Get Ready for New Years

Here is a little known fact that I have spent the early part of my life trying to keep secret. As an old man hoping to influence young men I find myself broadcasting this secret. I am a geeky, anal-retentive person who has always strived to do my best and achieve all that I could.

Yes, even when I was a lad, it was cool to act like you could care less about achievement. When my mother asked how things were going, all I said was “fine” or “I don’t know” or occasionally “who cares?” To fit in with my buddies, I had to hide the fact that not only did I get good grades I worked hard for them. Nor did I want them to know I worked every evening as the janitor for the office where my mother worked, or that I kept a journal and wrote stuff down. Or that I was a reader, going so far as to read things I did not “have to” read. God forbid they should discover my to-do lists or my personal goals.

Here is my summary of what I have discovered to make things work in life.

1. You gotta know who you are

2. You gotta care

3. You have to know the rules

4. You gotta have a plan

5. You have to know the score

6. You have to be good to yourself and not be a fair weather fan

And while we are on the subject of lists and geeky things I think about, write down and review all the time, here are two lists I look at almost every day:

It is what it is

You are it

There are no mistakes

And my favorite mantra:

Free your heart – FORGIVE

Free your mind from worries – most never happen

Live simply and appreciate what you have

Give more

Expect less

But, back to our mission, in detail now……

You gotta know who you are – and remember thing #6

Take an inventory.

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

What do you like to do?

Spend some time figuring these things out. Softly seek out other peoples’ opinions and take them with a grain of salt. YOUR opinion matters the most. Ask yourself why some things are strengths and why some are weakness. Get honest. Weigh these things and deal with them. Some weakness can be corrected or mitigated and strengths can decline if they are not worked on as well.

Be sure to be good to yourself as you do this assessment. And be real as well. Let me put my two cents in here: everybody on this team has a fantastic inventory of strengths and others will most likely laugh at what you consider your weaknesses to be.

Also, be honest about what you like to do. Use this question on things that you may not want to do, but compared to all the other things you have to do, these are the things you would choose. Also think about constructive ways to “use” things you like to do to interact positively with the world. For instance “I like to lie around on the couch all day and play video games and eat potato chips” could lead to a future of couch design or game programming. Maybe you can invent a better potato chip. Somebody is going to do that!

You gotta care

Because who else does? This is YOUR life we are taking about. Sure, your parents are there to help, and your teachers, coaches and friends are willing to offer support – but YOU gotta care!

Just like in a game. You have to play with heart. You have to have a will to win. You have to give your best. If you don’t, you soon find the game is over, the other team has won, you feel empty AND maybe, just maybe, it was the last game of the season and there is no tomorrow (but just remember THERE IS ALWAYS A TOMORROW).

You have to wake up every morning saying “Yay! – Today is the day!” And you have to know what you are going to do with it.

And yes, I know that some days are not as good as others on paper. Some days you wake up knowing that Cliff Lee is on the mound or that you are playing life’s equivalent of the New York Yankees. But ALWAYS remember #6 and be good to yourself and be your own fan. If Cliff doesn’t strike you out five times, count it as a win – Hey, Cliff Lee gives up home runs (wouldn’t it be cool if YOU hit one), and the last time I looked the NY Yankees did not win every game.

And another thing – there are people out there who think YOU are Cliff Lee; they think YOU are the NY Yankees. Do not let them down. Attack your day with pride and anticipation, because as we go on we will realize that we are attacking every day with a plan, with a purpose and that we are getting somewhere.

You have to know the rules

Can you even imagine playing baseball with eight other guys who don’t know the rules? Or coaching them? How good would you be at baseball if you didn’t know the rules?

Well guess what? Life has rules. Your parents have rules, school has rules, algebra has rules, history has rules, and the English language has rules (at least I think so. I don’t really know. I rely on my wife, super genius Peggy, for that), and YOU have rules.

Face it, we cannot live without them. And just knowing them makes life easier.

Once you figure them out, life is as easy as baseball. (If you are thinking here, I hope you are thinking that – well, baseball is not THAT easy, and it isn’t, is it? But it is fairly easy to you guys and it is INTERESTING isn’t it?). Knowing the rules, what others “in the game” expect” from you and what you “expect” from others helps define your actions and makes the rewards of “winning” easier to define.

And yes, wherever there are rules there are umpires. In life as in baseball, they can be just as blind, as misguided by what “we” think the rules allow as they are in baseball. And yes, there will be “calls” you do not like. But MY BIGGEST RULE in baseball is to never let the umpire “take you out of the game” (and yes HA HA, sometimes for brief moments I fail in this regard – BUT it has never deterred me from my love of baseball. I serve my time-outs and come running back in to play just as hard as before). This is what you have to do in life when things do not go your way.

You gotta have a plan

Okay, now you know who you are, you care about the game; you know the rules – what is your plan? How are you going to win? What is winning? What are you going to win at?

You need to think about each thing in your life. Your world is a giant wheel. You have irons in many fires. You have your family life, your inner life, your social life, your scholastic life, baseball, and other minor sports. And you have only so much time.

There is an old adage about life that goes like this: You can have anything you want, but you cannot have everything you want. Yes there can be trade-offs. We need to prioritize in life, we need to set boundaries and we need to set goals. And FYI, I think they are meaningless unless you write them down. I say that because they do not become real until you write them down.

So write down what you want to do. (And you do not EVER have to show this to anyone)

Years ago I went to a class. Actually it was a series of classes. It was during my CPA days. Some classes were on deferred taxes, some on debt ratio (yawn yawn) and then a guy came to the podium and asked us to write down three things we wanted to have when we were 70 years old. And then he asked us to write down where we wanted to be in five years. And then he asked us to estimate where we had spent our time for the last week, i.e. account for the last 168 hours of our lives.

WOW.

What I had done the last week was certainly not going to grant me the three things I estimated that I valued most as a 70-year old, and it had no bearing on the path to where I wanted to be in five years. This made me think about what I was doing every day in a new way.

So think about what you want. Think about the haphazard effort you are putting forth; think about the interrelationships between some of the things you want. There is a DIRECT relationship between many things. Want to play baseball in college? The last thing you want to hear when you are 18 is that some college coach would love to have you on his roster, but he cannot academically get you into the school! Or you get drafted by the major leagues, but they offer you less money because they know you cannot get into a college program.

Spend some time thinking about where it is you are going and how you are going to get there. Don’t worry too much; you will be able to change as things happen. But right now – in your lives - you are all in the foundation stage. The work you put in right now has a direct bearing on what you wish to do later. Do not be one of those guys who feels stymied later on in life because you did not get something accomplished in your foundation years.

You have to know the score

What kind of feedback do you get in baseball? Well, the scoreboard is an easy quick answer. There are also batting averages and the ultimate feedback – today’s line-up. Want to know how you are doing? Check the scoreboard, check your average or whether you even playing?

Other aspects of our life give us feedback as well. Report cards, the scale, our bank account, how people treat us. Getting hassled by your parents? Maybe you are not living up to the rules.

Take time to look at the scoreboard in life. My big example on some hard to measure scores is this one. In the highway of life is everyone passing you? Maybe you are going too slowly. Are you passing all the cars? Then maybe you need to slow down.

