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Post by BTB07 on Jun 3, 2009 23:21:30 GMT -5
Any time man. Like I've said before, I'd wish I had the time to coach. Watching that game the other night really made me realize it. Yeah it is very rewarding, but also very frustrating. I think you would be a really good coach Toph so if you get a chance definitely take it.
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Post by IrishNY on Jun 4, 2009 16:27:25 GMT -5
Any time man. Like I've said before, I'd wish I had the time to coach. Watching that game the other night really made me realize it. Yeah it is very rewarding, but also very frustrating. I think you would be a really good coach Toph so if you get a chance definitely take it. No doubt...very rewarding & frustrating at times but Toph, you would be a great coach...no question about it. The kids could learn from you...I have learned a few things from both you & BTB on this thread alone...
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 4, 2009 17:45:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words BTB and Irish.
Actually, I owe all of my pitching insight to the tutelage of my father. He didn't have the time coach my teams that I played on, but he worked with me on my pitching and stressed all the fundamentals that we've discussed on here.
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Post by IrishNY on Jun 4, 2009 20:44:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words BTB and Irish. Actually, I owe all of my pitching insight to the tutelage of my father. He didn't have the time coach my teams that I played on, but he worked with me on my pitching and stressed all the fundamentals that we've discussed on here. I like hearing things like that...I mean that. My father instilled a love of sports in me and I have lots of great memories of games and things we shared through sports...he never coached me but I can say that it's been a real special thing my oldest son and I share...as I'm typing...we're watching the NBA finals cause I let him stay up late...why not? Just two kids talking sports
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 4, 2009 21:34:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words BTB and Irish. Actually, I owe all of my pitching insight to the tutelage of my father. He didn't have the time coach my teams that I played on, but he worked with me on my pitching and stressed all the fundamentals that we've discussed on here. I like hearing things like that...I mean that. My father instilled a love of sports in me and I have lots of great memories of games and things we shared through sports...he never coached me but I can say that it's been a real special thing my oldest son and I share...as I'm typing...we're watching the NBA finals cause I let him stay up late...why not? Just two kids talking sports IrishNY, I think you and I had very similar experiences with our fathers. He's the reason that I love sports as much as I do.
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Post by IrishNY on Jun 4, 2009 21:48:04 GMT -5
IrishNY,
I think you and I had very similar experiences with our fathers. He's the reason that I love sports as much as I do. Top, It's a special thing and brings back the good memories. I'm really enjoying sharing my love of sports with my two boys...they are fanatics despite my best efforts to not be too pushy about it Lakers starting to take control so I really think I'm gonna head out now...have a great night. Talk to you soon.
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 4, 2009 23:12:52 GMT -5
My dad coached me my entire life. He was a coach before I was playing ( I was the batboy then). He coached me from the age of 7 (on the 9 year old team, and played sparingly) all the way through Legion baseball (he didn't coach me in school, but did in the summer). A lot of our memories are based on sports.
Now I coach WITH him. We coach my younger brothers team, and it is something that I probably take for granted at times.
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Post by IrishNY on Jun 5, 2009 14:28:22 GMT -5
My dad coached me my entire life. He was a coach before I was playing ( I was the batboy then). He coached me from the age of 7 (on the 9 year old team, and played sparingly) all the way through Legion baseball (he didn't coach me in school, but did in the summer). A lot of our memories are based on sports. Now I coach WITH him. We coach my younger brothers team, and it is something that I probably take for granted at times. That's awesome! You might take it for granted a little bit but I have a feeling that you know how special coaching & enjoying sports with your dad is. My dad was not cut out to coach...but he loves ND football & took me too many games along with Yankee games, NY Giant games...in fact every year my dad and i have a 30 min preseason ND chat every year
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 5, 2009 20:22:16 GMT -5
Good stuff Toph and Irish.
Had to give them 'the speech' tonight. Used two key words 'effort' and 'teammate'. Hopefully they got something out of it. Got a couple of tough games tomorrow, then the celebration for our field, I won't be around here much the rest of the weekend.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 5, 2009 20:37:19 GMT -5
Good stuff Toph and Irish. Had to give them 'the speech' tonight. Used two key words 'effort' and 'teammate'. Hopefully they got something out of it. Got a couple of tough games tomorrow, then the celebration for our field, I won't be around here much the rest of the weekend. Good luck with the games this weekend! Hopefully the "Gipper" speech worked. ;D
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 5, 2009 21:07:05 GMT -5
Good stuff Toph and Irish. Had to give them 'the speech' tonight. Used two key words 'effort' and 'teammate'. Hopefully they got something out of it. Got a couple of tough games tomorrow, then the celebration for our field, I won't be around here much the rest of the weekend. Good luck with the games this weekend! Hopefully the "Gipper" speech worked. ;D I hope so too. I don't usually get too serious with them, so when I came with a more serious tone I think they were a little shocked. Hopefully they get something. Really wanted to stress that they all had to stay in the game (even when not in the game). A few kids I have noticed 'moping' when they are on the bench, and couldn't watch it anymore.
