AllStar Action

The Hidden Valley Lake All-Star Game was played yesterday (shown in pic, Paxton and a Rockets co-rep for the Ohio AllStars). And even with some pretty impressive storms making their way through the complex (causing a few delays)... it was a great day. This is the 5th or 6th year we've been treated to having at least one KelleyBoy chosen to represent his respective level of AllStars. And It was a great day.

Given the make-up of this year's new 'mega league' (including teams from ALL OVER), the teams were split into the 'Indiana AllStars' vs. the 'Ohio AllStars'. These events are always great... team / player introductions, National Anthem (complete with VERY dramatic rolling thunder from the approaching storms), lots of 'production'.

The Ohio AllStars scored first. And over the next 4 innings, the teams would leapfrog one another... 1-0, 1-2, 3-2... until it was all tied up at 4-apiece. The Indiana AllStars had the final say based on the merit of a pretty amazing (and LEGITIMATE) grand slam. Final score: Indiana 8, Ohio 4.

The game was followed by a HomeRun Derby. And with a twist of pretty delicious irony (given how the game itself was ultimately decided by a longball), the Ohio AllStars would walk-away victors in the HR Derby. Awesome!

Again... it was a very entertaining day. Congratulations to Paxton for his first-ever selection to an AllStar team --- goodness knows you earned it). Proud of you, buddy! Thanks for a great afternoon at the park.

Regular Season Wrap-Up

Beautiful, sunny & HOT day for baseball this past Saturday. Four games to report on.

Griffin's Dodgers: Going up against the Westside Bulldogs, the Dodgers traded blows throughout the game. The lead changed more times than I could tell you. In the end, the Bulldogs came out on top. But it was truly a great game. Griffin caught a super game, walked, scored a run, and took a pitch to the head (but the best place to hit a KelleyBoy and NOT hurt them is in fact the skull).

Paxton's Rockets: The unfortunate task of drawing the league-leading Harris Motors BBA to close the season was at the hands of the Rockets today. The outcome was not in favor of the Rockets. But Paxton had an awesome hit and delivered his usual stellar performance in the field.

Duncan's Heat: The season started with the Harrison Hawks, and that's how it would close. The first match between these two teams would not be the Heat's proudest moment of a very long season. But with a sense of poetic revenge... the Heat trailed the vast majority of this season-closing game, only to come back in the end and grab victory! Woooo! Fantastic fielding by Duncan!

Holden's Highlanders: One of the Hidden Valley Lake teams (not sure which one, to be honest) came to town today. And while the game remained competitive throughout the first 3 frames... HVL tore it open later in the game and went home to Indiana the victors. Holden was the Highlanders first player to get on base, and scored their first run too. Great fielding on his part as well.

Winding It Down

As the regular season nears completion (things are supposedly required to be wrapped up by end of this weekend - although with all the rainouts thru-out the season still needing to be made up, hard to imagine), another couple games to report on from last night.

Holden's Highlanders faced-off against the Sparx. This one got off to a rough start. With Holden struggling mightily on the mound (see pic) --- he just couldn't seem to find his stuff --- the Highlanders found themselves down 8-3 by end of the 4th inning. Holden, just as he seemed to be hitting his groove, had to be pulled from the game because of reaching his pitch-count. However, the Highlanders bats came to life and by the middle of the 7th inning everything was tied at 10-apiece. Holden had one of the nicest hits I've seen him get all season. And all the boys seemed to 'find it' as they fought their way back into the game. Unfortunately, the Sparx plated one final run during their last at bat. Final score: Sparx 11, Highlanders 10. Tough break, guys.

Cameron is out of town this week. I'm only aware his Heat played twice in the past few days. I'm not even sure who they played against. The Heat won 7-0 this past Sunday. And they came up short last night, 6-5. Hurry back, Cameron. Miss ya, bud.

Take The Good w/ The Bad

Three games last night. Each came with their own highlights.

Griffin's Dodgers fell short to the crew from Jaeger. However... CONGRATULATIONS to the Dodgers for being the first team all season to score more than 10 runs on the undefeated Jaeger boys. Quite the feat! Griffin caught the game. Also, while at bat... he got one walk and then got on base again for his troubles --- taking a shot to the ribs that's bound to leave a mark. Way to take one for the team, buddy!

