This year there was a TON of drama around the 11 year old All-Star baseball team for our league! To make a very long story short there wasn't ANY of the coaches that were willing to coach the team and a couple of the kids who were on the team with Blake last year were tired of all the kids saying they were going to be terrible that they didn't even play so we didn't even have enough kids for the team....no coach and not enough kids to play.
So Rick talked to the Little League President and asked if he could petition and be the coach, after a painful process Rick was appointed the coach and scrounged up enough kids for a team.
It was sad that they went to the tournament without the best of our 11 year olds and they suffered because of it...but they had a blast and that is really all that matters.
Blake was the team's 1st baseman...
And was one of the main pitchers each game and did great! At the beginning of the season Rick asked Blake what his goals were for the season and the first thing he mentioned was to be a good enough pitcher to pitch for the All-Stars team...he put in HOURS and HOURS every week outside of practice and it paid off! The team had 3 boys who pitched and Blake did the best out of all of them by far, not letting any runs in while he pitched the second game. He wasn't as lucky in the first game, but when he came in to relieve the starting pitcher, who couldn't get out of the 1st inning - it was already 0-6 with one out and the bases loaded...it was ugly!
He also did really well with his hitting...
It was really fun to watch Rick coaching, especially when it was Blake.
Then of course half the fun of making the All-Star team is everything you do with the kids outside of baseball. A district tournament wouldn't be complete with out a trip to Effie's. Last year it was just the dads that tried the 1lb. burger...
...this year the boys wanted a chance!
Blake only had about 5 bites left of that thing and loved every minute of it.
Then of course there was swimming in the pool at the hotel. One of the other teams stayed at our hotel and boys all had a blast playing all afternoon together.
Then when it had cooled off a little we headed back up to the fields to play home-run derby with a few of the kids. Blake and his friend Lucas, who play on the same team during the normal season, lined drived it hard hitting the top of the fence multiple times but never made it over. Their coach teaches a swing that makes it hard to hit it high enough to get it over, but is more successful in the game. His friend Carter, who struck out or popped up to get an out almost every time in the regular season was able to hit one over the fence though. It was fun watching them all try.
Then of course we had to go and get some ice cream afterwards! I am so glad Blake has had the chance the last two years to be part of the whole All-Star experience and everything it entails, even if we didn't make it to the State tournament like last year.
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