Both of the kids made the all-star teams this year. The all star tournaments were held last week in Cedar City. So we ended up traveling up there for games Mon.-Thurs. It was lots of back and forth and late nights. Many nights we didn't get home until after 10, but we had fun, and are glad the kids had this experience.
Chloe was on the 10 year old all-star softball team. Her birthday when she turned 10 was actually not until after the deadline so she was one of the youngest players on the team and would actually still be able to play on the same team again next year. Her team was very unprepared for the tournament not that they didn't practice lots in the weeks before, but the whole softball season they were not properly prepared. They didn't even play the same rules and stuff that they played in the tournament so it was kind of hard on them. They lost all of their games by a lot. In fact they were run ruled every time. Chloe's coach was kind of "special" I guess you would say...he knew Chloe could pitch-she had done so all year, but for some reason he refused to let her even though the other girls he was having pitch were really struggling. It was just hard to watch; so Chloe played right field for the whole tournament which is okay-she had fun and the few balls that got hit to her she fielded with and threw to first base with perfect accuracy. She didn't get up to hit many times, over the course of the 3 day period, but when she did she really battled. She did strike out once-but only once. Another time the ball barely beat her to the base but other than that she made it on base. Hopefully next year things will be better all around with the softball program. We are proud of Chloe though and most especially proud of her happy attitude about playing even when things weren't the greatest she was always upbeat and ready to play.
Before the first game Chloe and I made these for all of her teammates. The girls loved them! Their team name was the Dixie Crushers. So we got cans of orange crush and added a tag that said "Crush It". The bag also included a picture of a softball diamond that said diamonds are a girls best friend attached to a ring pop.
All-Star Hair-do
These picts show her sassy little attitude-excited to play!
Ready to hit...
Sporting some eye black...
Right Field...
Hanging with cousins after one of her games...
little monkey...
little bro sporting his orange to support sis...
All-Star Siblings
Trying to get onto the baseball field
Our happy girl...
Loving on little bro..
That's are girl!!!
One of Chloe's hits...she looked safe or at least looked like a tie, but they ended up calling her out.
Tanner was on the 13 year old all-star team. There were actually only 3 teams in his age bracket. Tanner played two and a half games. If your wondering what the half is all about its because they started one of the games and ended up calling it early. It had been raining a lot and the game was just turning into a complete debacle for Tanners team. Plus they were playing the same team the next night in the game that mattered-this was more of a practice game that didn't really count-so they just called it early. Everyone was relieved. His team ended up losing both of their games. They were able to hang with the other teams, but just could never pull off a win. Tanner played some of the best baseball he has ever played. For the most part he played shortstop. As shortstop he was unstoppable-he jumped to catch balls, dove to stop balls, got lots of outs and even rolled a double play. He did a little pitching as well--in the first game he kind of struggled, but in the second game he did alright and even ended up getting the last out of the game when the batter popped on up right to him. His hitting was a little off the first game, but the second game he connected with the ball every time and either got on base or brought in a run at all of his at bats.
Reading the Little League Oath
Getting Ready to Hit taking some Practice Swings...
Jack got into the baseball spirit and donned some of Tanner catching gear :)
In the dugout...
On deck...
Hanging out with little bro after the game...
One of Tanners hits...
A video of Tanner pitching...I should have kept the camera rolling this is where he got the last out of the game.
If Tanner makes the 9th Grade team next year then there won't be any more little league games-cause they can't play if they are on the high-school team...so hopefully that is the case. If so I think we can all feel good about how his little league days ended-we couldn't have been prouder than knowing he was our son out there on the field. Although he will be done with it I'm sure Chloe will be back and little Bryce will just be starting up in a few short years :)