Paxton's Rockets resumed a game (started last week, only to be halted thanks to weather) against the Sunman (IN) Indians. Losing in the end, the Rockets really did play a very good game. And the boys all actually walked away heads held high, knowing they had given a VERY good team a run for their money. And Paxton is still riding pretty high on the recent announcement of his selection to this year's AllStar Team. Way to go, Pax!

Holden's Highlanders fell to the Mack Fire team. This Mack team totally obliterated the Highlanders earlier in the season. But last night's game was MUCH more competitive, with a final score differential of only 8 runs. The really good news of the evening for the Highlanders... they learned prior to the start of the game they had already qualified for this year's City Tournament. Excellent work, Holden! Hard work pays off. Really. Proud of you, dude.

AllStar News (and.. more rain)

Congratulations to Paxton for being named to his first AllStar Team!!! It's been a rough season for Paxton and the Rockets. But true to how he goes about anything he puts his mind to... he's gone out there every time and given it his all (which has been consistently terrific). Paxton keeps alive the now 5-year-running stretch of having at least one KelleyBoy named to his respective AllStar Team. Way to go, Pax! We're all very proud of you.

As for the weather... UGH! We're coming into the final week of the season. And hard as that is to believe, we've still got a LOT of games to get in. This morning's 'rogue' showers that made their way through the area have now put us ANOTHER 4 games in the hole. It's gonna be a VERY hectic / busy next 7 or 8 days.

Double Ouch

Duncan's Heat took two shots to the chin this evening (at the hands of the Westside Sharks, complete with a few players who looked old enough to drive home from the game themselves --- and in 'B' ball when the players aren't supposed to be older than 13, certain things just kinda stand out).

Game #1: This one was anybody's game in the bottom of the 6th inning. While at bat in the final part of the game, the Heat plated their first run of the evening to draw within 1 of the Sharks. Unfortunately, that's how the game ended. Final score: Sharks 2, Heat 1. Duncan went 1 for 2 and got a base on balls too. Also... he handed in a steady defensive performance at 2nd base.

'Game #2': Picking up a game that had been stopped in progress earlier this season... after 5 innings, the Heat was knotted up with the Sharks, 6-all. So, following tonight's first game, both teams took the field with all elements as they had been that earlier night (however many weeks ago). The Heat came to the plate first and were unable to push any runs across. And then, just like that (if you blinked, you maybe even missed it)... the Sharks got one run in. Final score: Sharks 7, Heat 6.

Heads up high, Heat. Look at it this way, boys... you held your own in a couple of games against several kids who are very possibly pondering entering their Freshman year in high school this coming fall. Be proud.

Half-N-Half

Cameron's Heat took on Our Lady of Victory today. After a TON of rain last night and a pretty crumby morning of weather, we ended up with yet another beautiful day for baseball (perhaps Ruth was in the the mood to enjoy some baseball today).

Game #1 - This one got to the 5th inning knotted at 5-apiece. When the Heat came up to bat in the their half of the frame, they exploded for 6 runs. The Heat then managed the final 2 innings to ring up an 11-8 win. Cameron had a fantastic game. Going 2 for 2 at the plate, and getting on base a total of 4 times (one from catcher's interference, one by taking a walk)... Cameron had 1 RBI, scored two runs and nailed a Victory boy trying to steal 2nd Base with a killer throw from behind the plate. Excellent game, Cameron!

Game #2 - Through five innings, all was tied up at 3-apiece. And while I'm not often one to 'cry foul'... this one was determined by the umpires. An AWFUL display of confusion at third base... a Victory boy was clearly out trying to make it to third. The field ump called him 'safe' while the plate ump called him 'out'. The plate ump has the power to over-rule the field ump... and today, for whatever reason, the plate ump (who had called the boy 'out') conceded and allowed the field ump (who's vantage point was blocked by a body) to have final say. Next Victory kid up to bat knocked that very kid on third across the plate. And that brought things to the eventual final score: Victory 4, Heat 3. Cameron played about half the game in right field. Cameron... keep your head. Don't let a call like that (no matter how bad it was) get to you.