Be aware of the scoreboards in life. Compare your scores to your goals. Make regular visits to your goals and compare your progress. Sometimes it can be time to reevaluate your actions; sometimes it is time to reevaluate your goals. But there is always time to look at the scoreboard.

You have to be good to yourself and not be a fair weather fan

Throughout this process make sure you take care of yourself and be your biggest fan. Like what you are doing. Go at things with gusto. Take the attitude that it is something you want. There is a positive to everything, even taking out the garbage! Actions are actions. It is our perception that defines some actions as pleasurable and some as work. Take the attitude that there is joy to be had in all activity and bring that attitude to all your activities.

Remember, you know who YOU are, you care, you know the rules, this activity fits your plan, it helps your score and you feel good doing it (and even if you have to hold your nose, it will be so good when the task is behind you).

Dunbar Stuns Baseball World with Vow to Return to Magnolia

Robbie pitching off a synthetic mound

Robbie's agent - Ace Farnhouse III

This just in, Robbie Dunbar has just stunned the baseball world by turning down a multi-year, multi-million dollar offer from the Mexicali Penguins to return to his baseball roots and play for the currently un-mascot-ted Magnolia 16's.

Currently the town of Mexicali is in an uproar and burning images of Robbie in the streets. This news has not only stunned the town of Mexicali and the country of Mexico BUT has premier agent Ace Farnhouse III flummoxed. "Do you know what 10% of an amateur is worth" Ace was heard muttering as he left the press conference.

Robbie is following in the footsteps of one of his boyhood heroes, Ken Griffey Jr. Although he passed up big bucks to come back to his roots, he has done so with a considerable list of demands. He wants to be called Robbie Dunbar Jr., he wants to be the one to "make the call" on closing the roof (should Mag #1 ever get a roof), he wants to be able to change Tino's name to "Bone" and he wants to be first through the post game buffet line. He pushed for limo service to and fro every game; but c'mon that was denied - just who does he think he is?

Big News Coming Soon

Minnie

The action has been hot and heavy between the MBC 16's and several high profile free agents. Coach Cougan has been seen in negotiations with the following:

Cecil Feilder; Joe Shlabotnik*, the Ewell twins, Robbie Dunbar, Minnie Minosa** and the San Diego Chicken. Rumors are flying hot and heavy and it is just a matter of time before Coach Cougan lands one of these fantastic players. Please stay tuned. Film at 11:00; but that is way past your bedtime - so don't stay up for it!

But you can learn a lot by reading, especially about old ball players. And if you are not a good reader, maybe you can start on the comic's (like I did) and comic books. After you get the hang it, you move on to books.

*Joe Shlabotnik is a minor-league baseball player who, inexplicably, is greatly admired by Charlie Brown. He never appears in the strip, but is occasionally mentioned by Charlie Brown as his hero and is part of several plots involving Charlie Brown:

• Joe is introduced (with no name yet) when Charlie Brown reads in the paper that his "baseball hero" is sent down to the minor leagues for a low batting average.
• In 1964, Charlie spends $5.00 (a huge sum of money for a child back then) on 500 penny packs of bubble-gum cards (incidentally, the last year Topps offers penny packs) to get a Joe Shlabotnik card, but none of the 500 cards he buys has Joe's picture. Lucy then buys one penny pack, and it turns out to be a Joe card. Charlie Brown offers Lucy his entire baseball card collection in trade for Lucy's Joe Shlabotnik card, which he has been trying to get for five years. Lucy declines, then (after Charlie Brown walks away, dejected) throws the card into a receptacle, deciding Joe is "not as cute as I thought he was."
• In his Joe Shlabotnik Fan Club News, Charlie Brown writes that Joe, now playing in the Green Grass League, batted .143, made some "spectacular catches of routine fly balls" and "threw out a runner who had fallen down between first and second." The newsletter lasts only one issue, owing to Lucy's comment on it: "Who needs it?"
• Charlie Brown and Linus attend a sports banquet so that Charlie Brown can sit next to planned attendee Joe Shlabotnik, who doesn't show up because he had "marked the wrong date on his calendar, the wrong city, and the wrong event.
• Charlie Brown's baseball teammates invite Joe to be guest speaker at a testimonial dinner honoring Charlie Brown's dedication as their manager. Joe accepts the invitation for a reduced speaking fee (down from his usual $100 fee), because all they can offer is 50 cents. However, they cancel the dinner at the last minute when they decide it would be hypocritical because they would be giving Charlie Brown untruthful praise. Joe gets lost along the way and doesn't show up for the dinner.
• Charlie Brown discovers that Joe is managing the Waffletown Syrups in a location near his summer camp, so Charlie Brown attends the game and cheers Joe on as he manages. Somehow catching a foul ball, Charlie Brown waits after the game for Joe to sign it, only to find out that he's been fired for "signaling for a squeeze play with nobody on base." Charlie Brown finally meets Joe in person when he catches up with Joe as his bus is about to leave. Joe autographs the baseball, but hits Charlie Brown on the head with it (demonstrating his incompetence in baseball) when he throws it to him as the bus departs. This is the last we hear of Joe Shlabotnik.
• Schroeder points out that the reason Joe Shlabotnik is sent back down to the minors is because he has a .004 batting average.

**Saturnino Orestes Armas "Minnie" Miñoso Arrieta (Spanish pronunciation: [miˈɲoso]; English: /mɨˈnoʊsoʊ/; born November 29, 1925 in Havana, Cuba), is a former star left fielder in Major League Baseball. He had earlier been a standout third baseman in the Negro Leagues, and would later play several seasons in Mexico. He was nicknamed "The Cuban Comet" as well as "Mr. White Sox", and while playing in Mexico was "El Charro Negro" — "The Black Cowboy". He is one of just two players in Major League history to play in five separate decades (1940s-80s), the other being Nick Altrock. With brief appearances with the independent Northern League's St. Paul Saints in 1993 and 2003, Miñoso is the only player to have played professionally in seven different decades. He was also the last Major Leaguer to have played in the 1940s to play a Major League game.

Headline from Magnolia Gazette - Ominous Stack of Bones Ruled Public Menace

Just who could this person be??? We only wish there was a full shot of him.

News flash- Waste Management was required to dispatch a special SWAT team garbage truck to West McLaren Street in Magnolia to remove what has been described as an "enormous stack of turkey bones" and several empty five gallon drums of industrial strength gravy. A lesser problem was the three foot pile of potato skin peelings, but they were removed as well at the request of several concerned neighbors.

Detectives have currently narrowed the list of suspects and their investigation may conclude soon.

Early Leader in Mascot Contest

Although not yet official, insiders say that the front runner for the new team name just might be the Magnolia Toby's. Our uni tops will be grey and black stripes and we will all have to wear flea collars around our necks. Our away uniforms would simply say "Kittens" on the front, but would obviously (or is it Odvi) be grey with black stripes.

