i ♥ this team...

This weekend St. Joe's came to our place!! and our place is generally not very friendly to our opponent.  We have a big park and we know how to win in our big park... our opponents tho, they tend to struggle.  St. Joe's needed to play us in order to try to get into the conference tournament... however, no such luck.  My boys took care of business.  They swept the four game series, and are the #1 seed heading into the conference tournament.. We leave tomorrow for the tournament and play our first game Thursday at 330.  So all of you in the St. Louis area, come on out!!!

30-15...clenching a spot.

This weekend we split with Indy.  Won Friday night, lost both on Saturday, and sent the seniors out with a win on Sunday..
It's so hard to believe that yesterday was the last regular season home game for the Seniors.  This team has by far been my most favorite at USI.  It's going to be a difficult day when the season is over.  A great group of young men will learn what it is like to be finished doing the one thing they have had a passion for, for the majority of their lives. 

28-13

Last night Oakland City came in here and BEAT us... like just beat us.
They were the better team last night.  Do I think they would beat us in a series, NO WAY... but they did play hard yesterday and we did not...
Losing is never any fun and losing at HOME is even worse... We have Indy this weekend, and they will be playing for a play off spot and if we don't do our jobs it could get ugly..
UGH!  Hopefully Friday's blog will be much better! The sour taste of losing needs to GET OUTTA HERE!!

Side note: tomorrow is t-man's birthday... the PHONE CALL!!! CANT WAIT!!!

Weaver is BACK!

This weekend the University of Wisconsin Parkside Rangers and Coach Weaver were in town.  We played a double header both Friday and Saturday.
Friday's games were ugly.  We split on Friday.  Coach Arch was not a happy camper.  The boys have not been playing USI baseball, and they needed a lil talk to get them to plug in and do what they are supposed to do. 
Saturday mother nature played with the double header quite a bit.  However after a LONG day at the field, we played two games and got two wins.
It's always good to see Coach Weaver.  He is a great guy with a really funny personality.  I'm not sure his team loves him as much as we do here, but they should realize what a great coach they have. 

MoHawks!!!

In my post on April 7, I was braggin about Tyler and how much of a competitor he is, and how I love to watch him pitch.  He's taking a couple weeks off, due to his UCL not wanting to stay attached to his ulna.  Soooo, he is shutting it down, his hope is to be back on the bump dominating soon.  I hope he will be able to, but that ligament is really important -- soooo, who knows?

Anyways this weekend we traveled to the windy city.. and it did not disappoint.  It was windy, cold, miserable weather.  Saturday's double header was pushed back to Sunday, and Sunday's to Monday.  Sunday is was chilly, but Monday it was FREEEEEZING.  The boys went 3-1 against Lewis this weekend.  And Tyler was the player of the week!! WHoooooHoooo..  The MoHawk faves have been tearing up the diamond.  Choate with the bat and Vance with his glove.  It's fun to watch!!

Click here to read all about Choate being a STUD!

This weekend I kinda realized the difference between my boys and the rest of the people we play.  Now this may seem like I'm bragging again on them, but that's not the case.. This is truly what I see.  USI baseball players are constantly reminded that they need to have a plan every single pitch, they need an approach, they need to be ready to go.  From the time they take the field, they have a desire to win.  They are reminded to not lose focus and to stay within themselves.  I think this is what makes them successful.  Coaches don't want them to "do to much" just to do the job they need to do at the time. And it's really fun watching them play and do their job to win.  This weekend it was like Men playing against boys.  I think my team is much different from so many teams in our league, our philosophy and attitude is different.  The desire to be the best shows through and my team wants to be back to Cary.

Yesterday we traveled to Owensboro for a double header against KWC.  Choate was still continuing the be the man with a hot bat and Bradley has just been making some phenomenal plays on defense.  He is simply amazing to watch.  We split yesterday at KWC, in a direct quote from one of the boys, whom shal remain nameless "Our bull pin BLOWS"... hmmmm.

Anyways the boys are 25-11 and ranked 15th in the nation.  Only a few weeks left of the regular season.  I'm excited to see what post season plans these turds are going to come up with!! I do know that right now I LOVE their front short mohawks... LOVE them like crazy!!!



