Field of Dreams

After participating in soccer last fall, and having his first (and last)
taste of lacrosse this spring, we still pressed Jack to play Little League again this season.
 I love watching him play baseball, I think it is an amazing team sport where he learns about

thinking quick and grace under pressure and giving ones best effort.  He was

game for the most part, there may have been a bribe or two involved at one

point, but overall he ended up on a pretty good team (Dodgers!) with a 

good group of boys and a dedicated coach, and they had a productive, 

if at times grueling, few months of baseball.

This year Jack was in the Saddleback AAA League.  They played their games in Lake

Forest and Laguna Hills, and eventually went on to compete in two tournaments

which took them from Irvine to Aliso Viejo.  They were eliminated in the third round

of the Tournament of Champions, ending their season in the first week of June.

Jack worked hard and found that he actually enjoyed the practices and the time spent

playing around with his team.  We just hope he realizes that when he is older, these

will be some of his best childhood memories.  He made new friends
and played some pretty good ball but most importantly completed

 the season knowing he worked hard and did his best.  

Jack with Grandpa John after his last 

tournament game of the season

Every game begins with the baseball pledge
 to play fair and respect the umpire's rulings 

Some of the Dodger's biggest fans

Either it was because they were Dodgers themselves

this year, or perhaps because of their winning personalities, 

but both Henry and Jed were

embraced by Jack's team members, and allowed to hang out with them in the dugout at certain times,

and were even permitted to be bat boys during one game.

Jack is our leftie who hits right

Occasionally Jack would pitch in a game, 

but unlike last season where he was a bigger 

fish in a smaller pitching pond,
this year there were bigger and better

pitchers on the team. 

Coach often gave Jack the sign to bunt. 

Jack was pretty good at it, but personally

I'm not a huge fan of the bunt. 

Bat bags hanging in the dugout. 

 Jack's red Nike bag was given to him by Grandpa several seasons ago. 

Pete usually came to the field straight from work,

and often served as official scorekeeper of the game 

Jed and the "official" scoreboard

Dodger's Team Banner

Harriet, who attended many, many of her brother's games, 

shows her support with Dodger blue 

Here is Jack's team the evening they won the mid-season championship
against our hometown rivals the Angels of Lake Forest.

And here they are a bit later in the season after a hard loss - they didn't do nearly

as well the second half of the season and ultimately came in at second place, behind the Angels.

But, there are always snacks waiting 

at the end of each game.

In the post-regular season the Dodgers

participate in an All-Stars tournament

which is held at a nice field in Irvine

(everything's nicer in Irvine)

with an actual below ground dugout

(Jack far left) 

 All-Stars uniform

Team meeting before their first game in the TOC

At this tournament game Pete somehow got roped

into doing the announcing instead of the score keep.

As each player is introduced they step forward and shake hands with

 an opposing team memberover home plate; 

they also exchange pins from each of the other's league which

are fun for the boys to collect.

Saddleback represent! 

EST. 1957

End of season party 

Cake at the end of season party -

 I can only imagine what CakeWrecks would have 

to say about that pooh-ish catcher's mitt

Jack enjoying the cake with his team -

it was a swim party if you can't tell

by Jack's wet look

Jack with his coaches receiving his trophy and memory page 

SVLL Triple AAA Dodgers 

Until next season....