C O M P E T E

I love New York. And I love Coney Island. What is not to like; Nathan's, the boardwalk and much more. My first stop (after visiting my 105 yr old grandmother and my wonderful Aunt Frannie and equally wonderful Uncle Frank) was Coney Island. And what a day. Sunny, sixty-five degrees. I stopped at Nathan's and had two dogs (Peggy is in Seattle!) and walked the boardwalk and saw the sites. I love Coney Island, it is one of my happy places, perhaps my favorite. Yeah, it is run down, scary and has seen better days; but I love being there, people watching (no better place in the world) and just hanging out.

And EVERYTIME I go there I always walk down far enough to see the outside handball courts that are on the non seas-side of the boardwalk and I watch the men play handball. And do they ever play hard. There is a crowd playing every time I go there, no matter the weather. They are not great athletes, they will never be on TV but they play a silly game so hard, like their life was on the line. It is real to them. They play for pride and for something we all need to reach down and get in touch with....they play to compete. They want to feel like winners.

Lets face it, if you can hang out at 2:30 and lay it all out on the handball courts of Coney Island on a Wednesday, you probably do not have that much going on in your life. Most likely not much else in their lives make them feel so good. This is the level we need to approach our baseball game on. When we play, when we strap it on we want to C O M P E T E. Their is nothing else going on at that time. We C O M P E T E, even though we will never know why.







I love New York. And I love Coney Island.

Another Potential New Player

Always looking for talent, coach Cougan came across the player pictured above and is currently looking to sign him. He is not very fast, but has tremendous power at the plate. He may be a defensive liability and need to play as a DH only.

We are running into some logistical snags in signing him. As of right now the player has yet to be able to provide proof of age, weight or even hair color. He swears he will soon provide all the necessary info, but until then we will just have to wait and see.

He DOES seem to be excited to become a member of the MBC 16 year old team.

Meet your New Teammates - Dylan Vchulek

Last summer, after a few defensive mishaps, Coach Cougan brought out new uni tops that proclaimed the team as the "Magnolia Circus". Seeing the team playing in these jerseys gave Coach Cougan further inspirations that led to the acquisition of Dylan Vchulek.

When the circus rolled into town this summer, Coach Cougan scouted the talent on display and approached Dylan and his parents. For an undisclosed (incredibly high) sum, Coach Cougan was able to purchase the contract for Dylan and his family that freed them from their commitment to Ringling Brothers and allowed Dylan to play baseball for Magnolia for a summer.

Dylan did EVERTHING for the circus, shot out of cannons, juggling, high wire and trapeze. Coach Cougan has high hopes that Dylan'S circus versatility will pay big dividends on the diamond this season, or at least add to our entertainment value!

Meet your New Teammates - Nick Safka

Perhaps the most interesting new teammate for this year is Nick Safka. Other than his family, school and baseball, Nick devotes his time to carrier pigeons. As can be inferred by the picture, Nick has a flock of birds numbering in the hundreds. A virtual expert on the subject, young Nick has published dozens of books on training, caring and managing carrier pigeons. Called "Coo Coo" in bird circles, Nick's advice and input are sought out from international circles. His most famous bird "Statue Bomber" was the subject of a little viewed Ken Burns documentary.

Are You Seeing What I'm Seeing???????

So far the World Series has been great. Great to watch, great to LEARN from!

No one is talking about it, but have you noticed something about most of the big hits?
In game #1 I believe all the hits involved in scoring had ONE big thing in common. In each case the hitter "went the other way". Napoli's home run, big shot to right. The Cardinals two runs early, Holliday's double and Berkman's single were to right, all by right handed hitters. Pinch hitter Craig's big hit, he went the other way. BOTH NIGHTS! The big sac flys last night, hitters stayed back and went with the ball.

Watch the little box in the right hand corner. Look how everyone is being pitched. Away, Away, Away, and if they come in, they come way in.

Do you think Nelson Cruz is EVER going to get an inside pitch? Not on purpose, but yet he still seems to think so.

And wow, can little things become BIG things. For starters; why did Jon Jay EVEN bother to throw home last night! Did he have ANY chance to get the speedy Kinsler? And all Pujos had to do was catch a ball and they are still playing.

Lastly, I doubt I will ever be a fan of Tony LaRussa's. For some reason I just get a pompous vibe from him, but even I have to stubbornly admit the guy looks to know his stuff and I am begrudgingly gaining more respect for him.

Meet your New Teammates - Tai Huff

Tai before surgery


Tai after surgery

Tai Huff was added as a consolation appeasement from last years trade with the Train-Stop Petty Boys. You may recall that last year we traded Jake Hawken to the Pretty Boys for the Ewell Twins, Robert E, Lee and Stonewall (pictured below). Well, when the Ewell twins failed to report to camp last spring, I gave a heated call to the GM there; Shifty McCoy, who relented after many phone calls to give us Tai as a replacement player (Jake Hawken was off the table, I guess he is a crowd favorite now).

Tai missed last Sunday's practice due to a prior plastic surgery appointment. He was having a new smile put on. This Sunday please do not mention it, he wants to pretend that no work has been done, and he is sensitive to people bringing it up.



Robert E. Lee Ewell and Stonewall Ewell

Meet your New Teammates - Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy has played for the Seattle Select squad for the past three years, well by that I mean he has had to settle for the Seattle Select squad. In his heart, he has always wanted to play for Magnolia, and has cried himself to sleep after every tryout with MBC. He had spent so much time begging to be a member of the MBC team that I finally broke down and relented to allow him to play for us and be with his friends.

It got so bad this year that he offered to join as just the bat boy. He was crushed when I told him that we already had Robby "Smeagle" Salle, and that Smeagle was perhaps the greatest bat boy in the game today, and don't even get me started on his hound dog techniques of chasing down foul balls. As Jack sat there teary eyed I finally saw just how much it would mean to him to play for us and finally agreed to take him on as a full fledged player. He insisted that he wanted to at least carry the equipment to and from every practice and game, but I drew the line and told him to just try his best to pretend to be a full fledged member of the team.

Call to Action

We have talked about actually performing a community service project for the last four years. I blame myself for not pushing harder for performing on this venture.

I want to do one this year. And I want to do it for Cam Christian, see post below.

I never met him, I saw him play. I did not know how deep his commitment to the community went. As a spectator of SU I was unaware of his commitment to his team; named team captain. I certainly did not know that he volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and did not know that he was a Big Brother to a young boy battling brain tumors.

I do know from experience just how busy a young man playing college baseball can be. I am utterly amazed that at such a young age this young man was doing so much.

The question then becomes - what are we doing? What are we doing as a organization? What are we doing as a team? What are we doing as individuals?

What can we do?

This Sunday be prepared to talk about it. Lets get something off the ground.

Seattle U Senior, Cam Christian

Cameron Christian, a Seattle University student and captain of the school's baseball team, died in a car crash near Priest Lake, Idaho, early Sunday.

A left-handed pitcher, Christian was nominated by his team this year to be captain, said baseball coach Donny Harrel.

"He was an incredible young man who was just coming into his own," said Harrel, adding that he thought Christian had a future as a professional baseball player.

