Off to the East Again

Oops!  This one was supposed to be published yesterday, and yesterday's post was supposed to appear today, but something got fouled up... I think it was someone, and it was me! 

Prince Go-for-It's last, big tournament was in Moses Lake, WA.  This was during Princess Bossy's visit, so she came along!  Since we didn't get the schedule until that week, so thought we might be playing first thing in the morning and it's a 3 1/2 hour drive, we arranged to arrive the day before.  As it turned out, the first tournament game was at 8 PM.  That meant we were there about a full day and a half early.

The coaches were glad to hear that, because the 18 year-old team was playing in nearby Ephrata, and needed some extra support.  The prince ended up sitting the bench the first day, but started the game on the second day, several hours before his own game that evening.

The team always warms up for up to 2 hours before a game, so Bossy, CuddleBunny, and I had some time to kill, and drove to get snacks, water, and sunscreen.  (We also got just a little sidetracked at a quilt fabric store and someone forgot we had a schedule to keep!) Prince Go-for-It thought the game started at 1:00.  Unfortunately, it started at 12:30, so, according to the report from his coach, we missed 2 amazing plays our prince made in center field.  But we were there for his first at-bat.

See that ball in the last picture, headed for the plate?  


Turns out it wasn't headed toward the plate, but toward Go-for-It's hand!  The ump was sure he'd hit a foul ball, since the ball landed somewhere past first base.  But it hadn't.  It struck the bone on the top of his right hand, leading from his ring finger to his wrist.  The knuckle below that finger seemed to have disappeared into his hand...Not good.  

Amazingly, the little town of Ephrata has its own hospital, so off we went to the ER.  The bone was broken, and they splinted his hand and gave him pain meds.  Once we were back home the following week, we consulted with his own doctor, then saw an orthopedist and it was repositioned...OUCH... and put into a cast.... A cast that stayed dry for about 1 1/2 of the 3 weeks it was supposed to be on.  But I digress...







Meanwhile, the 16 year-olds' tournament began...


Princess Bossy was a little taken aback that 3 days of her stay would now be spent, sitting in nearly 100 degree temperatures, watching kids she didn't know play ball. But we knew them, we'd paid for the hotel, and Go-for-It was still a member of his team, who wanted to, as he should, support his buddies through their games.  

He had great fun serving as first base coach, and again, they finished in a very respectable 3rd place.  They could have done better in that one... Maybe with their starting center fielder?

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WSU Tourney

I've lived and worked on college campuses, and have yet to see an ugly one.  The atmosphere is so positive and energetic, and the grounds so parklike. WSU was no exception.  

And being and playing in the stadium was no less "big time" feeling than at the Husky ballfield.  It just lacked the urban surroundings, which is the more relaxing environment I prefer --without the fuss and fury.

My niece, who now works at UW, is a WSU
alum and highly recommended the Cougar Country Drive-In
for a burger and one their famous Cyclones
(like a Dairy Queen Blizzard...Ice cream and candy, basically)

Independence Day fireworks over the city.
...from the WalMart parking lot! :-)

Even further from any urban hustle and bustle were the tournament games held on a field in nearby Colfax.  One of the moms went into the local grocery store, and the checker thought she was from the new family moving into town.  Everyone knows everyone else there, apparently, and a new face attracts attention.  

The field itself was on the far edge of town, beyond it, only a narrow road along a river.  But Hubby (the only time he was able to come with us to a tournament), CuddleBunny, Eager, and I had time to kill during team warmup, so enjoyed a leisurely ride and took some photos.  

It was interesting to note wildlife and bugs that are different from those we see on our side of the mountains. 

The boys did well, and finished 3rd in the tournament.

-- And I should have mentioned previously, that almost all baseball photos, particularly action shots, were taken by Prince CuddleBunny.  Princess Eager, an avid photography buff, was often behind her camera, too, and she supplied a lot of individual shots for the team members to share on their respective social media options.

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Eastward Ho!

The next big tournaments for Prince Go-for-It's team were in Eastern Washington.  In fact, we left immediately after the championship game at UW to head to the cross-state rival stadium at Washington State University in Pullman.  








The drive was long, but beautiful.  It's always interesting and nice to change environments, and enjoy scenery unlike that we see everyday.  















I am convinced, for whatever reason there may be, that the clouds on that side of the Cascades are just different.  They seem so much more dramatic, and with more depth.  Awesome.

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Tournament Time

One of the boys' first (and favorite) big tournaments was one in which they played against premier teams in University of Washington's brand new Husky Baseball Stadium.  It felt 'big time!'

They had some skill clinics, then played tournament games in the afternoons and evenings.  It was HOT, and the competition was fierce.  They weren't expected to do well, and did lose their first game,   but not badly.

  

The next day brought better things, and Prince Go-for-It got to feel a big part of their success. 

 Game 1 that day went into the win column, with a good scoring margin for our boys.  The 2nd game, a night game, so under the lights, was more of a battle.  

With 2 outs in the 9th inning, the score was tied.  Prince Go-for-It had 2 strikes, and 2 balls, but then he smacked a good one, and was on base.  2 hits by teammates later, and he was the winning run, taking the team into the championship game on the final day!














Because this tournament was in the Big City, we commuted, and the prince's siblings, nephew, and dad were able to come watch.  But being in the new stadium was more of a family affair than just who was in the cheering section, or even playing on the field...  

First of all, our niece works on campus, so we got to see her.  But also, my older brother had hauled the steel for framing the stadium when it was built, and our eldest prince had wired the lights over the stadium seats!  

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