Switching Gears into Hockey

I haven't written in a long time. The last time I wrote was back in August. I haven't written because I've been kind of busy because of school, hockey, and soccer.

Let me tell you how my hockey's going. We are 2-3 (won 2 and lost 3). We had a 6:20 am practice today. We've had two of those so far in the season. Yesterday I had a game and we lost 8-2 but I did score a goal. We were playing the Lakers but not the basketball team. They were a Mite A team and we are a Mite B team so they should be better than us. So how I scored my goal was this way... I got a breakaway but there were two defenders so I stick handled around them and faked the goalie one way and shot the other way and scored. Then when there was 30 seconds left, I got a breakaway and passed to one of my teammates and he missed the pass and then we lost.

So I think I might come back into the writing business again.

P.S. I'm #9 for hockey and #1 for soccer.

Cousins - Part I

Cousins! Cousins! Cousins! The last month has been exciting. I have seen all of my cousins!

One night, my cousins from Maryland came to our house. The

next morning, we woke up and I played basketball with Kevin. Then I had a baseball game that night. The next day I had 2 games. I was happy that the Cooleys could come to all my championship games.

The day after my last baseball game Aunt Mary, Kevin and I went hiking in New Hampshire on a waterfall trail up a mountain. When we got almost to the top, we went

back down the mountain. We went to our hotel in New Hampshire, we got checked in and got our stuff out in the room. Then we went for dinner. The next morning, we woke up and had breakfast and at about 10 o'clock we left to go to a water park.

When we got to the water park, we got stamped on our arm and started going on the rides. First we went in this big wave pool and then we climbed a huge flight of stairs. The slide was straight down - bump - straight down - bump - straight down. I got air on the bumps! On our next ride, we climbed back up the same flight of stairs and took a right instead of a left. We went down a slide that was curvy and wurvy and some parts were completely black and you turned almost upside down because you were going so fast. Before lunch, went on one more ride. It was a 1-person ride with a tube. We climbed up the stairs and then went on the ride. It was a very relaxing ride compared to the other ones but I bet if we did that one first, it would have seemed a little faster. Then we had lunch and after lunch we rode a 3-person ride. Kevin, Aunt Mary and I got in one tube and rode Harpoon Express. We went down the slide and it was really fast. Next we waited in a line that was pretty long. We climbed up the stairs and Kevin and I were getting a little scared. We could see that the slide went through a pitch black tunnel that was twisty and turny and then you dropped straight down in light and then went up a straight-up ramp and came straight back down backwards! When we got on the tube and went down the pitch black water slide, I was saying, "uh oh" and Kevin said, "there's no turning back now!". We went down the straight down slide and it was almost like we were a bird that didn't have any wings. We went up the ramp and came down backwards. It wasn't that scary anymore but it was still scary. The next ride had a long line. When we finally got to the top, Kevin went before me and it looked OK when Kevin did it. When it was my turn, I didn't even push because I didn't want to fly out of the toilet bowl! I went down another black slide and when I got into the toilet bowl, I went 3 times around and about made it to 4 and then I fell in the water below. We went on a couple more rides and then went to our house in Southborough just in time for my baseball party.

Part II of "Cousins" to be continued. Stay tuned for stories from Iowa!

Hiking in New Hampshire.

The Last Baseball That I'll Play Until Spring

Wow! It's been a LONG time since I've done any writing. You are probably wondering if I have been kidnapped by aliens. No I haven't, but I have been very busy.

I bet you want to know how my baseball season ended. The last time I wrote we were on our way to the playoffs. Our 1st g ame was against Hopkinton and since they beat us once and we beat them once, it was an even match. We won the close game, 5-4.

On to the championship series...

Our 1st game playing Shrewsbury was a night game under the lights. We lost badly, 11-3. Since the series was a best-of-3, we had a least one more game to play. Our 2nd game against Shrewsbury was a regular game during the afternoon. We won 7-3. So we're on to our 3rd game to determine the champion. After 6 innings, the game was tied so we went to our 1st overtime inning: no score for either of the teams. So we went another extra inning: no runs scored again. Since that was all theextra innings we could play, we ended up being co-champions with Shrewsbury!

