Kane County Bronco League Tournament

"Go Geneva!" - "Geneva White! Woo-Whooo!" - "C'mon, let's go! Get it done!"

That's just a little taste of what was heard from down the 3rd base line. Parents were loud. The kids were loud. Everyone was jumping, screaming, and cheering. Everyone got excited. I for one thought we were going to have a good tournament when the game started and I noticed all the players up on the fence and cheering each other on. I have yet, throughout the entire season seen the kids so energized and loud. It was a good representation of how the kids felt. And how much they were into the game. They came ready to play. Every single one of them was ready and it showed.

In the first game vs. DC Lightning our kids started out hot. The bats were alive. It seemed like almost everyone got a hit through the first two innings. Our defense, for the most part, shut down the Lightning. While at the same time our offense was getting around the bases and racking up the runs. Heading into the 4th inning it started to look like we would have an early exit by way of the slaughter rule. But it was not meant to be. Our bats slowed a bit and the defense let the Lightning score a few runs to somewhat get back into the contest. Even though we gave the Lightning some hope that they would turn the game in their favor, the Vikings held onto their lead through to the end. Taking an 11-5 victory into the next game later that evening.

This brings us to game 2 vs. the Oswego Cobras. The Vikings started the game off a bit slow giving the Cobras a quick 1-0 lead. Heading into the 3rd and 4th inning the Vikings started showing some life. Going into the 5th inning we snuck up on the Cobras as the bottom of our order had some quality at bats that gave us some base runners. With runners in scoring position G. Bragg cleared the bases with a huge timely triple followed by another base clearing double by Z. Pronenko. We then finished strong as our defense held the Cobras to that single run they had gotten early in the game. Everybody contributed. From runners getting thrown out stealing and trying to score on "The Wall" behind the plate. To very solid closing pitching by "G-Dog" and great footwork and awareness by "Nowinski", we got the job done and finished with a final of 4-1.

This takes us into the championship game today (Sunday). If the same team shows up today, I feel sorry for our opponent. Because our kids have shown us that when their on their game, there has not been a team that has been able to beat us. However, as we have seen time and again, our kids like many kids are temperamental. We have our good games and bad. But then again - we have some of the best coaches in the league. Their work with our kids cannot go unacknowledged. They have always been a driving force in keeping our kids in the game, keeping their heads up and showing them what good sportsmanship is all about. We are the only team that I have seen anyway, that is reminded every game to shake the umpires hand after the game. This attitude and coaching of baseball knowledge translates directly into each and every kid on our team becoming solid ballplayers and taking this foundation into their future years. Whether that includes baseball or not, this team of kids will always remember this season as a season they grew as ballplayers. And no matter what happens later this afternoon, the Geneva Vikings will always be winners!

Game Summary---Oswego Panthers--Orange

8-0 for the Panthers, hopefully we got all the bad out of our system. Let's come out like gangbusters the rest of the week!!!

Ketttle-Moraine Tourney

Well, we all made it to the hotel. We had our BBQ (food was awesome!) and we all retired to our rooms for a good nights rest. Although I don't know about all of you, but all my kids are going nuts in the room. either fighting, playing, or just overall crazyness. Hopefully I will be able to get to bed sometime.

We have a 6:25am rondevous in the lobby for a quick breakfast and then its off to the field for the warm ups. More to come tomorrow.

If you gte a chance, get those cameras working overtime tomorrrow. It would be nice to use the photo opportunity this touney offers to put some good pics into our collection.

See you all at the games! GO VIKINGS!

Site Update

Hello everyone! Been a long time since I have posted an update on the site. Greg Lanphier has been doing an excellent job posting game summaries! I want to say thank you to Greg for his efforts!

I sent out an email yesterday (yes.. during the game. The ump and his low strikes had me disgruntled. I needed to take my attention away from that travesty before it sent me to another place) regarding my plans for "closing up" the web site towards the end of the season. So if anyone has any pics they wish to share with the team, please coordinate with me how to get them to me (in case the cummalitive size of the pics is rather large) so I can include them in the planned slide show DVD I will be making.

We have our big Wisconsin trip this coming weekend. As I'm sure everyone is, I am looking forward to this trip. I think it will be a great time for all. We have a tailgate planned for Friday night in the parking lot and plenty of swimming to be had at the water park. In checking the hotels web site (and from Amy Singers very informative emails) it appears all their water facilities are INDOORS! This is a good thing. Im sure the kids cannot wait for that part of the trip. I know my 3 are excited!

Speaking of pictures, this weekends trip is a great place for a few parents to take a variety of pictures for the upcoming slideshow. With the on-field and off-field fun and activities, it will make for some great moments to be captured of the team, their siblings, and yes.. even the parents! We should all have a great time.

I will soon be putting travel info on the site (in a central location most likely) to assist everyone in finding the hotel as well as possibly some surrounding local fair. So be on the lookout for that coming sometime this afternoon.

Game Summary--Oswego Panthers

A 5 run first inning by the Panthers led to a 11-4 loss on Saturday morning. The team played much better after the first and where keyed by a nice defensive play by Quintin in center field preventing a Panther double. Nikki made a great catch to tag the runner out. Thanks to Coach's Palmer, Smith and Fisher to help prep the field for play after all the rain on Friday.