Christian, 22, was returning alone from a wedding around 12:30 a.m. Sunday when he appeared to have swerved off the road to avoid hitting something, Harrel said. Christian was wearing a seat belt, and police say they do not believe alcohol was a factor. He died instantly in the crash, Harrel said.

According to Christian's biography on the Jesuit school's website, Christian was born in Renton to Lynn and Debbie Christian and was majoring in history.

He volunteered for the Boys & Girls Club, and also for the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation as a big brother to a young boy who was battling brain tumors, Harrel said. "He was tremendous, on and off the field," he said.

A graduate of Auburn High School, Christian was a starter on that school's varsity baseball team for three years and also started on Auburn's football team for two years, according to the Seattle University biography.

He started on the Seattle University team last year as a redshirt junior transfer from Spokane Falls Community College, Harrel said.


- - - - - - - -
Services for Cameron Christian will be held at
The Auburn Performing Arts Center
on this Saturday, October 22, 2011
at 11 am

A memorial fund has been set up at:

Valley Bank | 1101 D ST NE, Auburn WA

To benefit youth baseball camps and baseball equipment for young players.

- - - - - - -
Note from his mother to Donny Harrel, SU head coach:

Coach - We want you to know this is going to be used for camps @ seattle u / spokane falls community college and reality sports in tacoma

Debbie

Pipe Dream

Last February my wife and I bought in to her brothers cabin just out of Absorkee, MT. We had been to the cabin a before and found it wonderful and we jumped at the chance to be part owners.

This past August we spend a lot of time there, and some in Sept too. With more of a chance to explore I came across the pictured 90 diamond just out of Absorkee.

Wouldn't it be great to find a team to play us there?

It is a very nice field, grass infield. And the best part. The elevation here is about 4,400 feet. Tino,Quinn; how far do you think the ball will travel in this park?




The cabin circled by the drive way nearest the Stillwater River

Preparation for Next Year Begins Now

As we begin to prepare for next year I was looking at poems for preparation and I came across a dandy. Ella Wheeler Wilcox never played pro ball, probably never threw a baseball or swung a bat. She was born in 1850 and died in October 1919 (probably unaware of the White Sox throwing the World Series that year) and is most famous for her poem Solitude which has the famous line

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.

Pretty heady stuff.

But her take on preparation is pretty good as well. Read the poem. It lets you know that you cannot rush preparation, preparation is necessary and vital and she makes a good case for good things come to those that wait (and get busy getting ready).

Preparation is vital to baseball. All the things that will make you ready to succeed in the bottom of the 7th (or 9th, as we get older) are things that one can prepare for now and give oneself a better chance to come through when the lights are on and in the words of Dave Niehous; It's game time!


Preparation, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

We must not force events, but rather make
The heart soil ready for their coming, as
The earth spreads carpets for the feet of Spring,
Or, with the strengthening tonic of the frost,
Prepares for Winter. Should a July noon
Burst suddenly upon a frozen world
Small joy would follow, even tho' that world
Were longing for the Summer. Should the sting
Of sharp December pierce the heart of June,
What death and devastation would ensue!

All things are planned. The most majestic sphere
That whirls through space is governed and controlled
By supreme law, as is the blade of grass
Which through the bursting bosom of the earth
Creeps up to kiss the light. Poor puny man
Alone doth strive and battle with the Force
Which rules all lives and worlds, and he alone
Demands effect before producing cause.

How vain the hope! We cannot harvest joy
Until we sow the seed, and God alone
Knows when that seed has ripened. Oft we stand
And watch the ground with anxious brooding eyes
Complaining of the slow unfruitful yield,
Not knowing that the shadow of ourselves
Keeps off the sunlight and delays result.

Sometimes our fierce impatience of desire
Doth like a sultry May force tender shoots
Of half-formed pleasures and unshaped events
To ripen prematurely, and we reap
But disappointment; or we rot the germs
With briny tears ere they have time to grow.

While stars are born and mighty planets die
And hissing comets scorch the brow of space
The Universe keeps its eternal calm.
Through patient preparation, year on year,
The earth endures the travail of the Spring
And Winter's desolation. So our souls
In grand submission to a higher law
Should move serene through all the ills of life,
Believing them masked joys.

Just the Threat of a Bunt Sends MBC Packing from Tournament

MBC lost a tight one 4-3 to end the tournament. MBC did qualify for the consolation game, but chose to drive home at a reasonable hour vs playing for 3rd and 4th and leaving Sumas at 11:30 PM.

Things started well for MBC. After giving the Bandits a run in the first, MBC came back in the second to tie the score. Quinn Burcham led off with a single and was followed by a single from Ethan Clements. Quinn scored on Russell Madche's double but that was all the runs MBC was able to score.

In the third, Adam Hinthorne led off with a single and the Bandit's walked Tino Peleti. Perhaps the two towering foul home run shots got to the pitcher, we can never know for sure. Quin singled to drive in Adam and was followed by a single by Ethan that scored Tino but a strong throw nipped Quinn (again) at the plate.

Nick Reeves led off the fourth with a walk and after Cole Burcham doubled MBC had men on second and thrid with one out. Alex Mitchell drove Nick home with a nice sac fly, but Cole, wanting to emulate his big brother, decided to try for third and a nice cut-off throw nailed him.

Ethan Clements pitched a fine game and brought MBC into the seventh nursing a one run lead. A lead off bunt (scary word) single put the tying run on board and when the second hitter squared to bunt, - well I just knew we were going to lose.

Coach Cougan was pretty sure that the flyer for this tournament said NO BUNTING ALLOWED, because you know as well as I do that we should never be in a game that allows bunting; but the tournament director just seemed to look the other way whenever teams bunted against us. And this sort of thing happened against us again and again.

I promise next year to ONLY enter tournaments that will enforce the no bunting rules and I am sure we will fare much better.

Big Fifth Inning Blows Pitcher's Duel Wide Open

MBC had to face the Dow team in game three and the game started out as a pure pitching duel between Stuart Fairchild of MBC and Dow' strong left-hander. Stuart was perfect through three innings and the Dow Lefty matched him pitch for pitch with the exception of Spencer Hogger's first inning single.

In the top of the fourth Tino took a 2-2 fastball deep to right center to give MBC a one run lead. Tino hit the ball so far that it went into the neighboring trailer part and an aid car was called to check on the ball.

A lead off single in Dow's part of the fourth came around to score and after two walks and a hit Stuart had to strike his way out of a bases loaded jam.

Tied in the fifth Ethan Clements blasted a home run to left and MBC was back on top. The two long balls seemed to shatter the lefty's confidence and consecutive hits by Adam Hinthorne, Alex Mitchell, Mitchell Smith and Spencer Hogger brought in one run and left the bases loaded for Tino. Tino proceeded to clear the bases with a huge double to blow the game wide open. Quinn Burcham bounced a ball over the fence for a double to score Tino, but the lefty settled down and escaped further damage.

In the sixth, as the sky grew darker and rumbling of thunder were heard in the distance, Nick Reeves led off with a double and the hit fest was on again. Hits by Adam, Russell Madche and a walk to Mitchell Smith loaded the bases and the rattled Dow pitcher plunked Spenser to force in a run and bring up the hot hitting Tino. Tino broke out the rye bread and hit a grand salami over the center field fence to make it a 13-1 game.

