Good Sports

Last week was the start of the spring sports season for the Richardson Family.

Harriet is playing on a spring soccer team with Pete as one of the assistant coaches, and Jack is in his fourth year of baseball, playing for Saddleback Valley Little League, Double A division.

With double games nearly every week, our Saturdays will be busy for the next few months. Yesterday was the kick-off, with Harriet's first soccer game, as well as Opening Day for Little League, including photos, snacks, games, bounce houses, and a three-inning exhibition game. We were lucky that there were no direct conflicts, and that the timing worked out that we could go to Harriet's game in the morning, and make it back in time for all the fun and festivities of Opening Day.


We got up, suited up, filled the car and the cooler with snacks, and we were off.


Harriet's first game was at a middle school in Laguna Beach - 405 to the 133

It was an absolutely gorgeous day today in Orange County, and the Big Orange Balloon, heralding the Great Park soon (?) to inhabit the nearby abandoned El Toro Marine Base, was flying high as we drove past.

(Here's a photo from a year or two ago when I took the kids on a field trip to go up in the Orange Balloon)

(no, Jed wasn't taking the photo - he's hiding behind me a bit scared of our impending ascent. October '07)

Harriet in her game uniform - she loves that the purple matches her glasses!

when we get to the school Harriet and Pete head to the field,
and the boys explore this cool porpoise bench

Harriet (#2) takes to the field - one of the most scenic pitches she's played
on. In the far background are the snow-capped San Gabriel mountains

Pete keeps track of the stats while Harriet's cheering section - grandpa, the boys, grandma - watches from the shadeHarriet and team going in for the end of game sportsmanship high five

The view from the soccer field: In the right hand corner is
Laguna Canyon, in the right middle is G'ma & G'pa's neighborhood in north Laguna,
and in the distance at the center, you can see the top of
Catalina Island poking out of a cloud bank.
Amazing view on a most amazing day.
(doesn't this make you want to come visit us? that is my intent....)

Harriet's team was awesome, she had some sweet plays, and they won
their first game of the season, 3-1!

then it was back up the canyon to

Saddleback Valley Little League's Opening Day!

today is when all of the players and teams get their photos taken-
the guy in the black pants above is holding a camera, FYI

In the OC it may be all about the Angels, but in our family we bleed
DODGER BLUE!

And this year Jack is a Dodger AGAIN!


and there are a lot of fun things for the kids to do

Jack the flying Dodger on the bounce house slide

Henry must have done the bounce obstacle course 20 times.

Jed was a natural on the hovering ball batting practice
(which made me feel guilty again for not signing him up
for t-ball this season - just not enough hours in the day)

reciting the Little League pledge before the game begins

Jack and his teammates - they played well in the exhibition game
and though we didn't keep score I'm quite sure they "won"
I'm also quite sure everyone had a great time.

We know Grandpa John would have like to have been at the game today, but after Harriet's soccer game he and Grandpa went over to see Abbie play in her Lacrosse game, in which we heard Abbie scored a goal for her team, way to go Abbie!
So, lastly, I have included a video highlight from yesterday's game.

Here's Jack in action. A brief explanation and set up: This is Jack up to bat during the Opening Day exhibition game - there were two outs as he comes up to bat, with players each on second and third bases. The first pitch is a strike, the second he swings at and misses - then the third pitch comes. He hits it high over the second base kid's head - the camera is tight on Jack so you can't actually see the ball flying, but instead follow Jack as he hits in two runs and makes it to third base! Way to go Jack! Here's to a great upcoming season!