Mudcats vs. Thunder April 26

I think I will be posting a lot more now that it's baseball season!!


Thomas was catcher at his game last night. Being catcher in a Farm league game is like being a duck in a shooting gallery. The pitching machine launches the balls at you, and you try not to get hit by the high velocity balls or the unpredictable batters. He did very well, though, and was getting to where he'd throw off the helmet, jump on the plate, and yell for the ball.

Opening Day 2010

Opening day at last! I was at the ball field ALL DAY on Saturday. George had to work, so it was just me and the kids. James had pictures at 7:30 am, Thomas had pictures at 9:00, opening ceremony was at 10:30, Thomas' first game was at 1:00, and James' game was at 3:30. The kid giving James bunny ears is Jordan Nuich, the coach's son. His brother Logan is in pictures with Thomas later in the blog.
James is in Major league this year. Since there is only one Major boys team, they decided to have them be the Jr. Raiders instead of the A's. Several other teams are Jr. Raiders also, the boys Juniors league team, Becky's junior girls softball team, one of the minor girls softball teams, one of the Major girls softball teams, that's a lot of junior raiders!! So they didn't have time to make enough hats for everyone, so the Major boys have A's hats with their Jr. Raiders shirts. (the Burney school team mascot is the Raiders for elementary and the Jr/Sr high)
James has Mark Nuich as his coach again this year, who was his coach for Minors and for All Stars last year. He is a great coach, and the team is looking really solid this year.

Opening Day 2010

James and Thomas with Thomas' friend Logan. Logan is in Thomas' class, but is much taller!
His dad is James' coach Mark, and his mom Brenda is in charge of the concession stand, and is PTA president.

I was trying to get a good picture of James and Thomas, but James keeps glowing.

Opening Day 2010

Thomas getting ready for pictures, trying out smiles.

Thomas' team is the Mudcats again this year.
He is spending one more year down in Farm league, then he will move up to minors next year.
Thomas would have moved up this year, but they didn't have enough kids to fill a second team. The good thing is, now he's the best player on the team :)


The Mudcats coach is Lani Estes and her husband Jason, who leads the Royal Rangers class which Thomas and James go to every Sunday night at the Assembly of God Church. Becky goes to Missionettes.


Thomas wanted a picture of his friend Travis, so I have a picture of them standing in line.

Opening Day 2010

Opening ceremony. The teams are lined up on the field and each child is introduced by name, then the VFW honor guard came out with the flags. We did the pledge of allegiance, then 4 Major girl softball players sang the national anthem.
All the teams are on the field except the Junior league, which Becky is in. The junior boys and junior girls haven't even started practicing yet, they don't have their uniforms yet, and Becky's coach was at his daughters wedding Saturday. He is also the high school coach, and their season is just finishing up. Becky spent the day working in the concession stand.

Opening Day 2010

Thomas at bat, then running to second base (I couldn't get a good shot of him running to first, the base coach was in the way). Then some the pictures of Thomas playing third base.

Opening Day 2010

Thomas at bat. I was trying to catch him swinging the bat, and I finally did in the last picture.

Opening Day 2010

James is playing center field this year. He does a great job. When the ball hits the grass, James is always chasing it down. He gets to balls in left and right field just as quickly as the other outfielders, and he also backs up the second baseman whenever he leaves the base.
I got a picture of him running up to bat, and a picture of him batting, and a picture of him on second after he stole there from first.

Opening Day 2010

James loves to steal bases. I followed him around with the camera as he stole from second to third, then stole home. Unfortunately, he was tagged out at the plate this time, but still he did a great job.

Baseball season

Baseball practice started last week for the boys. James is in Major league this year, and practices Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5-7:30 pm (weather permitting). Thomas stayed in Farm league, because there weren't enough kids to make a second minor team this year. He practices Mondays and Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00. Rebecca is in Junior league softball, but hasn't started practicing yet because her coach is also the High school coach, and he is finishing up with their season. Becky also joined Jr. high track this year, so she is supposed to practice today from 3:30 to 5, but I think her practice and James' practice might be called today because it snowed last night...Although they might have track practice in the gym...Opening day and pictures are all this Saturday, provided there's no blizzard or anything...

Easter

The weather forecast called for rain and snow, but thankfully it held off until late afternoon. It was cold, but clear!! Many people prayed for good weather, and our prayers were answered! All the kids had a great time.