The HENDRICKSON Family: Silas

THUNDER

Thunder Struck! Coach Kyle, Coach Spencer, and I along with a new coaching addition, Swanson, are coaching machine pitch baseball again this year. We have a good group of kids, about half were on the team last year and the other half are new.

Our team, THUNDER, back row left to right, Coach Swanson, Coach Eric, Coach Kyle, and Coach Spencer. Next row, Silas, Owen, Knova, and Isaac. Next row, Brodie, Keagan, Alex Front row, Daxton, Kale, Brodie, Ryan

Game one vs. Haysville 2 - May 10th

We had our first game against another Haysville team. This other Haysville team had a few kids from our football team playing on it.

Silas didn't smash the ball but he did have a ground ball down the third base line for a double and a pop up to the shortstop. He also caught a ball for an out at first base. Silas will be playing a lot of pitcher and first base this year.

Popee and Nanee made a last minute decision to come watch. They got to see a fast paced game that ended in a 1-0 victory.

Game two vs. Clearwater 1 - May 12th rescheduled May 18th, rescheduled again to June 3rd

Clearwater usually has good teams and this team was pretty good. I only made the first hour of this game because I had to get Sarah and Kenna to South Haven (45 minutes away) for an 8pm game. We were down 4-1 when I left. We made it close at 5-4 before finally losing 8-4. Our hitting was not where it should be.

Game three vs. Haysville 3 - May 17th

We played against a Haysville team that is coached by a guy that I have coached against in basketball previously. I was excited to play and beat this team.

Silas had a great night at the plate, but not so much in the field.

Stacee was able to watch part of this game via Facetime, thanks to Sarah, while she was riding in the car with her parents.

The game was back and forth for the lead. We were down 6-7 in the last inning until Silas came to the plate. He hit a hard ground ball to right center field. They threw the ball in when Silas was approaching third base. The shortstop overthrew the third baseman (the shortstop should have either thrown in to the catcher or pitcher because Silas was already to third base) and Silas scored. Silas also had a hard hit line drive to centerfield for a double and a hard ground ball to left field for a double. This was a great game and a great win. We won 8 - 7.

Game four vs. Rose Hill 2 - May 19th rescheduled to June 18th (last game of the season due to reschedule)

What should have been the fourth game of the year ended up being our last game of the year. It was another nail biter.

Silas hit each of his three times at bat. Nothing was real hard, but he made good contact.

That is a good looking swing!

Silas played pitcher and first base. Our defense made two very important plays, both at pitcher. With bases loaded and two outs, Isaac caught a short pop fly. It was very similar to how we ended the last game. In a later inning with bases loaded and one out, Silas caught a hard line drive that was at his shoe tops. He ran to first base to get the double play. Had it not been for these plays, we would have lost the game.

Silas with his buddies Owen, Isaac, and Knova at the end of the game.

The final score was a tie, 6-6. We should have played another inning, but the ump called the game. I did go up to him jokingly and threw my hat at his feet. He then jokingly threw me out of the game. It was a funny way to end the season.

Since it was our last game and we had everyone there, we took a team picture:

Coaches (left to right): Me, Coach Kyle, Coach Spencer, and Coach Swanson

Players 2nd Row (left to right): Knova, Owen, Isaac, Silas

Players Front Row (left to right): Ryan, Alex, Brodie, Noah, Kale, Keagan, Daxton

Game five vs. Mulvane 3 - May 24th

Stacee wasn't able to make it to this game so we had no pictures. Silas is likely done for the season due to a broken finger. Silas is our best player, so it is a big loss. He now gets to help coach and motivate the players. The boys didn't need Silas tonight as all but two of the kids hit the ball. When I say hit the ball, I mean more than just making contact with the ball. The boys were hitting the ball hard. Several were hit into the outfield for extra base hits. I was very excited to see this. We won 9 - 1.

Game six vs. Mulvane 1 - May 26th

We played another Mulvane team tonight in Haysville. We only had 6 players, which is the minimum you can have to play the game. We didn't smash the ball like we did the other night, but we did hit enough to squeak out a 3-2 win. The defense was great, especially from Brodie and Owen. We had another walk off win. Very exciting.