In Memory Of...

No baseball today. The day was spent honoring the memory of Ruth Ellis. The boys will miss their Mawmaw --- very, very much. Rest in peace, Ruth.

Beautiful Evening For Baseball!

Three more games this evening. And what a beautiful evening it was.

Duncan's Heat throttled the Friar's Club. In one of those 'total team' performances, the Heat enjoyed themselves while rolling on to an 11-4 victory. Duncan split his time this evening playing 2nd Base, Left Field and Right Field. Great game, Heat! Way to go, Duncan!

Holden's Highlanders hit the road out to Hidden Valley, IN to meet up with the Bandits. In a fairly uncharacteristically flat outing, the Highlanders fell short of the finish line. Holden spent his evening manning 2nd Base and Shortstop. Too bad, Highlanders. Holden, as always... great game. Get 'em next time.

Cameron's Heat went to Green Hills to face the Pioneers. Going into the game, all had been advised this is a very good team. And they were. But!... the Heat, while needing extra innings to do it, came home with a 3-2 victory. Cameron caught a terrific game. He only got one at-bat... and managed to pop-up a bunt higher than I think I've ever seen a bunt go before. Yeah... maybe the third base coach will think twice before giving Cameron the 'bunt' sign again. :) All in all, great game, Cameron!

Tuesday, June 8th

Three games to report on...

Griffin's Dodgers played a 'marathon' 3hr game against the Friar's Club. The Dodgers took the Friars the distance, but landed on the wrong side of a 10-3 outcome.

Paxton's Rockets manned-up to the Covedale Storm. Pax had a great game in the field... including a fairly acrobatic catch in CenterField with the clear thinking of firing the ball into 2nd Base to double-up the runner. Rockets lose, 6-3.

Cameron's Heat played a team from Norwood. The Heat prevailed, 10-5. Cameron went 1 for 4, with an RBI and scored a run himself. He also made the last out of the game, blocking homeplate and tagging out one of the Norwood boys.

Full Weekend!!!

Two birds with one stone... it's Sunday evening and this update is for the whole weekend. Starting with yesterday (Saturday)...

Paxton's Rockets FINALLY got their first win of the season. I've been saying (and saying and saying...) these boys have been 'right there' for a LOT of the season. And this was the game. Paxton has a great game... 1 for 1 at the plate, scored a run, snagged a line drive while manning shortstop. The Rockets handed the Oak Hills Jr Highlanders a loss to the tune of 7-4. Way to go, Paxton! Great stuff.

Griffin's Dodgers met up with the Delhi Eagles. Griffin struggled at the plate, going 0 for 2. He also caught and delivered his usual strong performance. Too bad... the Dodgers were no match for the Eagles. Final score: Eagles 13, Dodgers 3. I have to tell you though, Griffin still hasn't really stopped grinning since that great win earlier this past week. Keep smiling, buddy. Next chance is coming up soon.

Duncan's Heat squared-up with the West End Pirates. Duncan's team is in their first year of 'B' ball. And they've been giving 'B2' teams their money's worth most of the season. Yesterday, the good guys prevailed. Duncan will tell you it wasn't his best game. But, a tough outing at the plate aside, Duncan was solid at second base and in right field. AND, Duncan was the one to ultimately put a tag on one unfortunate Pirate caught in a pickle. Stick with it, Duncan! Way to run him down.

Holden's Highlanders were in for a long one yesterday. They ended up playing almost 2 full games against the Bond Hill Bluejays. The first game went extra innings (and, truthfully, was won and lost by BOTH teams half a dozen times in the final 3-or-so innings). Final for the first game: Bluejays 17, Highlanders 16. A little background... we were cleared from a field last week due to a pretty wicked thunder & lightning storm. It happened to be against the SAME Bluejays we played yesterday, so the plan was to pick-up THAT game (as it stood at time of being suspended this past week) following the regularly scheduled game. So after a very long extra-innings contest, both teams once again took the field. The Highlanders were down, 3-2, top of the fourth inning when we started. Over the next several innings, ALL the Highlanders got in on the action and DESTROYED the Bluejays. Final score: Highlanders 13, Bluejays 2. Holden had an amazing day... all told (both games) 4 for 4 at the plate with 1 single, a bunt, 2 (TWO) 3-RBI doubles, a walk, 4 runs scored. Additionally, Holden delivered a total of 4 strong innings throwing off the mound and spent the balance of his time manning third base with some great fielding plays. Great day, Holden! Way to go.