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Post by IrishNY on Jun 6, 2009 11:22:43 GMT -5
Good luck with the games this weekend! Hopefully the "Gipper" speech worked. ;D I hope so too. I don't usually get too serious with them, so when I came with a more serious tone I think they were a little shocked. Hopefully they get something. Really wanted to stress that they all had to stay in the game (even when not in the game). A few kids I have noticed 'moping' when they are on the bench, and couldn't watch it anymore. Well done BTB...effort, team work, sportsmanship dugout etiquette are things that I have been stressing lately... back to the point, sometime the kids need praise, other times a pat on the back and than there is the more serious talk...all good life lessons for them. Keep up the good work and let us know how the weekend ended up when you get a chance.... we got rained out today...not raining but the field was unplayable from all the rain the last few days
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 6, 2009 23:22:36 GMT -5
We got in two games tonight, and they were both barn burners.
We beat an 11 year-old team (we are a 10 year old team). The score was 13-12. They hit 4 HR's out of our smaller field, and we didn't hit any. We had two guys on in the last inning (the intentionally walked the winning run to first base, then he easily stole second). Got a walk off single to win the game. It was pretty cool.
The second game we played a pretty good 10 year-old team and lost 13-12. We got the tying run thrown out at the plate for the last out of the game (he was really safe IMO).
We used 11 pitchers today. Neither game was a league game, so I just got everyone an inning and kept them available for our next game on Monday. Boy 50 runs was making my head spin...
Celebration for our field is all day tomorrow, and I have to be there before 8 AM...
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 7, 2009 8:08:24 GMT -5
A split isn't all that bad. 13-12 might be low scoring for some 10 year old leagues. ;D
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 7, 2009 23:15:03 GMT -5
JUST got back home from the field. It was a great day with games starting at 10 and ending at 10:30 PM.
We were involved in the first game (it was another game where our kids were the helpers to the handicap kids).
The other games included T-Ball, Coach Pitch, and then 9/10 and 11/12 year olds playing kid pitch.
The men who built the field 40 years ago were there (well some of them were there). They got to throw out the first pitches of the games, and were honored, and those kids had no idea how much them saying Thank You and cheering for them meant to them.
Exhausting...but worth it to see those guys so happy, and the stories those guys tell...wow...
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 8, 2009 15:46:25 GMT -5
JUST got back home from the field. It was a great day with games starting at 10 and ending at 10:30 PM. We were involved in the first game (it was another game where our kids were the helpers to the handicap kids). The other games included T-Ball, Coach Pitch, and then 9/10 and 11/12 year olds playing kid pitch. The men who built the field 40 years ago were there (well some of them were there). They got to throw out the first pitches of the games, and were honored, and those kids had no idea how much them saying Thank You and cheering for them meant to them. Exhausting...but worth it to see those guys so happy, and the stories those guys tell...wow... Sounds like a great day. That's great that you were able to honor the men who built the field.
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 8, 2009 15:51:13 GMT -5
It was awesome. Those guys sat there all day and told stories. I sat around them, and soaked up as many as I could. They would say to me every once in a while, 'Jim you missed a hell of a lot of good times'.
Got another game tonight against the 'rival' travel team from our town.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 8, 2009 19:57:56 GMT -5
It was awesome. Those guys sat there all day and told stories. I sat around them, and soaked up as many as I could. They would say to me every once in a while, 'Jim you missed a hell of a lot of good times'. Got another game tonight against the 'rival' travel team from our town. Bring home a W!!
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 9, 2009 11:37:48 GMT -5
It was awesome. Those guys sat there all day and told stories. I sat around them, and soaked up as many as I could. They would say to me every once in a while, 'Jim you missed a hell of a lot of good times'. Got another game tonight against the 'rival' travel team from our town. Bring home a W!! We got the win last night. Another walk-off. A 6-5 win for us last night. We made 4 errors, and gave them 4 of their runs. So while we were happy with the win, we reminded them that they can and should do better. ;D Always have to remind them that just getting the W isn't good enough. I would rather lose and have them play nearly flawless.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 9, 2009 12:36:04 GMT -5
We got the win last night. Another walk-off. A 6-5 win for us last night. We made 4 errors, and gave them 4 of their runs. So while we were happy with the win, we reminded them that they can and should do better. ;D Always have to remind them that just getting the W isn't good enough. I would rather lose and have them play nearly flawless. That's the way to coach 'em up!!