Next spring, our team will get a banner on the batting cages that will say "District 8 Co-Champs". On opening day, my dad, the head coach, will get to go out on the field and introduce all the players on our team to everyone who is playing spring baseball. I think I will feel very proud of my team then.

Batting during the final championship game.

Baserunning.

The trophy presentation.

My team:

Front Row (l-r): Matthew Dunderdale, Louis Lyons, Patrick Solomon, Aidan O'Leary, Nolan Kimball, Connor Whitney

Back Row (l-r): Tony Massaglia, Me, Jack Branson, Jack Bayko, Daniel Goldstein, Greg Rosen

Coaches (l-r): Pete Massaglia, Dave Lyons, Larry Branson, Paul Secrist

First Time Pitching (click on this title for video)

I'm a little behind on my blog (a kid my age is pretty busy) but we won our game against Ashland 25-11. And here's my game against Westborough. It was my last game of the regular season. The first inning, I was on deck when we mercied them. We have a 5 run limit each inning. So I had to take off my batting helmet and get the catcher's stuff on.

In the top of the 4th inning, we were up 7-4 with Aidan on first and me on second. Louie hit the ball to 2nd base and got Aidan out running to 2nd. I rounded 3rd and went home and I got out at home. That was 3 outs. I ran out to the mound. I was pitching for the first time in my life. Strike one. My first pitch ever was a strike. Strike two. Ball one. Ball two. Strike three. Batter out! I struck out the first batter I had ever faced.

I pitched for 2 innings and in those 2 innings, I pitched 33 strikes and 15 balls. The final score was 17 - 13. Southborough wins! Stay tuned for our playoff games later this week.

Click on the title of this post to see some video of me on the mound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC8ZXhLbSkQ

Vacation Bible School Video (Click on Title)

Just posting a video to show you what I've been up to this week when I haven't been playing or practicing baseball. Check out my mean air guitar and Liam's great dance moves! Our next games are Saturday and Sunday against Ashland and Westborough. I will be writing more soon.

A Hard-fought Game (click title for video)

Yesterday I played Holliston for the second time in summer league baseball. When we started the game, one-by-one Holliston: struck out, had a pop up hit to 1st base out, and hit a ground ball to 1st base for a ground out. 1, 2, 3 inning. When we got up, Louie hit a single. Our 2nd batter hit a grounder close enough to 1st so the fielder just tagged 1st. One out, man on 2nd. Connor got hit by a pitch and took his base. Then Aidan hit a single and Louie scored and Connor got to 3rd. Aidan stole 2nd. Greg got hit by a pitch. Then Tony got walked. Then Patrick hit and Connor ran home and Tony ran to 2nd. By the end of that inning we scored 4 runs. 4-0 Southborough was winning.

We didn't hold our lead for long and at the start of the last inning Holliston was up 10-7. I was up with 1 out and I got walked. The next batter struck out. 2 outs. Jack was on 2nd and I was on 1st. 10-9 Holliston was winning. Matthew walked. Bases loaded, 2 outs. Still 10-9 and I was on 2nd. Louie hits the ball to shortstop and... and... and... the shortstop misses the grounder! I was rounding 3rd coming home while they were throwing the ball into the catcher. Slide! Slide! Slide! I slid home and the catcher just got the ball about two milliseconds after I slid home. "SAFE!" yelled the umpire. I had scored the winning run! Everyone on my team was jumping on me when I was walking back to the dugout. The final score was 11-10 Southborough. Don't you think that was an exciting finish?