The sky then opened up and rain poured for the rest of the night.

MBC Bunts Game Away Early and Often

Wooden stakes scare werewolves, garlic will scare vampires, bunts terrorize the MBC 15's. I get shivers just thinking about other teams squaring away - bad things happen.

MBC kicked away a game to the Wave being boat raced by at least six bunt attempts that accounted for almost 100 runs in game two of the tourney. Balls and bodies were in motion but not in connection as MBC resemble a T-ball team in their frantic efforts to get outs when the other team tried to give us outs. It was not a pretty sight.

Offensively we tried in vain scoring 98 runs, just enough to lose by 2. Tino Peleti and Mitchell Smith each had three hits with Ethan Clements and Nick Reeves collecting two.

Both pitchers used during this game have currently entered the witness protection program and their whereabouts are unknown at this time.

Burcham Blasts Bombers in 13-7 Win

Game one of the Spooner Creek tournament was a pure power show by Quinn Burcham who blasted two mighty home runs for a five RBI night. Offensively it was a great night for our hitters with every starter getting one hit. Spencer Hogger, Tino Peleti, Ethan Clements, Russell Madche and Alex Mitchell all had two hits. MBC scored in every inning but the second.

Coach Cougan deployed Everyday Russell in a different fashion in this end of year tournament using him as a starter. Off of his short leash Russell went the distance four and allowing just four earned runs. Russell cruised all night and was never in much trouble pitching well with the big bats behind him.

Tough Loss Limits MBC to Fourth Place Finish

MBC ran out of steam and could just not get the offense going in a loss to Seattle Select Black. Nick Salle pitched well for five innings but not get the typical MBC nine runs of support. Quinn Burcham pitched a quality sixth inning, but by then MBC was out of gas and out of the state tourney.

The Seattle Select pitcher held MBC to just three hits. He was our worst nightmare, a pitcher who changed speeds and threw curve balls when we were looking for fastballs and fastballs when we were looking for curve balls. Their defense turned two double plays on us and only committed one error.

This tourney seemed to be a payback version of the season that worked well for MBC. Teams were beating teams that they lost to during the season. Just our luck to have beaten Seattle Select soundly during the season.

Spencer Hogger, Stuart Fairchild and Ethan Clements were selected to the all tourney team. Spencer hit .500, with a home run and double and played outstanding at shortstop. His tournament run even included a trip to the ER and eight stitches to his mouth. Ethan and Stuart both pitched MBC to victory in their respective turns on the mound neither pitcher yielding an earned run.

Other players of note; Tino Peleti .286 with a home run and 5 RBI, Nick Reeves and David Becker with .364 batting averages and Quinn Burcham who hit a scalding .333 with laser beam hits which included a double.

MBC Runs out of Steam in Game #3

MBC ran out of steam in the winner's bracket final last night losing to the FOC Blue 9-3.

FOC broke out early with a two run lead, but MBC had an answer for that. An error and a stolen base put a speedy Michell Smith on third base. He scored on Nick Salle's single to set the stage for Spencer "the Stitched" Hogger. Spencer gave MBC the lead with one big swing of the bat to launch a two run blast deep into the woods in left.

Spencer finished the night with three hits including a big double. Quinn Burcham added a single as did Nick Reeves. MBC threatened again and again through the night, but could just not get runs across the plate.

Tino gave it his all from the mound, but suffered some from pitching in the game just before. Riley Duffy came on in the fourth to save MBC with some quality innings, but the damage was done and the hard hitting, fast running FOC team cruised to victory.

MBC Shocks the Shocker in Game #2

MBC shocked the top seeded Shockers in their second game of the tourney. Again it was pitching, defense and some pretty good hitting.

In the first Spencer Hogger (back from last night's beaning) worked a walk and then scored as Tino Peleti announced that he was back with a towering home run.

After a run by the Shockers in the third, MBC went to work in the fourth. Tino led of with a scorching single to right and Stuart Fairchild walked. Quinn Burcham ripped a ball to left to load the bases. Ethan Clements singled home a run and was followed by Nick Reeves who singled home another. After an out, David Becker singled home one, but the Shockers made a great throw to nip Alex Mitchell at the plate to end the scoring.

MBC tried to play add on in the fifth. Tino doubled with two out but was thrown out at home after Stuart Fairchild singled to center.

MBC did get some much needed add on runs in the sixth. Ethan singled and moved to second as the Shockers miss handled Nick Reeve's bunt. Adam Hinthorne lined out, but David Becker came through with an RBI single and was followed by Mitchell Smith's single.

The story of the night was Ethan on the mound. Battling the heat, the crowd and the number one team in the league he pitched his heart out for five innings. In the the third he even had to battle his infield as try as they might they could not seem to make just one more routine play to get him off the field. I guess the new saying is "the fourth time's the charm".

Everyday Russell tried valiantly to close the door on the Shockers, but after holding them at bay for one inning yielded to Tino to close the game out and bring the victory home.

Payback in Game #1 of State Tourney

Spencer Hogger in the ER

MBC got some payback on the Steelheads in game on of the State Tournament beating the Steelheads 9-7.

Stuart Fairchild pitched his best game ever going four and 2/3 innings fanning seven. Everyday Russell Madche closed it out and MBC moved on.

MBC broke out on top early with two runs in the second. Ethan Clements walked and moved to second on a passed ball. Nick Reeves belted a double into the gap to score Ethan and scored on Adam Hinthorne's single.

But the pesky Steelheads came back to score three in the third.

In the fifth, MBC took the lead for good with a four run inning. Adam led off with a single and the Steelheads could not get an out on David Becker's picture perfect bunt. A walk to Mitchell Smith loaded the bases for hot hitting Nick Salle who came through with a clutch single to score two.

In a just horrible moment, a pitch got away from the hard throwing Steelhead pitcher and Spencer Hogger was hit in the mouth. No teeth were lost (thankfully) and a shocked Spencer was taken to the hospital for eight stiches.

After the dust settled, Tino Peleti pouched a single to left to score two, and give MBC a lead they would hold onto.

Hits by Mitchell Smith and Nick Salle in the seventh put MBC back in business for some add on runs. Mitchell scored on Tino's infield out and after two walks Ethan and Nick Reeves each singled home a runs.

Come Back Win Against Sting Seals Play-off Bid

A hot hitting, never say die MBC team came back from a 10-3 deficit to beat the Sting and clinch a play-off bid.

It did not look good early for the MBC bunch. After taking an early 2-1 lead, MBC spotted the Sting seven runs in an ugly second inning. MBC came back with one run of their own, but allowed the Sting to add two to the score before MBC got busy and decided to come back.

In the sixth inning Adam Hinthorne started the ball rolling with one of his three hits on the night. The bases were then loaded on single by David Becker, and a walk to Ethan Clements. Adam scored as the Sting botched a double play ball, cheating at second (and being caught this time!) and throwing too late to first. Nick Salle then followed with a run producing single, Spencer Hogger walked with the bases still loaded, and Tino Peleti ended our scoring for the inning with a sacrifice fly. When the dust had settled, MBC was now down just three runs.