And then today, Sunday...

Cameron's Heat pretty much sleepwalked through their first of two games against the Lawrenceburg Tigers. At the end of it, the Heat would suffer their first shut-out of the season... losing 7-0. In game 2, the Heat didn't really have much more to say. They did manage to plate 1 run. Final score: Tigers 10, Heat 1. Cameron had a very solid day catching and going 3 for 5 at the plate. Cameron... dude, this is WHY we sometimes need short memories. Get over it, forget it and move on. Couple of games coming up this week waiting for the Heat to get back on the right track. Get 'em, buddy!

Lastly --- CONGRATULATIONS to the Cincinnati Elder Panthers. Falling short this afternoon in the 2010 Ohio State Championship game, the Panthers recorded a 27-5 record this season. Great season, and state runners-up. Outstanding, Elder. Way to go!!!

Uh-ONE, Uh-TWO... (In Memory of Harry Caray)

(imagine Harry Caray calling games out west @ Chavez Ravine...) Dodgers Win! Dodgers WIN!! DODGERS WIN!!!

Griffin's Dodgers put their first win of the season in the books this evening. And, yes... we're all well aware of the fact it's June. But play along, will ya? The Dodgers faced, for the second time this season, the Cincinnati Browns. The game see-sawed throughout the first couple innings. But the Dodgers seized control over the final two innings and sent the Browns packing with a 16-12 beat down. Griffin caught a great game (see him in the pic, sizing up the competition during pre-game) --- also contributing a couple stolen bases and 1 run scored to an overall GREAT game by the entire Dodgers team. Griffin... I told you, buddy... keep going out there and giving it your best. Good things will happen.

Paxton's Rockets travelled (once again... and I'm beginning to seriously ponder to whom I should submit the gas voucher, cuz the traveling with this particular team has been a bit outta control this season) to Hidden Valley this evening. Paxton had a very good night. Excellent fielding, solid hitting, a run scored... he had himself a solid outing. However, when all was said and done, the Rockets ended up on the short end of a 12-2 final score. Pax... I PROMISE!, keep giving it your all and something's gonna give. It's... just... GOT TO! Proud of you, buddy. Keep up the good work.

Cameron's Heat rolled the team from Springdale Cleaners this evening. Cameron was his usual solid self behind the plate. He struggled a bit at the plate this evening (making great contact, but couldn't BUY a legit hit to save his life). Tonight's success resulted from a great team effort... some pretty awesome pitching, plenty of good hits, etc. Springdale never really had a chance. Final score: Heat 12, Springdale 3.

Good, Better, Best

This evening's good news was that the Franklin County Wildcats had to come to OUR part of the midwest for a game against Paxton's Rockets (instead of the other way around, and we have logged more than our fair share of miles to Indiana this season). The better news tonight was, while getting destroyed by the Wildcats just a week ago (18-0 in just two innings), the Rockets took 'em for the full ride this evening. The Wildcats prevailed, 7-0. But, considering 3 of those runs came on errors, Paxton and the Rockets have a lot to feel good about. They even shut-down the Wildcats, holding them scoreless, for the last three innings. This evening's best news... Paxton had a stellar game. The Rockets only had 2 base hits this evenings and one of them was a charge Paxton sent to right field. Paxton also took a fastball to the back, shook it off and ultimately made his way around to third base before that inning was ended. And lastly, Pax caught an awesome game. Running things from behind the dish, he got pretty beat up this evening. And at game's end, he was the first to bounce up and start talking about the next game. He's a tough one to keep down. Be proud, Pax! You did great tonight.