Taming of the Shrews

Yesterday was my second game against the Shrews from Shrewsbury who were the undefeated team. When the game started, our team got up to bat. I was afraid even though I knew that I probably wouldn't be up to bat that inning because they used their ace pitcher and he never had one run scored when he was pitching. Louie struck out. Daniel got a single. Connor walked. Daniel and Connor did a double steal. Man on second and third. Tony had a ground out and Daniel ran home. Our dugout went crazy! Their ace pitcher finally had a run scored on him when he was pitching.

Next inning the pitcher was so afraid of me that he hit me right in my butt so I "took one for the team". The final score was 7-3. Southborough wins! The team that was undefeated is now defeated.

P.S. I think that was the best game Southborough ever played.

The head coach calls a team meeting

before the final out of the game.

Dairy Queen afterwards to celebrate!

Rainy Day Loss

Southborough Americans

Do we have enough coaches?

And we still have 2 more practice coaches!

Splash! Splash! Splash! Baseball players running across the wet and muddy field. We played our second game against Hopkinton in the rain. We were the away team so that means we batted first. But Matthew, Greg, Jack, Nolan and I didn't because Hopkinton made 3 outs before we were up and so we had to go out in the field. But Nolan, Tony and I were benched that inning. Meanwhile in the field, Hopkinton had scored 3 runs and then we finally got 3 outs on Hopkinton to end the inning. When the game ended, Hopkinton won 10 - 6. I was disappointed because I thought we would win the whole game. The next team we play is Shrewsbury and they are undefeated. Can we be the first team to beat them?

The Great Comeback

Turn on the lights! It's time for a night game. Last night I had a night game against Hopkinton. When we were in the batting cages warming up, I saw Hopkinton warming up. They looked good to me, but our team looked better. When the game started, I was behind the plate and Louie was pitching the first inning. When we finally got 3 outs on them, they had already scored 3 runs so they were winning 3-0. When our team got up to bat we got a walk, ground out, pop fly, catch, past ball, steal and a strike out. So at the end of that inning the score was still 3-0 Hopkinton. If you think Hopkinton won that game, you're wrong because we won! The score was 11-5 Southborough! That's what "coming back" means! Have you ever seen that much of a comeback?

Me and my pal, Brendan after the game

The New and Improved Toy Story

Three days ago was the best Friday I ever had! (Besides playing hockey and baseball). My family and I got to see Toy Story 3 in the movie theater. When we got to our seat in the movie theater, the previews took so long that my brother had eaten all of his popcorn. My favorite part of the movie was when Buzz Lightyear talks in Spanish. This part made me laugh. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time - because the seats were so small! By the end of the movie I was happy that we went to see Toy Story 3 on Friday.

Southborough vs. Westborough (with video)

Have you ever seen 19 runs scored in one baseball game? Well, I have. I was actually in the game! Yesterday, my baseball team played Westborough. When we started the game we struck out all 3 batters. When I got out to the field after I hit for the first time that game, we struck out 2 batters and made a play at 1st to end the inning. Then I got up to bat and hit the ball into the outfield without landing in the infield. The final score was 19-0. Southborough wins! I hope we can keep up our winning streak. We have tough games next week. Stay tuned.

See video of the game below or for a better quality video, click on the title of the post.

Or go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sQsGNl9C2I

Second Tournament Win

I had my third baseball game for summer league baseball on Sunday. Our team played the Ashland team. When we started the game, we got to bat first. We didn't score any runs. When we were in the field, Ashland scored a run to make them winning by one run. Two innings later we were winning 6-1. I got up to bat and hit the second pitch to third. The 3rd baseman threw it to 1st and it was an overthrow so I ran to 2nd base. The 2nd baseman ran me back to 1st and tagged me to get me out. When the game ended, we won 15-7. Southborough wins!

