All Stars - Game 4 - SSLL vs. South Whidbey

 Click HERE to see the article at goskagit.com.  (Picture of Colby the pitcher, Rylan & Josiah, the two that were batted in - for the games only 2 points.  7/14/11.  Photo is from goskagit.com article)

(Josiah Nelson, 7/14/11, by Rod Nelson.)
Tonight's game was South Skagit vs. South Whidbey.  I'm kinda bummed that they lost tonight's game 4-2.  It just seemed like for both sides, that the game never really got going.  Colby H., our pitcher did a good job of pitching - but the hitting just wasn't backing him up.  The teams though, did seem pretty evenly matched.

I've watched many All Stars games in the last four years.  I always wonder.. you know after they get a couple of wins under their belts.. do the boys get cocky?  overly confident?  Somehow tonight, like other similar occasions, they just seemed to have lost their edge.  I guess they needed a wake up call.

(Josiah & Rylan after getting batted in.  7/14/11.  By Rod Nelson.)
Colby B. got a great hit... he got a double - Josiah & Rylan scored.  That seemed to be the big play of the game.

Josiah came in for the last inning as the closing pitcher because Colby H. had hit his pitch count.  Josiah had three strike out's and then a kid hit one & was out at first.  I love those innings!  It just looks clean and feels great!

(Josiah Nelson, 7/14/11 by Rod Nelson.)  The Skagit Valley Herald finally showed up to a game we all noticed tonight.  I guess a couple of people complained to the herald, and tonight someone shows up with too big of a camera to be anything else!  For some reason, they don't seem to cover many LL games.. and I don't understand why.

(Josiah Nelson, 7/14/11 by Rod Nelson)
So where does it go from here?  Well, now that SSLL and S. Whidbey have both lost once... they play tomorrow to determine the actual winner.  Someone has to lose twice to be officially out of the tournament.  I'm hoping tomorrow that our pitchers pitch and our batters bring their bats to the game!

See the stats at gamechanger HERE.

I have a video of when Josiah & Rylan scored.. that I will get uploaded to post here soon!

Fun fact #4:  Josiah bats left & pitches right.

Game 3 - All Stars - South Skagit vs. Sedro Woolley

(Josiah Nelson, pitching in the 5th inning, July 12, 2011, photo by Rod Nelson.)
It just seemed like we were all a little nervous going into the game with Sedro.  We've seen them play and watched their practices.  They have good pitchers, good hitters and a great record.  And you know, when the game began, you could see it in the boys!  AGGGH - it was a rough few innings until the boys got their heads in the game.

The first inning they scored 2.  We'd score, they'd score.  Almost always leaving us behind by 2.  I've always said, you make or break a game in the first inning.  I wonder what the percentages are... it seems, at least with our boys' games, that whoever's ahead at the end of the first inning, wins the game.  Now, I know it's not always so, but it really seems like it!

The first few innings, the boys just didn't seem on.  They were making simple errors that were costing them...  You know how well they can play, it's disappointing to see them do less than their best.  We all know, that if they lose this game, that it's a much harder time coming back to win the championship game to go to state.  All the boys want to go to state.  Of course, it's in Vancouver, WA this year... and as a mom, I'm wondering - if they win... how are we ever going to afford to be able to go to state??  But the team mom in me, wants them to win, win, win!!!

(Josiah taking out the catcher at home plate.  He was called out.  What a shot though!! July 12, 2011, photo by Rod Nelson.)
They plug along until the 6th inning.  Score I think was 7 to 4.  We bat at the bottom of the 6th - we have to make 3 runs THIS inning or it's all over.  You know, something just seemed to come alive in the team when it came down to the wire.  The kids were on purpose, they were paying serious attention to the guidance of their coaches... Somehow, all of a sudden it was as if their hearts showed up at the game!

(July 12, 2011, by Rod Nelson)
Then, they really began to battle.  And it became a real nail biter!  We score one.  7 to 5.  I think this is when Josiah got to home plate and was called out.  We score again.  7 to 6.  Then something amazing happens... they get one more guy around the bases and tie up the score!  You've never seen parents behave in such an embarassing way in all their lives!  We were hooting and hollaring!!!  We came from behind and tied up the game!  Which means we get ANOTHER at bat!  Yah!

(July 12, 2011 by Rod Nelson)
Carsten pitches a great seventh inning.  Then, it's our turn to bat.  One guy gets on.  One strikes out.  One gets on.  Then I realize... that it's my little boys turn to bat!  Whoa, Josiah is all I can think - it's your moment to s.h.i.n.e!!!  He gets up to bat, and on his first swing - he hits a ground all the way out to the left field outfielder.  Two boys ahead of him run in to win the game.  We in the stands are louder than ever, surprised, excited... and jumping up and down in the stands.  I almost peed my pants!  Later, Josiah tells Rod & I - that Coach Hollands told him to swing on the first pitch (if it's a strike) no matter what - or Josiah was going to owe him 10 push ups!  Josiah said that was a big motivator (he hates push ups!)  Way to motivate him Coach!!!

