10 year old Giants

Will has found his love of baseball. If you ask him, he is going to play in the "MLB."

He is, afer all, named Will Clark - just like a baseball legend, #22 who played for the real Giants.

He is definitely on the right track. When he gets on a streak he can really "smack it out there!" as his Grandma Cindy says when she is cheering the boys on.  He also started as a pitcher and did a great job! It was really fun to watch him. Not only is he an awesome baseball player, he has an awesome coach! Once again Coach Sam stepped in and taught these boys some baseball. In the end they made it to the semi-finals and the season ended with a bummer last game, losing to an undefeated team. 

 

Matt, Will, Maddux, Everett

Super League baseball: Monday Night Lights

The boys are back for another baseball season!

I have mentioned this before but I love watching them play baseball more than all of the other sports. Each Spring I am always so happy when they decide they want to play because I love going to their games and chatting with my friends in the {mostly} warm weather. This year they both wanted to do the super league again. They have games every Monday night in Orem. Sambo played for the Diamondbacks and Wilbur played for the Generals. This league is very competitive so their teams have many learning and growth opportunities. Sam's team won more games this year, while Will's team didn't win any - mostly because it was a new team. But they both improved and had a good time playing the sport they love with their buddies.  Good job guys!

Game Over

Baseball is over!

It's a good thing and a sad thing at the same time.  

It has been so hot so we are glad to be done.

But at the same time they love to play and we love to watch.

They both won 2nd Place in the city league!

Their superleague teams {Monday night league} both went to the tournament and lost after the first two games.  They both improved a ton and we are so proud.  Another great season.  Good job boys!

Play Ball!

Can I just say that I really, really like to watch baseball.  I know a lot of people think it is too long and boring, but I have thoroughly enjoyed this baseball season and really look forward to the boy's baseball games.  I think it is because as they get older the games get more exciting, and also because it is so nice to sit outside in the warm Spring weather (well, mostly warm).  It is also fun to sit in the crowd with friends and family and cheer them on.

Will up to bat

This year, Sambo and Wilbur both play on the Monday Night Lights league but on different teams.  Sambo is a Diamondback and Will is a Knight.  Almost every FHE on Monday nights from mid-April through June have been spent at the ballpark.  Almost all of their games have been at the same time and the fields are right next to each other so it has been perfect to sit in the middle and be able to watch both  boys play.  They still have a few games left but have won about half of them.  This Super League is tough competition! We have loved having Grandpas and Grandmas, Aunts and Uncles come from Provo and Morgan to cheer them on!  Especially Grandpa Jim and Grandma Judy...they have been there almost every week.  Thank you!

Both boys also play on the city recreation league.  In this league Sambo was also a Diamondback {same coach, Buck} and Will played for the Red Sox.  The games were played at a park really close so it was real convenient. Both their teams went into the play-offs in 1st place and when the tournament was all said and done - Sam's team won 2nd and Will's team won 3rd.  Not too shabby!

Sam's strengths are hitting (when he isn't being mental), running/stealing bases, playing 2nd base, and pitching 1-2 innings.  Will's strengths are hitting, throwing, and catching any ball.  He mostly played 2nd base, 3rd base, and left field.  

Oh, and of course BS is at every game and practice helping to coach.  Somehow I missed getting any pictures of him.  Too bad because he is really cute in his coach's uniform.

Sam throwing a pitch

Sam ready to "Smack it out there" as Grandma Cindy would shout :)

Playing 2nd base

Will playing 1st base

But we were not the only ones that loved going to the games, Quincy loved to go too.

I wonder why?...

Will and Jack took advantage of Sam's games, riding the scooters to the nearby park:

We look forward to a few more baseball games and will be sad when this season is over...unless it gets really hot.  We hope the boys will choose to continue to play baseball next Spring!

Mancation 2012

At Coors Field for Rockies vs Giants!

Giants Fans

Will was named after my favorite baseball player of all time.  Naturally, my Will Clark became a Giants fan.  Uncle Shad put together a boys weekend to see the Giants play the Rockies in Denver.  Shad found the tickets, booked the hotel, flew the plane, and took us on a tour of the city which included seeing the Denver mint.  Will was obsessed with seeing where the money was printed.  One thing about Shad, he is an awesome tour guide.   

Once we checked into the hotel, Sambo was on a mission to eat some ribs and buy a flat brim Giants hat.  After  a quick stop at the Hard Rock Cafe, and 10 or so stores we found a street vendor who had the perfect hats.  Sambo couldn't have been happier.  The game was awesome, and as Will would say; the Giants "extra smoked" the Rockies since the margin of victory was over 10 runs.  It was so fun seeing my boys enjoy something that I really love.  I found them cheering the scoreboard when the speed of the pitch was shown to near 100mph.  I was doing the same thing.  On the way back from the ballpark, Shad stopped by the Cheesecake Factory and treated the boys to a slice of cake.  With bellies full of hotdogs and cheesecake, we waddled back to the hotel for a little shut eye.  The next morning after all the festivities were over, we went to a place called Sams #2 for breakfast.  Shad heard about it from watching one of the Discovery Channel specials.  It was really good!  

After we landed back in Ogden, I asked Wilbur what his favorite part of the weekend was?  In typical William T. Thomas form he responded "I can't believe the chili you ordered on your omelet was only $0.10" 

Thanks Uncle Shad!

Baseball

Will, BS, Sambo

I think this is the final post about baseball for 2012.  Whew!  Between City League, Super League, and All Star League - the boys were on 5 different teams!  We love watching the boys play baseball and see them progress as they learn and gain more experience.  We spent many hours in the hot sun, eating sunflower seeds and snow cones and cheering them on.  City League (Padres - on team together) went from April-June, Super League (Knights and Braves) went from April - June, All Star League (both Knights) went from June - July.  Indeed it took a huge chunk of our time but we went to the games (near and far) as a family and really had a good time.  It is always fun watching BS coach too.

This team is Will's Super League team, the Lone Peak Knights.  Coach Burton asked him to play on his team and we knew we couldn't turn down this opportunity.  He coached Will last Fall in football and he is a fantastic coach.  Besides being great at teaching fundamentals and giving a positive learning experience, he is also into looking good.  They got fancy uniforms, hats, dry fit shirt, and a hoodie in both black and maroon.  Will was stoked!
They had double-header games on Saturdays which was great to get them done in one day.  Sometimes 4 hours of baseball got a little long for the 8 year old boys, but they did great and never gave up!

Assistance Coach Sam and Quincy in her fan gear

The boys taking a quick pee break!

Quincy is a trooper, my little sidekick at all of the games.  She loved the snow cones and hot dogs.  It also meant lots of time playing on the playground at the games!

 

He hits the ball...

And off he goes!

Coach Gaston and Sam during break

Seth, Trevin and Sam. There were always friends and kids to play with at the games

This Pop Up Shade was a lifesaver!

On Saturdays we were always cruising from soccer to lacrosse to baseball.  We often had to divide and conquer!  On some days we had 4 games!  Here is BS on his new ride, the "Burgman", going home after a baseball game...

... And now taking girls home after a soccer game!

BS loves it so much - he drives it to work almost everyday and we save A TON on gas because then I can cruise around in the Turbo Diesel Jetta which gets killer gas mileage :)