21-9

Northern Kentucky came to town this weekend, struggling.
Friday evening Trevor took the mound and threw all 9.  Both Reece and Peanut went 2 for 3 in the win.
Saturday's double header started with Schultze struggling and we lost game one 8-1, but won game 2 with Tator on the mound 4-2.
Sunday Choate started the game, but had some pain and came out in the second.  Dan finished the game and we won 7-2.  that makes us 21-9 on the season.

Northern Kentucy has a great coaching staff, probably my most favorite in our conference.  This weekend they brought their buddy Ryan. Ryan is a middle aged man with downs syndrome.  They allowed Ryan to shag balls during bp, he was on the bucket, he also got to hit during bp and he had a uniform and was in the dugout all weekend.  He seemed to be having a great time.  What an amazing group of men to have a big enought heart to bring Ryan along.

Some funnies include me getting hit with a foul ball, Arch and Todd's bets are always entertaining, seeing Dizzy being a goof ball.

I'm going to brag..and its ok.

I really like my team. I like them a lot. I might even go out on a limb and say I love them. This is really true. Almost each and every one of them are great (in my eyes).

Yesterday I get to the field, unload my cart, fill up water jugs and do the other OCD stuff I happen to love to do. I then get a Gatorade for arch and we have one of the best talks ever. We just sat there behind first base on the mule contemplating the meaning of life and how much we love what we do. I really am blessed to have such an amazing job. I thoroughly enjoy working baseball. Well the field dries and its time for him to drag, so I go back toward the dugout and good ole Toddy is sitting there eating some nacho cheese combos. We talk for a lil about something random I'm sure. And again I realize just how lucky I am to have a great group of boys. Other players begin to show up. Each person is in their own world. Griggs is off eating his fingers for his afternoon snack, Vance is swinging a bat, Kacz is doing push-ups, Enright is playing the national anthem on his mouth guitar, Huling is checking out his booty, Rose is flexing, Reece is admiring his red fro, Blinn is singing (sure to be driving someone nuts), Wanne is complaining about his tricep, Chestnut is dancing, Zaps is setting up the field for BP all by himself, the Pitchers are playing flips except for Tator, who is talking to his lil brother Adam, both laughing, Choate is hitting a fungo in the cage. Awe... the sounds of the dugout.

Batting practice begins, same music is playing that has been playing every batting practice for the last 5 years, minus that darn nickelback cd that thankfully got destroyed. And all is well... or so I think. In each group at least one person is mad, either Marx is changing something about their swing or Lunchbox isn't throwing the ball where they want it... poor coaches it's a no win job -- can't make everyone happy.

Wesleyan takes the field for BP, they have about 4-6 guys at every infield position, and bless their hearts not a one of them are very good.

In and out is taken, lucky for me no over thrown balls at third base - that would have bonked me right in my forehead. Choate has finally arrived back at the field for the game, listening to his headphones, in his pitcher gameday mode.

The field is cleaned up and it's about time to play. The national athem is played, weirdness is going on behind me - I see Mooney trying to lick Kev-O's ear and all sorts of spitting noises are being heard.

Choate is on the bump and the game begins. Today I made a bet that Tyler wouldn't hear my lil annoying let's go t-man voice today... and I successfully did not cheer for him at all, outloud... however, I clapped and was rooting for him the whole time. It's simply wonderful seeing him throwing and being successful. Deep down, I really am super happy for him. He may be the biggest most selfish punk, but I've realized it's just him. and he's ok. His desire to play, be successful, and win is great and I'm truly excited for him this season. He was a homerun shy of the cycle during the game... pretty awesome if you ask me! click here to read the article!

Our dug out is loud and crazy most of the game... but Moons takes the cake with the random scream of the day, making arch say what in the h was that, it was Moons all hyped up on smarties out of the wonderful candy bag.

A 10-0 victory to us and we are back in first place in the conference... and man does winning feel great! And yep at the end of the day - I LOVE MY TEAM!