(Photo of Josiah & Julia with Josiah's game ball, July 12, 2011, by Zindra Nelson.)

Game score 8-7, SSLL wins.
Game states via Gamechanger  HERE.

So, after watching three All Stars games, I have decided that I'm ready to make an announcement.  I officially believe that I prefer it when the boys win a clean cut game.  The nail biters full of adrenaline, stress, worry, hope and then finally victory... I'm just not sure my heart can take any more of those!  And I'm sticking to it!

(End of game, Josiah & Coach Shaun, July 12, 2011, by Rod Nelson)
I do have to say, that despite the teams lack of getting their heads into the game early... Josiah was just ON today.  The balls out to left field... he caught effortlessly.  He caught one in the first and second innings.  He pitched a fantastic 5th inning - which really seemed to give the guys some juice and helped change their attitudes.  He was hitting, it just seemed like everything Josiah touched was gold tonight!  He hit 2 RBIs.  He began pitching the 6th inning - and a ball almost hit him, he fell and twisted his ankle (not badly).  (They decided to pull him and put in another pitcher.  Which means that they can still use Josiah if needed on Thurs!)  Then, when the pressure was high, and it was his moment, he stepped up and hit that game winning ball!  As you can hear in the video below... Mom and Dad were PROUD!  You know, it's great when you see your kid do what you know that they have practiced and are capable to do.  That's MY BOY!

One thing that Rod & I have always taught the boys... esp. with baseball.  We've really emphasized that it's important that they do their best - that that is what is really important.  How the team does in the end is a bonus.  As a mom, when all is said & done, it's not so much that we care about how the team does... I care about how you do.  How do you play.. Do you play with a good attitude?  Do you give it all you've got?  Do you play with all of your heart?  Are you letting the other guy get to you?  Did you make a difference?  In the end, in sports, this is what Rod & I want to emphasize with our kids.  It's not just did you win or lose it's how you play the game! At least in our family!

(Josiah's winning hit, July 12, 2011, by Rod Nelson.)  

Click HERE if you'd like to see Josiah's game winning hit.  I was taking a camera video when Josiah hit the winning ball.  It's a LOUSY video - but you see Josiah hit - and at the end, you see the boys SO excited - that I think it's worth the watch.  I had taken the video of him hitting, and then I thought I turned it off (I set it on the bleachers).  Well, when I picked it up - it was still recording, so I recorded the excited energy of the boys!  What a great moment.  (Video by Zindra Nelson)

(July 12, 2011 by Zindra Nelson)  

What a great night!  What a great moment!  That's a moment I will not forget in a long, long time!  Afterwards, we helped clean up and then met some teammates at Dairy Queen for a celebratory ice cream.  Which was a great time to decompress with the other moms & dads & boys from the team!!!

Fun fact #3.  Josiah has 4 gameballs from this season!  Three during the season and one from today's All Stars game!

Game 2 - All Stars - South Skagit vs. Anacortes

South Skagit 11-12s played Anacortes on Sunday, July 10, 2011.  (photo of SSLL & Anacortes, 11-12s, by Rod Nelson)

It was one of those cut & dried games... where you get ahead, you stay ahead and you didn't really feel like they would ever catch up.  The boys got on early, scored early and held it.

We ten run-d them in the 4th inning.  (You have to play 4 innings.  You're not allowed to get more than 10 runs ahead of the opposing team - unless you haven't played to 4 innings.)

(Photo of Josiah Nelson, July 10, 2011, by Rod Nelson.)
A highlight... Carsten, one of the boys hit a home run.  Over the fence.  There's nothing quite like a home run to lift the spirits of a team!  (or dampen the spirits of a team - if it wasn't yours!)

Today Josiah mostly played Left Field.  You know, when the kids are younger, all of the plays are in the infield.  It's sort of a bummer when you're an outfielder... even sort of an insult.  It means you're not a very good fielder... so they put you where the ball usually doesn't go.

In All Stars, it's not that way at all!  Because All Stars are playing, almost all of the boys are *great* hitters.  Which means there's plenty of pop flys and grounders to the outfield.  I've really been impressed in the last two games with all of the outfielders on Josiah's team.  If it weren't for them, the other team would win easily. Josiah caught a great pop fly in this game.  It's amazing with which the amount of ease he catches those pop flys.  It's like it's no biggie at all!!  What I've really learned this All Stars season, is that the outfielders can make or break the team!

Score was 10-0, SSLL wins.  Phew!  Two wins down!!!  Tuesday the 12th, they play Sedro Woolley.
Click HERE for the stats via the Gamechanger App.
Find South Skagit LL on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/southskagitlittleleague

(Photo of #44, Josiah Nelson, July 10, 2011, by Rod Nelson.)
Fun fact #2:  This is the sixth year that Josiah's played baseball.  4th year of All Stars.