In the seventh, Quinn Burcham led off with a scalding single up the middle. After two quick outs things looked grim for MBC, but the Sting walked David and Ethan loading the bases again. Mitchell Smith came through with an RBI single, and Nick Salle came up with runners on second and third. Nick slashed a single to left and a scampering fleet footed Alex Mitchell never stopped running from second to tie the game.

In the seventh, Tino led off by being plunked and moved to second on Stuart Fairchild's single. Quin moved Tino to third as the Sting tried unsuccessfully to turn a double play bringing Adam Hinthorne to the plate with runners on the corners. Adam wasted no time slashing a single to right to score the go ahead run.

As MBC mounted this stunning comeback the Sting hitters were kept at bay with a surprisingly effective array of little used pitchers. Cather/Pitcher extraordinaire Mitchell Smith had put our the fire in the second and got MBC through the fourth inning. He was followed by our new middle reliever David Becker who blanked the Sting in the fifth.

The greatest surprise was Adam "Wee Man" Hinthorne taking over the game with a scoreless, one hit, three inning outing that covered the crucial sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Adam stared down a pretty good swinging Sting batting order as we tied and took over control of the game.

And he did it all in front of his shocked and bewildered Varsity pitching coach from Lakeside who had come out to watch him catch. We are all familiar with this coach, and have suspected his ability to judge pitching talent for years. In fact, his inability to notice true pitching talent when he sees it (ala Mitchell Smith just last year) is one of the many reasons for his off season firing from this team.

MBC Brings Bats and Surprise Pitching Depth on Day Two of Tourney

The bats arrived on day two and MBC won both games and knocked loudly on the door to make the final four.

Game one of the day saw MBC come back to beat the contending (a win against us put them in the top four) Timberjack team 11-10. The Timberjacks jumped out to a 8-4 lead but MBC came back hard to take them out.

Nick Reeves started and did his best to limit the hard hitting Timberjacks. Everday Russell Madche came on to battle the rest of the way throwing three gutty innings. BUT Russell (.429 for tourney) started the fire to bring the offense back with a towering home run to center to send a message to the Timberjacks AND his team.

After Russell's blast, Nick Salle single (three for this game alone) and was followed by another single from Spencer Hogger (4-4 for the game. Tino Peleti plated a another run with an infield out and Stuart Fairchild (3-4) drove in Spencer.

The Timberjacks played their own add on and in the last inning MBC came up down four runs.

David Becker led off the inning with a walk, Russell followed with a single and Mitchell Smith walked to load the bases. Nick Salle hit a ball the second baseman could not handle for one run, and Spencer singled home another. The Timberjacks walkd Tino to bring us within one run before their defense tightened up to force the tying run at the plate.

With two down, bases loaded and the winning run on second, a pinch hitting Adam "Wee Man" Hinthorne (.444 for the tourney) came up big with a clutch single to score two and keep MBC's hopes alive.

Our last game of the tourney was against FOC Gold. MBC went into the game hoping that a formula of Johnny Allstaff from the mound and a large contribution from our bats could secure another victory.

The bats came through and Johnny Allstaff was not needed. Quinn Burcham pitched a masterful no-hit game and flirted with a perfect game through three innings. Quinn walked one and beaned one to give FOC only two base runners (if you do not count the one error). Quinn did owe big, big thanks to a crazed Nick Salle in center field who twice swooped in the nap dropping line drives with diving catches.

Offensivly the bats were hot again; Spencer Hogger had two hits with a double and Adam Hinthorne had two hits as well. Nick Salle, Quinn Burcham and Russell Madche each had hits and David Becker's hit was a walk off 2 RBI single to bring Quinn's no hitter into the boat.

Tough Losses on First Day of Tourney

MBC entered the Triple Crown Fourth of July tourney, and did so on shaky ground. With two big league games the two days after the tourney, MBC had to go in with the notion of saving pitchers for AFTER the tourney. Not a great way to start a tourney run. MBC realized that their chances to win the medal were slim to none and decided to see just how far their bats could take them. And the bats were oddly silent on the first day.

In game one MBC faced a tough O'Brien team (finished in the top four). MBC lost 6-3 in a game that could have went either way.

Stuart Fairchild pitched the first two innings, and the OB team touched him up for two runs, only one earned. MBC scored in the first with a lead off double from Nick Salle (.600 for tourney) and an RBI rip from Spencer Hogger (.467 for tourney).

MBC's bats went silent while OB played limited add on against Ethan Clements (3 innings) and Russell Madche (two innings).

In the sixth, Ethan Clements singled home Spencer to get one run back, and in the seventh Nick Reeves (.375 for tourney) was singled home by Nick Salle to end MBC's scoring.

Of course this game was marred by the ejection of Coach Cougan who was tossed via an identity crisis moment. In a pleasant, cordial exchange with one of the worst two umps in baseball (the other working the plate) Coach Cougan was gone after trying to confirm that, yes, he was the head coach of Magnolia.

Game two saw MBC fall 3-2 to the Bat Company of Portland Oregon. This team is a tournament ONLY team assembled from the finest 15 year olds in or around Portland, and I am sure somehow funded by all the loose Nike money that is making Oregon the cheating capital of the sports world; just my opinion, man. The Bat Company also made the top four teams - tough draw for MBC - of the 14 teams entered we played three teams that were in contention for the top four, four if you count playing AGAINST ourselves at times!

The Bat Company jumped on a wild Nike Salle early scoring two in the first and two in the third. That was all they would get as Tino Peleti then shut them down the rest of the way.

A wilder base running Nick Salle lead off the game for MBC with another hit, but was picked off second (with a debatable call from our favorite worst umpire in the world). But MBC did score one run in what could have been a much bigger inning.

MBC tied the game in the third when Tino scored on Stuart Fairchild's (.556 for tourney) double.

Down 4-2 in the fifth Nick Salle led off with a single, and was forced out at second on a "neighborhood play*" on a ground ball up the middle from Spencer. After a walk to Tino, Spencer scored on Stuart's second hit of the night.

The game got tight in the seventh. A lead off walk to Alex Mitchell put the tying run on first. Nick Salle hit a ball that almost got through for a hit, but the Bat Co. forced Alex at second. Nick then stole second and the game got crazy. The Bat Co. intentionally walked the Tino, and then shocked the world by intentionally walking Stuart! This put the go-ahead run on second, with two outs.

But, there was no joy in Magnoliaville as the Bat Company struck out our last hitter sending us home 0-2.


* A neighborhood play is when a player "cheats" and leaves the bag early to rush a throw in hopes of a double play. There was no finer example of the actions of the "Nike Sponsored" cheating "smart, well coached) shortstop of the Bat Company.

Commish to Investigate Potential Gambling Scandal in MBC Win Over Dow

Quinn looking nervous at post game news conference answering questions about his outing

MBC's Saturday's win over Dow was tainted by speculation that big time gamblers had influenced the outcome of the game. MBC won the game 7-4, but talk was buzzing through talk radio that perhaps a member of MBC's pitching staff was shaving points.