17-8 after KWC

11 stolen bases later we win... needless to say the KWC catcher was not very good.  Our speed literally speeds up the game for the other team.  Its fun to see us play our game, even if it wasn't our best.  The boys are FAST and they make other teams struggle to make plays because of it.  Beans and MoBro threw and did alright.  I think Choate is taking the bump tonight.
Funnies include: Kuester falling out of the Mule. Mike doing the national anthem on his mouth guitar. And Schultze and I talking about what bird we would be -- lol -- I chose crane so I could deliver babies -- blonde moment for sure for me. 

bellarmine split...

Friday we headed to Louisville (NOT lewyville) for a four game series against Bellarmine. Joining the team this trip was Alex and Sam.  Alex's favorite is Blinn and Bones love Mooney.
The first game was at St. Xavier high school, turf field except the mound and plate.  Trev got off to a rough start, giving up 2 in the first and 1 in the second.  We answered with a three spot in the 5th. Bellarmine answered in the 7th to go up by 1.  Then the rain came. and we suspended the game until Saturday. 
Saturday we finished the suspended game losing 3-4.  Choate took the mound in game 2 against the knights as well as the loss.  I have no idea what was going on that game, but it was def not baseball.  Had Tyler had issues with his teammates like this 2 years ago, he would have kicked and screamed.  This year, he kept it all together and just did his job.  He tried pitching out of innings and getting it done at the dish as well.  Not only were we not in the game, the umpires weren't either.  Within the first 3 innings both USI and BU head coaches had warnings, for absolutely nothing... ok, maybe not absolutely nothing -- but in a normal game, the coaches were just communicating, but these umpires wore their hearts on their sleeve and couldn't take the communication I guess... Anyways, we lost 2-4 in that game.  But busted out in game 3. Taylor pitched game three and we hit it... scoring 20 runs on 21 hits and 6 bellarmine errors.  It was good to see us finally swing it.  On Sunday we won game 4.  Schultze pitches and the score was 4-3.
Some funnies about the weekend was Huling having to get the ball out of the corner in right and how the ball was stuck inside of a bag of David's sunflower seeds.  Sam asking if errors effect the score and Marx thinking he said do airheads work at scorers.
After this weekend we are second on our side, we have a big week at home.  KWC on Tuesday and Wednesday then NKU this weekend.

The streak is over...

The battle at the braun got the best of us last night.  A rough first inning defensively and we were down 3-0 and just couldn't string together hits.  So here we are at 14-6.  We go to Bellarmine this weekend for a four game series.  Time to get back at it...because winning is way way way more fun!

on a side note - Bellarmine just won the D2 Mens Basketball National Championship... our conference is competitive... we won last spring in baseball, NKU this fall in mens soccer.. and now BU.. SWEET!

14-5 thanks Rockhurst

WE are 14-5... click here to read about the rockhurst game.

Well yesterday's games were both wins!  Trev threw the first game... almost had issues with burns, but won.  Tyler threw game two and like usual was sick with the 2 seamer.

the funny of the game was Adam Enright (Peanut) in between games.. tried to put the tee upside down and sit on it.. needless to say it collapsed.. and Adam fell to the ground. making me laugh really hard.

superstition...

My team doesn't lack in the superstition department..
Lead by Coach Archuleta..
Click here to see the beard on the news...

and their new favorite song...

these boys are beyond silly!!!

12-5

Yep!!! Winning is sooooo fun! Took two from Drury today!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Springfield MO

Ugly wins are still wins

I have no idea what it is about S & T but we play down to their level. They were a bad team and we played just as bad. We did win tho sweeping the series. 10-5.



-- Post From My iPhone

Pitcher of the Week...

Tyler was the GLVC pitcher of the week this week!!

Click HERE to read the article!!!

Today we are off to Rolla MO to take on the Miners. Then after Saturday's game we will head to Springfield MO to play at Drury University.

8-5 after beating St.Cloud!!!

This is Bradley... he's my favorite! His defense was wonderful!  More than wonderful, maybe phenomenal.  The game was a blast to watch.  Time and time again our defense just came up with huge plays, the boys played all out and full of heart.

Tyler pitched a gem!  He was great!  I really am so proud of him for his efforts on the mound.  He has worked so hard and battled back from an injury and that is amazing to see.  He was really good yesterday.