Game 1 - All Stars Tournament - 11-12s

 
 (Photo:  SSLL All Stars, 11-12s, July 9, 2011, by Rod Nelson)

Josiah's All Stars team did a great job in their first tournament game!  They won 5-0.  You know, as a mom and spectator, I haven't decided if I prefer the games that are close and you win with all the excitement and adrenaline... or if I prefer the games that are cut & dry & it's pretty obvious who has the upper hand.

(SSLL, announcing the teams, 7/9/11, photo by Rod Nelson)

Today, South Skagit Little League definitely had the upper hand.  So much of the game is dependent upon the pitchers.  Our starter pitcher went 5 innings - which is fantastic pitch count-wise for a little league game.  They can only pitch 85 pitches in one game.  I think our lead pitcher didn't get to 85 - but he only has to take three days rest (vs. four if they pitch 85).

(Josiah Nelson, #44, 7/9/11, photo by Rod Nelson)

They played the Burlington team.  They went through 4 pitchers.  Only one of them really had much merit.  It makes you wonder how the rest of the tournament will go for them - because a pitcher can only pitch so much and then they have to rest for so long...

I was glad to see that they bring brought in umpires from the district.  Sometimes umps get a lot of grief - at least behind their backs for their calls and/or their strike zone.  It's really interesting to watch the strike zones... esp. when you have such a size difference in kids!  Josiah's strike zone is considerably different than some of his mates.

(Josiah Nelson, 7/9/11, photo by Rod Nelson)

It was great to see Josiah hit well today!  He hit & got on base each time :D
(In general, it can be frustrating when you get home and are doing the post game talk when you realize that the boys (Josiah/Jedediah) are frustrated with the fact that they struck out once or twice in a game...  but it is a great chance to talk about real life & how real life doesn't always go the way you want it to - even when you're trying your hardest!  I love teachable moments - very homeschool!)

(Josiah Nelson, Pitcher, 7/9/11, photo by Rod Nelson)

Josiah came in for the 6th inning as the closing pitcher.  I could totally see it in his nerves.  It's different coming in as a closing pitcher.. esp. when you are ahead in the game.  You just knew that Josiah knew that if he screwed up this one inning... that it could cost them the game.  Ending the game as a pitcher (and as the pitchers mom!) has a totally different feeling than if they start the game!

I have to say, it's pretty crazy watching this particular team play.  This is the first team Josiah's been on that has had this much talent.  They have 13 kids on the team... and they are all truly starters.  It's tough to see kids sit out knowing that they are normally starting & playing the entire game!  I think they truly do have a chance to go to state... though that's in Vancouver at the end of the month.

Fun Fact:  Josiah has worn #44 for the last three years in the All Stars Tournaments :D

They play again tomorrow - and then I think on Tuesday.  Their tournament goes through this coming Saturday.

My BRAIN

(left: photo of my home organization binder cover.  I scrapped it :D  Thought - if I want to use it long term, I might as well like it!!! 7/20/11 by Zindra Nelson)

Well, thanks to the FlyLady and the Large Family Logistics book, I've finally decided to put together a Control Journal, Household Notebook or Home Organization Book.. Everyone has a different name for them, but they are pretty much all the same...  What I think I'm going to call it... My Brain.  (Hmm, I wonder if I could make it into an acronym??)

It's a nice thought, right?  To get all the important details of life down in one spot.  I've heard of doing this.. and thought about doing it so many times that it's crazy.  But lately, I just feel like there's too many things in life to keep track of... so I thought I would give it a try.

You know, "they" suggest that you add certain things - and mine has grown MUCH beyond that.  I have a 1" binder - and I think I'm going to have to upgrade :D

So far, this is what mine includes (or will include, once I get all the details inside of it!):
*My Daily Do's (my daily to do list)
*Routines (which I'm not close to having organized)
*Weekdays (Monday - Laundry day and what that entails)
*Chores (list of chores, room by room)
*Meal Planning (Dinner Schedule ie: Monday - Breakfast night.  Copies of past dinner menu plans.  Copies of meal planning forms.)
*Important Phone Numbers (I guess it's a good idea to have them written somewhere besides my cell..)
*Photo Storage (I've written down where the photo files are... which pictures are on which hard drive.  Whether they are uploaded to my offsite photo storage yet.  I have 100,000 pictures :D)
*Crafts & Hobbies (My craft to do list.  ie:  finish Jaden's baby quilt, wallpaper dollhouse)
*Lists & Forms (paper copies of forms that I like to use.)
*Birthdays & Gifts Planner sheets
*School Planning (what books etc. the kids did this year, what I want to buy for next year, etc.)
*IOU (ie: remember to send coach money for Josiah's special order baseball bat.)

I've made it simple.  Taken a piece of paper.. written "Meal Planning" on it with a fat tipped pen.  Slid it into a sheet protector.  Hole punch the items that go in behind it.  Simple.  Sweet.  Easy to change.

People are making them & selling them on Etsy.  Click HERE if you'd like to take a look!