Phoebe - Softball 2020

Phoebe's softball team had a few returning players from last year and a few new girls this season.  Coach Kaitlyn's husband, Caleb, joined them to help coach this season too.  The girls had a shortened season due to the Corona Virus...about half the practices and only six games.  The league also decided to combine the 10u and 8u teams for our town to give each team a few more teams to play against.  (Normally we would have played other surrounding towns, but due to the Corona Virus the league stipulated that each town still holding softball and baseball would only be playing amongst themselves.) They made the most of their practices and worked hard on hitting and throwing.  One practice they started to work on learning to slide.

Game #1 - June 18th

Phoebe's first game of the season was against an 8u team.  Our team showed up ready to play, especially our girls who had all played last year.

Phoebe played shortstop and leftcenter.

She hit well at each at bat, one double and two singles.

We won this game 6 to 4.

Game #2 - June 23rd

This game was against another 8u team.  Phoebe hit very well hitting all singles and doubles at every at bat.  She ran hard around the bases scoring each time for her team.

Our team won 20 to 0.  Way to play girls!

Game #3 - June 25th

This was our first game against the other 10u team.  We started out strong, hitting and making some good plays in the field.

Phoebe had three at bats during this game, one double and two singles, helping her team to score some runs.

Phoebe made a great play at shortstop.  She stopped a hard hit ball and made great throw to first to get the out.

 She also got to play the pitcher position during this game and was able to throw two girls out at first base.

We ended up losing this game by one run.  Disappointing, but Phoebe played very well.

One of the girls' favorite teachers came to watch them play this game.

Game #4 - June 30th

This was our second time to play this 10u team.  The girls and their fans really were hoping for the win tonight.

Phoebe played excellent again tonight.  Head in the game, knowing where to throw the ball to get the outs and hitting at every at bat to score her teammates and herself.  Unfortunately, they were unable to pull out the win and ended this game in a tie.

Game #5 - July 7th

This was our second time to play this 8u team.

Again, Phoebe played hard.  She hit singles and a double.  And, she played shortstop and left center.  Shortstop is her favorite position to play.

We were able to win this game 11-1.

Game #6 - July 9th

Last game of the season...and our second time to play the other 8u team.

For this final game, Phoebe hit two doubles and a single.  She was on fire!

She ran hard and fast around the bases and played with confidence.

We won this game 11-0.

Phoebe was the only player on her team this season to hit at EVERY at bat.  She did NOT strike out once and she was NOT thrown out at any base.  She was reliable and consistent for her team. She played hard and had her head in the game.  The coaches knew that they could count on her in the field and at the plate. (Full Mommy heart!)

The team members each received a medal after the game.  Coach Kaitlyn had some nice things to say about each player.

Above back row, left to right, Coach Caleb, Abigail, Phoebe, Regan, Haylee, Coach Nicole, Amelia, Coach Kaitlyn, and Anna.  Front row, left to right, Caidence, Alexis, Annalee, Katie, Bella, and Shawna

Above, four friends, Shawna, Abigail, Phoebe, and Haylee.

Silas - Baseball 2020

** Guest Blogger **

Eric Hendrickson

Unfortunately with this coronavirus we have a shortened machine pitch baseball season.  Thankfully, we are having a season as some surrounding towns are not having one at all.  We will only be playing other Haysville teams and will actually be playing some older boys from 10u as they were combined with machine pitch.

I have a number of boys I had from last year plus some new faces that are friends of Silas's from his school.

We started one practice with learning to slide.  Silas did the demonstration for me and didn't do the best.  He is a pretty good slider though.

After three weeks of three practices a week, we were ready for our first game.

Game #1 - June 18th

1st game.  The boys are pumped and ready to go.  These were the first three to arrive for our double header, Silas Tyson, and Isaac.

Silas has a great swing and his hitting was on showcase this evening.

Silas ended up with two home runs, one a line drive to left center and the other a line drive to right field.  We won the game 4-1.  Good start to the season.

Game #2 - June 18th

The second game was against the same team.

The fans are getting a little bit rowdy.

You see I am coaching first base and not running the pitching machine.  Instead, due to the coronavirus, they were having the umpire run the machine.  The umpire had never ran a machine before and plunked (6) batters.  I talked to the commissioner afterwards and asked if the coaches could go back to running the machine.  He told me the next day it would change to coaches pitching.

Another coronavirus change is there is no "good game" handshakes at the end of the game.  Instead, we stand from a distance and tip our hats.  We won the game 3-2.

Game #3 - June 22nd

Tonight we played a 10u team so the boys are a few years older and bigger than us.

I am back to running the machine.
Silas reminds me of Albert Pujols (great hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Angels) when up to bat.

Silas mainly plays 1st, Pitcher, and Catcher.

 Below, Owen on third, after his big hit - triple...smiling.

 Below - Silas's HUGE hit!

Silas had the hardest hit of the night.  He smashed a line drive by the 3rd baseman.  The 3rd baseman stuck out his glove, jumped a little, and made a great catch.  Silas also struck out at one at bat.  Our boys lost 1-6 but I was super happy with how they played.  They hit the ball well and played well in the field.  Unfortunately, the older boys made some good plays in the field for outs.

Game #4 -

We played another 10u team this evening.

Silas had a strikeout his first at bat but had two foul balls.  The second at bat he had a ground ball to the shortstop for an out.

He has a great looking swing!

Silas played pitcher, shortstop, catcher, and first base.

Silas likes to run down baserunners and got one out trying to make it to homeplate.

This wasn't one of our better games, but we did play ok.  We lost 7-1

There are no team pictures (professional photographer) this year so we took one after the game.  Top row left to right, Coach Spencer, Coach Kyle, Coach Eric, and Coach Jayme.  Middle row, left to right, Deklan, Silas, Knova, Elliott, Owen, and Isaac.  Front row, left to right, Layton, Alex, Daxton, and Tyson.

Game #5 - July 6th

The boys had their best game hitting tonight.  Everyone joined in the action.  One of the boys had not had a hit all year and had two hits tonight.

Silas had a hard hit grounder to center field for a bases loaded triple.  He also had a ground ball to the pitcher that resulted in a single and hard ground ball to shortstop for a single.  We had two innings were we scored 4 runs (maximum per inning) and one where we scored 3.



We won 11-2.  All the kids wore masks in the dugout, as "enforced" by the HAC.

Game #6 - July 8th

Tonight was the last game of the year and we might have saved our best for last.  I believe every boy had a hit tonight and we won 11-1.


Silas had a hard ground ball to center field for a double, a hard ground ball to the shortstop for a single, and a ground ball to left field for a single.  Silas only got out a few times this year.

Alex, who had not had a hit all year until he had two hits his last game ended the season with five straight hits.  I was very happy with how he and his brother Daxton played this year.  I really enjoyed the players and coaches this year and hope to have them all back (except those that age out) next year.