Game 2 - Win Against Holliston

Two days ago was my second summer league baseball game. Our team played Holliston for the first time. When my team was all at the baseball field, we went into the batting cages. I hit a line drive back to the back of the batting cage. We warmed up our arms by playing catch. When we actually started playing the real game, we got up to bat. The inning lasted a long time. By the end of the inning we got a 1-0 lead. Then we hustled out onto the field. Our team struck two people out and made a play at first to end the inning. When I got up to bat, I got on first safely. Jack hit the ball and I got on second and he got on first safely. The pitcher threw the pitch and the catcher missed the ball and Jack and I did a double steal. Daniel hit the ball into the outfield and I got home to a 2-0 lead. Two innings later our team was winning 15-0. The pitcher threw the ball to me outside; strike; inside; inside; strike; full count. The pitcher threw a ball and I hit it into the outfield! Three innings later the game ended. 18-6 we won. Hurray for Southborough!

First Ashland Tournament Game

Today was my first-ever kid-pitch game. When we got to the baseball field in Ashland, I started warming up my arm with Tony. After everybody was there, we went out into the field to play the game against Shrewsbury except me, Connor and Matthew who were benched that inning. We made 3 outs faster than I thought we would. Next we batted, but I didn't bat because the Shrewsbury team made 3 outs faster than I thought again. Then, I got the catcher's gear on and went out on the field to catch for Aidan, the pitcher. 1-0 Shrewsbury after that inning. I got to bat and I hit a grounder to third and he made a nice play and got me out at first. When I got back into the dugout, I realized that I could hit a ball from a kid going about 40 mph right over the plate. The next time I got up to bat, I walked. After I got to second, I stole third and on the next hit, I went home. SAFE! 3-2 Shrewsbury. Bases loaded with 2 outs. Our next batter struck out and Shrewsbury wins. But that's OK because I still had fun!

Last Day

Today was my last day of school! I had "Step Up" day. I have Mrs. Murphy for my 3rd grade teacher. I have Henry and Andre from my old class in 2nd grade. It's funny because both of them were in my class two times already and it's their third year with me. I'm glad to have a really nice teacher for my year in 3rd grade. After school was over, I went to my friends Blake, Gavin and Grant's house to have a pool party. That was a fun and wet end of the school year!

The Padres Party

I had a wiffle ball party with my spring baseball team. Lachen and Aksel came first. I asked Lachen if he wanted to play wiffle ball with me. He said, "Sure!". So we played for a few minutes and then Aksel started playing. Then Logan showed up and he started to play. Next, I got up to bat and I hit the wiffle ball about 38 yds and hit a home run. Lachen was up to bat with a man on 1st and 2nd and he hit a pop fly which I caught and the runners on 1st and 2nd forgot to tag up and I touched 1st and 2nd so it was a triple play! Afterward, my dad gave us trophies and we watched a slideshow of our entire season. That was a super fun night!

First Practice - Summer Baseball

Crack! The ball hits the bat. Today was the start and finish of my baseball season. Impossible, you think. No, it's not. It's the beginning of my summer team and end of my spring team. In our baseball practice we had different stations. The first station I had we had to hit the ball on a stick. Coach B was the coach that was holding the stick for me. He was wiggling the stick one or two times.

The second station was where a coach threw the ball up in the air about my waist level and we had to hit it and the other kids who weren't up to bat had to field my balls that were hit to them. I bet I hit a home run in practice.

Next, we went to the next station where my dad was actually standing on the pitcher's mound and throwing hard baseballs about 40 mph. One time he hit me right in the butt! I was the only one he hit in practice. When I was fielding balls, Nolan hit a pop fly that I dove and caught barely. I even got a snow cone. Not one that you eat, just you catch the ball in the tip of your glove and you can see the ball peeking over the top of your glove!

The next station was we had to practice catching pop flies and throwing them back to a coach. Then we went to a different station and practiced fielding a ball and making the right plays. I played second and first base when we were at that station.

Finally, we went to the last station. It was pitching. I love pitching! I threw 6 strikes out of 8 pitches! So that means that I only threw 2 balls, and I think throwing 6 strikes and 2 balls out of 8 pitches is pretty good for a kid that has never pitched in a game before.

P.S. Baseball is awesome to me!