Game seven vs. Rose Hill 1 - June 2nd

We started off very slowly and didn't have a hit through 3 innings. We made it close in the last two innings but lost 4-3. Rose Hill had a bad pitching machine that threw slow, lob balls. The kids were not used to hitting this type of pitch and it took them awhile to adjust. We did make some great plays on defense, Brodie hit the ball, and Noah was focused the entire game so there were some big positives that came from this game.

Game eight vs. Mulvane 2 - June 4th

This was our third game of the week and we had lost our previous 2 games due to a lack of hitting. We again did not hit well and lost 8-1. Typically teams get better at hitting as the year progresses. We instead have gotten worse.

Game nine vs. Douglass - June 7th

Coach Spencer and I were not able to make it to this game. I was coaching the 14u softball team in an adjacent field, so Coach Kyle took the lead and Coach Swanson recruited his dad to help coach. Silas was also in the dugout to help encourage. I heard it was another game where we didn't hit well. Ending score was 3-0. After 4 straight wins to start the season, we have now had 4 straight losses.

Game ten vs. Clearwater 2 - June 9th

Stacee wasn't able to make it to this game. Since I was focused on coaching, I forgot to take any pictures. Tonight was a game that we all needed. We had lost four in a row and haven't been hitting the ball. Coupled with the struggles on my 14u softball team, this has been the only time I can recall in my 7 years of coaching that I really have doubted my coaching effectiveness. We came out scoring five runs in the first inning. After going scoreless in the 2nd inning, we scored another 4 runs in the 3rd inning. The boys were hitting the ball hard and focusing while on defense. I was very pleased with how we played. The game was called after the third inning due to time. We won 9-7. As has happened in the past in Clearwater, the fans complained and I had some back and forth discussion with them from the dugout. Never a dull night in Clearwater. Very exciting to win this game and to bringing positive momentum into next week which is our final week of games.

Game eleven vs. Mulvane 4 - June 14th

Another game Stacee wasn't there and another game I forgot to take pictures. Tonight was the best game of the year and the best offensive performance I have had from a team in my time coaching. Our team scored 21 runs in 5 innings. We had two five run innings (maximum runs per inning) where we didn't even have an out against us in the inning. The hits were hit hard to the outfield. I was very impressed. We also played smart in the field and made some defensive plays. The team is playing like the team I expected it to be at the start of the year. We won 21-10. We have two more games this week to finish the season. I am hoping Silas can play in the last one.

Grandma Sharon was unable to make it to the game because she was at Goddard watching Sarah play basketball. Above is a picture of us after the game when we met them at the basketball court.

Game twelve vs. Haysville 2 - June 16th

Silas got his cast off today and was given the ok by the doctor to play.

Silas was a little rusty on the field and at the plate but did hit every time up to bat. He had a few ground ball singles and a looping liner to right center field for a single.

You can see the tape on his hand where we had to tape the healed pinky to the "buddy" finger for protection.

This was an exciting game. We quickly went up 3-0 and then our bats went cold. We had a horrible defensive inning where we gave up 5 runs, so we were down 5-3 in the 4th inning. We scored 3 runs and were up 1 run going into the last inning. The other team got the bases loaded with 2 outs. They scored on a ground ball to the shortstop so the game was tied. The next batter hit a pop-up to the pitcher for the final out. We tied 6-6. This was against another Haysville team so we knew the coaches and several of the players.

Things got a little heated between one of the assistant coaches for the other team and myself. This was following a play Silas made in the last inning to run down a runner and tag him out at second base. The runner should have been called out and instead was safe and able to advance to the next base. We worked it out so that the runner was safe but had to go back to the previous base. There were no hard feelings after the game. We are now 6-4-1 so we are guaranteed a winning season.

End of the Season Party - June 18th

After our game in Rose Hill, we went to Braums for the end of season celebration and awarding medals.

Coaches (left to right): Me, Coach Kyle, Coach Spencer, and Coach Swanson

Players 2nd Row (left to right): Knova, Owen, Isaac, Silas

Players Front Row (left to right): Ryan, Alex, Brodie, Noah, Kale, Keagan, Daxton

All the kids got an ice cream except for a few that got fries. We then went outside to award the medals.

I thanked the kids, parents, and coaches for their efforts. I did let them know I was undecided on what I would be doing next year for kid pitch (staying in the rec league or going to the Southwest Boys Club). I tied in the original (4) expectations for the season and how they apply to everything you do:

1. Respect, 2. Good Attitude, 3. 100% Effort, 4. Safety