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 9, 2009 22:28:04 GMT -5
Thanks Toph! Can't let them get satisfied. ;D
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Post by IrishNY on Jun 10, 2009 22:38:25 GMT -5
The kids need a push here and there. We played a good team tonight...lost 8-0...one bad inning where we gave up 5 runs. My son made an amazing catch at 1B tonight...LOL the ball was hit so hard that my wife ducked in the stand b/c of the sound...anyhow, he snared a screaming liner out of the air...so proud. We also threw a runner out at the plate a perfect relay from RF...catcher made a terrific catch and dive tag... the only thing that sucked besides losing was their pitcher threw a no hitter against us, walked one, pitched 5 2/3, threw 75 pitches the max and came out with one out to go...the new pitcher walked one and last kid grounded out... haven't fared well with the wins and losses but the kids are really improving on defense glad to catch up on the thread and what's going on with the team BTB
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 10, 2009 23:07:35 GMT -5
The kids need a push here and there. We played a good team tonight...lost 8-0...one bad inning where we gave up 5 runs. My son made an amazing catch at 1B tonight...LOL the ball was hit so hard that my wife ducked in the stand b/c of the sound...anyhow, he snared a screaming liner out of the air...so proud. We also threw a runner out at the plate a perfect relay from RF...catcher made a terrific catch and dive tag... the only thing that sucked besides losing was their pitcher threw a no hitter against us, walked one, pitched 5 2/3, threw 75 pitches the max and came out with one out to go...the new pitcher walked one and last kid grounded out... haven't fared well with the wins and losses but the kids are really improving on defense glad to catch up on the thread and what's going on with the team BTB That is awesome NYIrish. As long as they are improving you are doing something right. The results will follow. ;D
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 10, 2009 23:10:27 GMT -5
Tonight we played the best team in Central Ohio (at least in my opinion). They are loaded with pitching, and those kids can seriously hit the baseball.
We gave a HR early and falled down 2-0 after the first. Held them to just one run through the next three though.
After the fifth inning we were ahead 12-5 (we crushed the baseball tonight). Their pitchers throw the baseball very hard (we faced three kids who threw 60 MPH+) and they struck us out 10 times out of 15 outs.
We gave up a 3R HR in the top of 6. With the bases loaded the tying run was at the plate, and we turned a double play to get out of the inning to secure a 12-9 victory. We played good defensively, and pitched well (only 2 errors and 3 walks). A hell of a win for our boys, especially after I felt like we slightly underachieved of late.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 11, 2009 11:35:12 GMT -5
Great news BTB!! From what you said in the earliest part of the season, this team was going to be a little raw and take some time to hit their stride as you lost quite a bit from last year.
Maybe this will be the win that allows them to catch stride.
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 11, 2009 14:13:07 GMT -5
Great news BTB!! From what you said in the earliest part of the season, this team was going to be a little raw and take some time to hit their stride as you lost quite a bit from last year. Maybe this will be the win that allows them to catch stride. We have the same group of guys as last year, but we moved up a division so the competition we face is consistently better. No games that are 'breaks'. I expect a lot out of them and have been harping on their poor defense (even though the team fielding percentage is .92). The win last night could certainly be one that kicks them into gear as tournament time comes. Got a tournament this weekend, then the state tournament. Then a week of conference games, followed by a tournament we host. The week after that (7/15) we go out of town for a World Series Tournament in Indiana for 8 days. Hopefully we play our best during this stretch. Thanks Toph!
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 13, 2009 22:21:04 GMT -5
We secured the 1 seed after pool play going 3-0 and giving up just 13 runs in those games.
Win our game tomorrow, and we are going to the championship later in the day.
After the game today we had a pool party at one of the houses of our team members, and I drank too many beers. 8 (we were there for about 3 hours though) Beers in front of the team is probably too many...I better get to bed.
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 14, 2009 22:24:17 GMT -5
Ended up winning the tournament, which was pretty nice for the kids.
Got the State Tournament this week...
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Post by IrishNY on Jun 15, 2009 12:35:51 GMT -5
Ended up winning the tournament, which was pretty nice for the kids. Got the State Tournament this week... That's great. Congratulations! A funny thing happened in our game on Saturday...we won My son the lefty started for the first time. I was worried that he would have a hard time as we were playing a very good team. The exact opposite happened...the kid was totally in the zone...it was fantastic. My kids hit the ball and we won in a big upset. Playoffs start this week...
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 15, 2009 12:43:53 GMT -5
Thanks Irish! The kids were really excited.
Congrats on your win. Sounds like your guys are getting better, and keep that Lefty on the mound and he will continue to get better. ;D
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