Nick Salle was impressive throwing four innings cruising to a 7-0 margin. Nick yielded just two hits and struck out two. He was followed by Quinn Burcham who suspiciously yielded three runs on five walks, no hits involved. Immediately after the game talk was flying about whether Quinn had tanked his performance for big money coming from Vegas.

Commenting after the game Quinn said "talk of point shaving is way out of line. I knew we could win, and would win easily. What you have to understand is that I had sat out the first four innings and had not gotten any at-bats. I was worried that we would eight run this team prior to me getting a chance to swing it". And swing it he did. In his only at bat, Quinn belted a tremendous shot to center for a double.

MBC started hard and early again leading the game off with singles by Nick Salle, Alex Mitchhell, Tino Peleti and Stuart Fairchild. With one run in and the bases loaded, Mitchell Smith, Nick Reeves and David Becker all singled to make the score 5-0 MBC.

MBC played limited add on. The third inning started by Adam Hithorne walking. Mitchell Smith single him to second and he scored on Spencer Hogger's single. In the fifth Tino started thing off by being hit (after going 6-6 in his last six at bats). Russell Madche singled him to third and he scored on Ethan Clements ground out.

After Quinn made the score interesting with his suspicious outing, Russell Madche came on to put out the fire. Ever day Russell made quick work of the Dow team with no hit relief for the rest of the game.

Get Back on Bellevue

Last year in our final tournament the Bellevue Squad beat us 2-1 in the championship, and they have "gloated" over this for a year. On Friday night we finally got the chance to play them again, and it was a different story with MBC winning 13-5.

It was an impressive display, a close, hard fought back and forth game, and then it appeared Bellevue ran a bit short on pitching. At that point MBC cruised to victory.

Ethan Clements pitched great on three days rest, going three innings yielding four runs and striking out two. He had some trouble in one inning with drizzling rain. Rain seems to follow Ethan to the mound lately. Tino relieved him for and inning and two thirds and was unhittable, yielding just one hit, one run - BUT walking five. In a bases loaded jam in the sixth, Russell Madche came in and threw a magic double play ball and let the air out of the Bellevue squad.

Offensively it was Tino's night. Tino hit an RBI single in the first, and later scored on Ethan's single. Tino doubled home two in the second and hit a solo home run in the fifth and a two run homer in the sixth. That counted as a 4 - 4 night with five RBI and three runs scored.

Of course Tino had help, Ethan stayed hot with a 2-3 night with 2 RBI, Nick Reeves had two hits and Spencer Hogger, Stuart Fairchild, Quinn Burcham, Adam Hinthorne and Nick Salle added hits.

Fantastic Finish Against Mercer Island

A fire was finally lit under the overworked and overplayed MBC team last night. Playing their seventh game in seven days, MBC had to travel to Mercer Island to finish a game that was in a week long rain-delay.

The good news was MBC had a 4-2 lead and the bases loaded with only one out, the bad news was - this good fortune did not last long.

MBC was retired via two at bats to start the game and give Mercer Island a lift. That lift carried over to their half of the third as they surprised Stuart Fairchild and the groggy MBC defense with five runs to take a three run lead.

MBC tried valiantly to get some offense going as Stuart settled down and began mowing his way through the Mercer Island line-up. It wasn't until the sixth that MBC got on the board.

Quinn Burcham walked to lead things off and Spencer Hogger followed with a hit. Coach Cougan then nearly exploded in his third base coaching box when Mercer Island picked off Bubba Galush (see 14 year old write ups AND 13 year old write-ups) who had been sent in to pinch run for Quinn. After calm was restored, Ethan Clements singled and Nick Reeves walked to load the bases. A walk to Nick Salle, and a beaning of Mitchell Smith plated two runs but that was all MBC would get in the Bubba Galush shortened inning.

Down one run in the seventh MBC went to work again. David Becker reached first on a poor play by their shortstop, but was forced out at second on Stuart's ground ball to short. The good news was a hustling Stuart did avoid the double play. Stuart then stole second setting up Spencer Hogger for his Mookie Wilson moment. With two out and little hope to spare, Spencer squibbed a ball just out of the reach of the pitcher and a charging third baseman tried to make a bare handed grab and throw to first. His throw went off the first baseman and a hard running Stuart scored all the way from second to tie the game.

Spencer then stole second and all hope turned to Ethan who squared one up and drove it over the left fielder's head for a double to give MBC the lead. He was followed by Nick Reeve's double into the gap in right center for the much needed insurance run.

MBC then held their breath as Stuart went out and retired the Islander's to secure the win.

MBC Loses to Vipers

I hope to be able to write about this soon

Another Unearned Disaster, That We Earned!

As if that headline makes any sense! I guess you have to see it to understand it. Make no mistake, we are a very good team. Only a very good team could lose 10-5 to the high flying Shockers. The Shockers are a very good team, but from what I saw last night, and from what I have seen all season; we can play with anyone in this league, when we show up to play.

Last night was a tough one. We crushed some balls very well, but they either went right to Shockers, or the Shockers made Willie Mays like catches (sorry Quinn) in center field. Routine plays that we make all the time, we bumbled, but that is not, nor will not be the norm. The distressing thing I keep seeing, is when we are making mistakes, some of us still feel that we can magically make miracle throws to overcome damage that is already done. This is when the game really smacks you down.

The Shocker jumped out early, building on our mistakes and limiting us to just three hits. That was the story. We still hit the ball very well, but some nights the hits are just not there. That will even out over the year. Our defense was spotty, but that was just one night, that will not keep this team down.

I remain optimistic that this team will get to the play-offs and that Hartman Park in Redmond was built for this team - Great things are a coming - Stay pumped - Stay ready!

Quinn and Riley Shut Down Bandits

MBC played great on Monday night under the lights beating the Bandits 10-2. The game featured MBC's third contest against the pitcher they nick named "the Beast" as 13 year olds. He was a fierce as ever on the mound, but too much pitching over two years had taken its toll on his arm and he could only go two innings.

Meanwhile, Quinn Burcham was un-hittable last night, really. The Bandits had just one hit, a muffed bunt. This no-hitter flirtation was hard to notice. Quinn was so un-hittable that he walked or beaned 7 hitters in his three innings, but good defense and throwing strikes when needed kept the Bandits at bay.

Riley Duffy started out un-hittable as well throwing to both sides of the body to the first few batters he faced, but settled in nicely and threw three innings of no hit relief walking only one.

Our rusty/dusty unused gloves were finally produced last night. Two great catches in the outfield by Nick Salle and Stuart Fairchild. Nick raced deep into the darkness to run down a would be extra base hit, and Stuart made a wonderful recovery on a ball he could not pick up early to race back and stymie a Bandit rally. The play of the night belonged to Nick Reeves who back handed a sharp shot waaaay up the middle and threw immediately to a stretching Ethan Clements with a pirouette throw.

MBC started quickly against the fireball throwing Beast. Walks to Keenan Heller and Spencer Hogger set the stage for Stuart "Mr. Reliable" Fairchild's RBI single. Spencer then scored from third on Ethan's tough ground out.

