the experiences on a Little League field can be magical.

CA District 5 Junior League Champs!

Congratulations to the Eggleston boys and Fair Oaks Little League!

Oregon District 4 Majors Baseball: Game 10 Pix

(just another) Sunday afternoon at Alpenrose:

Oregon District 4 Baseball: Scenes from Game 8

Scenes from Oregon District 4 Majors Baseball

"My" two teams lost night...and that's OK -- my son's team lost 2-0 and my favorite Little League team went down to defeat to the perennial District powerhouse. The world didn't end...the sun rose this morning, we have our health and we have our friends and family...

Some people would say if you're OK with losing, you are a loser. Well, I'm OK with kids playing baseball on a beautiful summer night, surrounded by fans and former players. Here are some pix from the 2nd day of the 2008 Oregon District 4 Majors Baseball All-Star Tournament taking place at Alpenrose Dairy in Portland, Oregon.

Amen to the Little Sisters

This wonderful photo of The Little Sisters of 9/10 All-Stars is courtesy of Chris Siems.

Here's a shout-out to the little sisters and brothers, and big sisters and brothers, who spend hours at ballparks while brother or sister has a game, and who rarely complain :) and keep concession stands in business.

pix from District 4 Oregon 9/10 All-Stars

What Happens After Little League?

One day my son said asked why I don't blog about his team anymore...so here's a shot of the boy on the mound for his Westview Sr. Federal team.

Jack, thanks for being the reason this all started.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Blog for SunCreek Little League

It's no secret that our former league in Oregon District 4 is SunCreek Little League. To focus on their postseason play, I have set up another blog for their scores and photos:

www.SunCreekLL.blogspot.com

Please take a look over there, but check back here for Oregon District 4 and other Little League "stuff!"

Thanks for reading...

LL Tournament Break: Watching My Son's Team

I've missed a few games in the Little League District 4 Oregon tournament in the last two nights so I could be there for my son's games :) His JBO Sr. Federal team (14 year olds) got to play on the high school varsity field last night, complete with music and sound effects and the high school coaches sitting in the stands. We won, but the young men seemed a little nervous. Since it's the high school field and not the Park & Rec, the boys had to stay after and rake and fill in holes and cover the mound and home plate. Good practice for next year (I hope!).

My goal is to get out to the District 4 Oregon 9/10 tournaments tonight. The 9/10 Honors are playing at Cook Park in Tigard, and the 9/10 All-Stars kicked off last night in Lake Oswego.