It was more than just Bradley and Tyler tho.  The team really came together against a very good St. Cloud team and won.  This was by far the most fun game of the year.  Peanut had some HUGE hits and I feel like every person did something great to make sure we would win.  It was tons of fun to watch.

The tournament was great and now conference play starts Saturday with a trip to S&T and Sunday at Drury.  HERE WE GO!

7-5

Winning is still really fun!!! Beating Illinois Springfield was another regional win. 2-0 in the region. Trev struggled in the 2nd but settled back down for the rest of the game.
Today Tyler takes the mound against St Cloud State. I'm excited for this game bc SCS is a good team that has the D2 player of the year Jordan Smith. This week I have gotten to know some of the SCS players and they are a good bunch of young men with very nice parents. It should be a fun game. I just hope USI men are ready to play and up for the challenge.



-- Post From My iPhone

Location:USI baseball field

6-5

It sooooo wasn't pretty...10 errors btwn the 2 teams (we had 2). But a win is a win. Illinois springfield is new to the conference but they are aggressive at the plate. They can swing it a lil, or at least did against Schultze. Their defense was bad tho. We play them again tomorrow evening. Trev takes the mound. Should be another regional win for the good guys.

On a side note. Parkside plays a double header before us and Jocee and Andrew are here.

-- Post From My iPhone

Location:USI atr

5-5

23 hours later we win!! Rain suspended yesterdays game. We finished tonight. T-man gets the dub. Winning continues to be fun!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:USI baseball field

4-5

Welp, another win!! Winning is fun. Trevor broke the record for career wins tonight. Cool huh. Beat Wayne St of Nebraska. The men hit better early and it was more enjoyable today. Tomorrow t-man takes the mound against Wayne.


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:USI baseball field

3-5...

3-5 at this point in the season wasn't exactly where I thought we would be... but it is what it is.  The boys pulled thru on their Sunday game to win agains Montevallo.
Today we are supposed to play against UMSL.. so if the rain holds off, I'll blog about that tonight.
A lil side note, my lil favorite new guy - Kacz is leading the team!  I'm like a proud mom!!!

Losing is never fun

Well today stunk! Lost two to montevallo... Hopefully we can pull one out tomorrow.


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:University Blvd,Evansville,United States

Strike zone DRAMA...

Hey Coach, it does no good to argue balls and strikes!!
Anyways, yesterday's game was full of drama! Our starter got thru the first inning but the second was a different story!  The zone was very small and Taylor just couldn't find it.  Tyler came in to relieve him and struggled early with the zone himself.  We got out of the second and were down 5-0.  In the 6th our bats come alive, Bradley Vance sealed the deal with a grand slam (or so we thought). The Tech coach had a huge issue with the zone and he didn't get to watch the rest of the game.  I'm really thankful that Arch doesn't get that upset.  I have only seen him kick out once in 5 years, and he did nothing wrong.  The pitcher at the time supposedly threw at the batter and both the coach and player got tossed.  However Tech came back that inning to tie the game at 9.  And then hit a walk off bomb to win it in the 9th.  Ugh.. baseball is stupid! We are now 2-3.  We host Montevallo this weekend.  I'll take pic's of the field, best place to play in all of division 2!!

See ya coach!

Winning is fun!! We are now back to 500, 2-2! Today we played Fort Hays State out of the MIAA. Very typical MIAA team. Their coach got a lil upset with the men in blue and got kicked out. Trev started off a lil rocky but settled in and tied the career wins. Pretty cool. Our hitters looked better today. It was fun. Our guys ran more today and did some good things. Mike had the funny for today...over running second on the walk and almost getting thrown out! Silly boy!! But all in all baseball was fun today and winning is soooo great!


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Russellville,United States

1-2

What a bummer of a weekend for my boys. Lost 3-2 today. Just have to get better. We will be back at it next weekend, hopefully.


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Savannah,United States

1-1

Yesterday was ummmmmm weird. The guys just couldn't find a way to get their bats going. We ended up losing 11-0. On a good note Mulvaney did well when he got into the game. That's a bright side of the game. Today is game 3, gotta get a win to win the series.