Keenan stroked a two out single in the second to get things going. After a walk to Spencer, Tino Peleti clutched up with a two out single up the middle to score Keenan and chase the Beast from the game.

The hard throwing Beast was replaced by a dazzling knuckle ball pitcher that baffled the MBC hitters until Nick Salle launched an 0-2 knuckle ball into the trees in right for a big home run. Keenan followed with his second hit of the night and scored on Quinn's single.

MBC played add on in the fifth when Adam Hinthorne singled and scored on Nick Salle's second hit of the night.

In the sixth, MBC put the game away. A tiring knuckle ball pitcher walked Stuart and Quinn to start things off and their shortstop then booted a potential double play ball. That proved fatal as Nick Reeves walked to plate a run, Adam and Riley drove in runs with infield grounders and Nick Salle pounded out his third hit to give MBC a walk-off eight run mercy ending.

Life Long Friends

Above Tino and former MBC standout Campy Queen
Below, Nick Reeves and Keenan, not sure which is which


One of the best things that I have received from baseball is the lifelong friends that one makes during one's playing days. For me, it seems my closest and dearest friends are those that I played ball with over the years.

Old timers on this team may remember Coach Bishop. We met 36 years ago in the locker room at Seattle University. I, seeing Mark in baseball gear, introduced myself to Mark and began years of hearing the minutia of his life. I caught him for three years, and then a few summers after eligibility was up in the local semi-pro leagues. What a wonderful blessing to still work and see someone everyday who has a photographic memory of each and every game you played years ago.

It has also been a special treat for me this year to coach the son of a former teammate. Bill, "Billy" to me, or "Mr. X" or just "X" as he was dubbed years ago by us older wise cracking upper class men during his impressive freshman debut into college baseball.

I am lucky to have sources, deep within the rosters of old team mate parents on this club, who have pictures from the vault of these young player's early careers.

What I want to pass onto you guys for this summer is this, sometime during a game, or practice, as you are hanging in the dugout, take a good look at your teammates. Drink in the moment, pause and see your fellow teammates. Remember the moment, treasure the moment. Bond with these guys because someday, whether you stay in constant touch or simply come across one of these guys thirty years from now, remember how much fun you had together playing baseball

Bent But Not Broken

Magnolia bent Sunday at South Kitsap, but did not break. Not our best game, but MBC showed enough signs of life, defense and sticks to overcome what could have been disaster.

MBC jumped out to a 5-0 lead early against the Wolfpack only to see the lead slip through their gloves and arms. At the end of five innings MBC had given the Wolfpack five unearned runs to tie the score.

MBC used their quick start offense to get on the board early. A lead-off walk to Nick Salle was followed by a single from Spencer Hogger, a booming double by Tino Peleti and a single from Stuart Fairchild. Ethan Clements drove Tino home with hard shot to first and Nick Reeves completed the inning with a line drive single. In the second inning Spencer Hogger singled home Alex Mitchell to give MBC the 5-0 lead.

Through acts that nobody wants to hear repeated MBC found themselves tied 5-5 after five.

Ethan and Nick Reeves led off the sixth with walks as the Wolfpack decided it was time to return some of those free runs. Adam Hinthorne singled home Ethan, another run scored on a wild pitch and a third run came home as the Wolfpack's second baseman decided to throw home from a rather deep position in the infield.

MBC added one more run in the seventh after Tino doubled again and scored on a "soft single" to right by Nick Reeves.

Nick Salle battled nine Wolfpack hitters and eight fielders for three plus innings yielding just three hits to the Wolfpack and limiting his fielders to just four unearned runs. Russell Madche pitched the last four, holding the Wolfpack to just two hits and our defense to one unearned run, a remarkable job by both pitchers.

Tough Luck On Two Out Hits Sinks MBC

MBC lost to the league leading FOC Bears last night 4-1. The Bears scored two runs in the first and two runs in the sixth with a pair of two out hits. MBC scored one run in the fourth and missed a couple chances for runs by not getting two out hits. A close heartbreaking game.

Stuart Fairchild pitched as good as it gets. Five innings, five hits and seven strikeouts. He was in command all night and just missed wiggling out of a first inning jam.

Russell Madche pitched a strong sixth, but was victimized by a soft six-hole single that plated two runs.

MBC had chances. In the first they did get a two out single from Ethan Clements, but a strong throw from the Bear's left fielder caught Spencer Hogger at the plate. Ethan did get an RBI in the fourth as he drove in Spencer for real when the shortstop could not make a play on his hard grounder. MBC proceeded to strand runners on second and third in the inning giving away a strong chance to tie or take the lead. MBC threatened again in the sixth, but could not score against a strong left hander that went the distance for the Bears.

Stuart Fairchild had two hits, Mitchell Smith, Quin Burcham, Russell Madche and Riley Duffy each had one.

Bulldogs Dog MBC with Unearned Runs

Well, we have flirted with bad defense and walks before and got away with it, last night against a good hitting Bulldog team we were not as lucky. Seven UNEARNED RUNS in a 8-7 loss, ouch.

It was not like the Bulldogs were not trying to give us the game. They matched us head to head in the walk department, seven per team. They begged us to end it early, but we refused. After four innings we held a 7-1 lead, two runs from going home.

But reminiscent of last years Kirkland Merchant disappointment, we let a team stay with us, and we let their number nine hitter become a hero with a two out, two run single in the bottom of the seventh.

One of the things I like about baseball is that you are never out of a game. No matter what the deficit, the other team still has to get three outs to end the game. Well we saw the bad side of this great game of baseball and hopefully learned more tonight that we will all year.

The Bulldogs held our big bats at bay for the most part. Tino Peleti, Mitchel Smith each had hits and Riley Duffy and Adam Hintorne both had two hits. Adam "wee man" belted a huge double and had two RBI.

MBC Hitters Continue to Roll

MBC beat the Born to Play team 15-4 on Sunday morning in Sumner. As on Friday night MBC came out hot and scored an amazing 11 runs in the first inning putting the game out of reach early.

Russell Madche was the recipient of the wonderful support and proceeded to cruise his way through four innings on the mound. Riley Duffy finished them off with a nice fifth inning and the boys were free for the day.

Mitchell Smith started the game off innocently enough with a routine ground ball to short. As a sign of a team in some distress, their shortstop booted the play, and it was all down hill for them after that. Alex Mitchell laced a single to right, and then the hit parade started. Stuart Fairchild, Quin Burcham, Nick Reeves and Adam Hinthorne followed with singles, Russell walked and Riley Duffy, Nick Salle, Mitchell Smith, Alex Mithchell, Stuart and Quinn followed with hits, Stuart's being a booming double.

When the dust had settled MBC had recorded eleven hits, Alex, Stuart and Quinn had each had a two hit inning and MBC had the win in their back pocket. Quinn and Stuart finished the day with three hits each, and the Mitchell twins, Alex and Smitty each had two hits.

That aside, the highlight of the day was the use of MBC's secret weapon against roster erosion, thirteen year old Cole Burcham. Cole played three error less innings at first and scorched a single in his only at bat. His success made coach Cougan wish that Robbie "Smeagle" Salle had suited up for the game.