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Told you there was a plan, we just had not been told yet! Saturday, day off, 12 year old OP Panthers obviously sleep in, right? Not really. I think I have mentioned how fortunate we are to have great coaches, players and family support......good talent pool and good character. So this morning at 8:45 the Panthers showed up at Kenworth Park, home of several of our tournaments and fierce competition.
Except this was not about or for us. Today was the FIELD OF DREAMS TOURNAMENT at Kenworth. Four fields of play for boys and girls with special needs and challenges. Our team served as "buddies" to players and helped them bat, run or wheel the bases and field the ball. Quite a morning giving to the community, helping others and reflecting how truly fortunate and blessed we are!
The afternoon offers a pool and pizza party as the Bebers (thanks, Sue & Randy) have invited all to their house. Tomorrow afternoon the coaches travel to Alpharetta for the drawings for the State Tournament "A" to begin next Saturday at Wills Park. No doubt practice and scrimmage for the week ahead will be set this afternoon.
Bob
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| District Game 5, OP Panthers vs. Rome Longhorns, 6/26 @ 6:30 PM Championship Game |
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Okay, I know I have to do this since some of you out there are looking for the post but my heart is not in it. Besides, my Boss expects me to be ready for a 7:30 AM breakfast meeting of some importance. He can't quite figure out why i have been leaving early the last week.
Game 5, basically now a single elimination tournament between our Panthers and Rome Longhorns for the District Championship. We lose 9-3 but don't get beat. The guys played much better, hit the ball much harder and did much better in the field but still came in second. Are we happy? Not really! The lone survivor in the winners side early in the week with the knowledge someone, anyone, had to beat us twice in two days to take us out was not in my thoughts. I was already looking for the perfect spot in Peter's room for the trophy. The expectations were high! I think that is why I personally hate it when a hotel or restaurant tells me their goal is to exceed my expectations.........I am happy when they just meet them.
Had you told us early in the year we would come in second at District and qualify for State "A" we would all have been pleased, I think. Had you told the Heflins and others on this team that last year during our all star experience I shutter to think how we would have expressed our pleasure. Rome was a very good team, NOTHING got by their shortstop, the giant at first was a vaccum cleaner, the pitcher threw much slower and had us off balance. Our guys hit the ball hard, they made good plays. Our hard hits (didn't have many of those in the first game) went straight at someone in their outfield or at that kid at short.
Overall, we had a good time! Our players aren't just good......they are great young men. They handled the loss well and accepted their second place trophies with grace. By the way, did anyone else notice the McCord Family took three???????? Player, coach and team MOM. Well deserved but an audit may be in the cards.
Thanks again, it has been a blast so far! Thanks to our Sponsors for making it possible through their contributions, to the parents, relatives and friends for your support and faith! Thanks to Carol and Michael for coming to our games on their "off nights" to watch us and cheer us on.
Can't help but mention this page is viewed by many, even a post from Peter's Aunt Joan in Huntsville, Alabama, so hopefully it can become a larger blog than just a read. That means write back guys!
On to State"A" where the competition will not get easier. The bracket draws are Sunday night......do good,Randy. Not certain what to do the first wknd without a tournament since this season began but know our boys have a plan, we just haven't been told yet!
See ya at the park. Hope to have some pictures posted later in the day if the lady with the flash camera is released by the Home Plate umpire.........love ya, Deryl!
Peace out! Bob
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| District Game 4, OP Panthers vs. Rome Longhorns, 6/25 @ 8:30 PM |
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All the "columns" I have posted from our district tournament games have been fun to write.......not so much this one! I sit here feeling like Tom Cruise as Jerry McGuire, writing the position paper for his colleagues that gets him laughed at and fired. Be kind and know that I have to be truthful.
Panthers loose/ correct that, get beat, by the Rome Longhorns 8-1. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times! The best as the Panthers have stayed in the winner's bracket and had the luxury of knowing that tonight's game was somewhat meaningless. Win and we win the tounament lose and we play again tomorrow night. Friends from Oregon Park Board of Directors, Jeff and Carol came out to watch and cheer us on. Perhaps given our record to date, we thought if we just showed up in Bomber Blue, the trophy was ours.
The worst of times........who would have thought the Panthers could be held to one run? Who would have thought our MO of defense, speed and offensive hitting and run production could be put down? No names........how many hits did we have, 3/4? One run across in the bottom of the 1st and we do not score again. I don't have the book again. How many misplayed pop flies, ground balls that get through our legs, base running errors, dropped balls in the outfield? Were they a good team that played a good game? YES Was there pitcher on? YES. Did we play a good game? NO. Did anyone in Bomber Blue have a good game?
They played two games tonight and reportedly used their two ace pitchers for more than three innings in each game meaning they cannot pitch tomorrow night. Remember, each game tonight was elimination for them, not so for our Panthers!
Sleep well guys for we live to fight another day. Play Panther ball tomorrow night(smart, agressive, confident) and we hope to celebrate with you. I heard a Dad say to his son leaving the park tonight "know the best thing about tonight's game? It doesn't mean a thing!"
See ya tomorrow night at lovely California Park, White on White for the victory, loud, proud, Panther Nation! We love each of you and believe in you....believe in yourselves and your teammates. Hope this did not offend.
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| DIZZY DEAN 2008 District 2 Tournament |
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Okay, here goes. I have been asked (told) by Val McCord to write a narrative regarding our games in the District Tournament. Some beginning comments......rules change here. No run limit per inning (mercy rule), 9 batters only based on those playing at the time, players who enter the game as subs are out for the balance of the game when they exit the game. Also, it gets a bit more serious here as not everyone goes to the State Championship this year on basis of a check......you have to qualify in district. More on that later.
Tournament sites are picked on a rotating basis and we are fortunate to have lovely California Park in Paulding County as our field, home to the most hospitable crew, best concessions (new grease), field conditions and ample paved parking out there. Just a few field rules before we go on to game 1.......watch the slanting field conditions on the outfield foul lines of left and right, players have been know to disappear. Watch foul balls at all times (Kathy Camp) as foul netting is in short supply. And last but not least, outfielders remember to raise your hands in the air on ground rule doubles that go under, over or through (?) the outfield wall which is a temporary plastic orange field to enable them to qualify with two fields.
Last note before on to game 1 commentary......These notes are written by Peter's father who has editiorial freedom, exemption from litigation and on the basis of notes and memory of the writer. If anyone in attendance has changes, clarification or additions, click post a reply. Just realized I left the house without the camera disk from our team photographer (:-) ) so look for pictures later today.
Bob
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| Fri Apr 26, 2024 |
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