-- Post From My iPhone

Game 1 good guys

Winners. It took 12 ugly innings but good guys are 1-0! The game was not our best at all. Leach started and did alright, Choate came in and finished it. I think they both threw 6 innings. Bradley hit a two run single in the 12th to give us the lead and that was all she wrote.
As for my line up, I was wrong. Lol. Maybe I should stop trying to think of line ups and stick to injury prevention and care. I was only a lil off. Kacz didn't start at 3rd base, but he ended the game there. I think he has found his home there. And Choate didn't start in right but at DH instead. Griggs started at 3rd, Rounder came in in the 6th maybe and Kacz took over in the 9th I think. Chestnut started in right. Otherwise I was right on! Lol.
It was so great just being outside again doing what I love to do. Had great convo with Taylor Dennis (tator) whom is today's starter. He throws gas!! Really enjoyable to watch.
I'm not gonna try to guess at the line up today. I think Wanne may get a shot in the outfield and Kacz will probably go ahead and get the go at 3rd. Should be fun!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Savannah,United States

Tomorrow is the new beginning.

Well game 1 is tomorrow!! And I'm sooooo excited! We are here in Savannah playing Armstrong Atlantic. Today the boys had practice, well kinda. The field was super wet, so hitters hit in the cages and pitchers threw on the practice soccer fields. It was a good day I'd say. Can't wait for tomorrow!!
Hmmm... My starting line-up, completely my opinion!! We will see how close it is to what Coach Arch really does!
1. Leach
2. Rose
3. Enright
4. Vance
5. Kacz
6. Garcia
7. Huling
8. Blinn
9. Choate

We will see!! Hopefully tomorrow when I blog about the game we will be 1-0!! Until then!!



-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Abercorn St,Savannah,United States

OUTSIDE.. twice.

Mother nature was very cooperative this weekend.  The boys were able to get outside for a couple days of practice.  I think the practices were good.  We didn't look anything like the '07 team... so that's a plus!

Yesterday was an "off" day, the position players went to sports acceleration and the pitchers threw on their own.  Me, I took the afternoon OFF!  I went shopping and had lunch at Moe's, yummmm! 

But today, is back to the grind.  The boys will be back inside today, as mother nature is going crazy with the storm of the year.. not necessarily here, but the rest of the mid-west is getting it!

The courier press wrote a nice lil article about Tyler Choate and his return to baseball this year.  I was most impressed with the last sentence of the article. Giving the Glory to God. I'm excited for this year for Tyler, and the rest of the team. 

2011.. its about to begin

So this blog is my baseball blog. 
For anyone that knows me -- should know how much I just love love love baseball.

So I'm gonna try to blog this season.  I might have guest bloggers --  should my lil boys have something to say..

I'll give you a lil background on me, and why baseball is my number 2.  I grew up playing sports and loving them, baseball was one that I just loved and have grown to love the older I've gotten.  My cousin Paul was always a huge baseball fan, he loved that Atlanta Braves.  As for me I never really had a favorite team, I like the braves a little because he did, and then I really liked Andy Pettitte. And now my favorite player is Chase Utley.  I like how he plays the game hard and intense.  So I claim the Phillies as "my favorite" but the Royals and Cardinals are close also, cause I want Missouri teams to be successful. Oh and that's me on the far right, I know I look real happy right!! I really was happy, I just don't like dressing up... and you see that man in the light blue suit, he is my favorite!

This USI team has one of the best coaching staff's in all of america, I may be bias, but that's ok.  Coach Archuleta (top left) is the man in charge with wing men, Coach Marx and Coach Kuester.  Arch and I came to USI in 2007, and the team was really not talented.. but as a great coach always does - Arch made them pretty darn good by the end of the year.  And has just improved every year, with last year reaching the ultimate accomplishment as a coach, winning the National Championship.  Coach Marx (on the left) joined the squad in 2008, he is the man when it comes to hitting.  He is a great hitting coach and gets the boys to believe in what he is teaching.  He has been a great addition.  Kuester came to USI last year after playing at rival KWC and UE.  Lucky for him he came at the right time to become a national powerhouse. I like our staff, it is usually a great time.  I have the up most respect for those men and the jobs that they do. 

 And that's me below holding the 2007 trophy.