We have reached NCAA Regional finals sunday and of the NCAA record eleven SEC schools selected to the 2013 NCAA tournament field, ten schools are still alive and playing for berths into the Super-regionals next week. Six SEC programs are undefeated this weekend and within one win of a berth into the super-regionals. Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee & Texas A&M are all hosting regionals this weekend. Missouri will face Cinderella Hofstra that crashed the supers last year and is looking to advance again. Texas A&M must beat old Big 12 foe Baylor, a team that they beat Saturday with a huge rally from 3 runs down to win 6-5 in their last at-bat of the game.

The task of getting into the super-regionals will be a little tougher for Arkansas, Georgia, LSU and South Carolina. LSU does get the benefit of hosting the NCAA Regional final on sunday, but must beat state rival Louisiana-Lafayette twice to advance. The Arkansas Razorbacks will have the hardest road to the supers of all as they would have to defeat #1 Oklahoma twice on sunday at the Sooners home field to advance. One thing is guaranteed and this is it will be a great day full of exciting SEC softball on the diamond.

Warm-up is at 5:45 pm, game time at 6:15, at Catholic University DuFour Center – Softball Field, 3606 John McCormack Drive NE, Washington, DC 20064. For detailed directions use this link:http://www.cuacardinals.com/information/visitors/index

The Diamondbacks include staff and a few Home residents. The team has a brand new beautiful softball field on campus next to the new Scott Building, but it’s not quite ready for use yet. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Jerry Carter at 443-510-0756.

Enjoy!

As we woke up at 3AM to make sure we had everything, kissed and said our “see ya soons” to the pups and made our way to the airport, we were overwhelmed with excitement as we were preparing to descend into a 3^rd world country to help others and see friends. We made it to the airport 2hrs early just to make sure that all our donations that we had effortlessly received from some amazing donors were able to make the flight with us.  We had made such a simple request, via Facebook, for any softball/baseball equipment that friends and family were willing to part from so that we could donate them to the village and children of La Represa. After 2months of receiving donations we found ourselves parking on our driveway B/c our garage was over abundantly filled with cleats, bats, helmets, jerseys, gloves and balls that would not allow us to park in our 2car garage. Man, we felt blessed by our friends!

Thanks to the airport skycap we were able to get our entire luggage on the plane. We were allowed (1) bag under and (1) bag on top with no charge but we had so much to take that we were going to need the “at the most” luggage acceptance that Delta would allow which was (2) bags under and (1) on tops. That is where  First United Methodist Church came in. Because of their generosity they allowed us to take a total of (6) bags between Chris and me. They paid for the extra luggage, the luggage was checked and we were on our way….here is where the story truly starts!

We arrived in Atlanta, we waited, we went through customs and we caught our final flight to Santo Doming.  We arrived in Santo Domingo and we went through luggage, and we turn the corner to see those Lovely Ludlams who welcome us with hugs and smiles. I don’t think Chris and I realized at this point that our lives would be truly changes. We ate a pizza covered in corn and shared our short and effortless travels. We load into the Korean truck which also pairs as the village ambulance (I will get into that later) and we head to La Represa, aka District 12. We drive the coast and see the amazing beautiful water and landscape…STILL WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE IN STORE. We drive through the crazy Capitol and down landscaped filled highways until we turn off to the right to gravel road. The smell was a little unsettling at first but after a while it becomes a norm.  We again take another sharp right and coast down this long hill, avoid hitting other vehicle, and make our way down the winding roads until we come upon free range cattle and dirt road. We go through the town and over a bridge and down the road and we are home! 

We get out of the vehicle only to be greeted by complete adolescent strangers with smiles on their faces and our hearts melt. We bring the luggage into this beautiful dwelling we call our home for a week….now what do we do? That thought only lasted a moment because it was like we were in a family setting. Tamara, Mo, Lauren and Lexie made us feel at home. We ate and talked and caught up on the months we had been apart. At this part I was a bit worried for my husband as he did not understand Spanish or grow up in Southern California like I did where Spanish is our 2^nd language. He had a little anxiety but that was soon omitted the next morning on a bike ride, thanks to Mo, through the village. He was so shocked that though a language barrier was present that everyone in the village would still speak to him in Spanish, with a smile on their faces and a hug at hand. Who are these people? They aren’t like people back home. They welcome strangers into their homes as if you are family, the children take your hand and want to practice their new english with you…I don’t think we are in the US anymore Toto!

In the week that we spent in the village we experienced so much. We witness so much while we were there that I feel a list form may be needed to share just a 10^th of what we saw…

We Witnessed:

*What we Americanos call housewives and the DR call “Lovers of the Home” tend to their little ones in the morning, and then shoosh them out of the house until dusk or dinner time. Yep, children still play outside all day.

*Carpenters in the shape of little boys manufacture their own means of entertainment, with what we know of as toys, with just a plastic bottle, tire and a stick.

 *Tween boys who mocked the game of marbles with rocks that lined their roads.

*Men leaving the village to travel to the Capitol to work through the week only to travel back home Friday or Saturday to be with their families until they had to leave again.

*Free range horses, pigs, chickens, cattle, goats (that was our wake~up call every morning) and that pesky rooster that coincidently sounds as if it shouts, “Put Your Pants On” roam the open land.

*Love and compassion and respect in every age, sex and stature from everyone for everyone.

*No hate or evil will towards anyone by everyone

*A faith in God that is so strong and a lack of faith that is being built everyday by The Ludlams and Pastor Thomas and his wife, Sonja

*Pedestrians who walk with machetes openly down the road with the intent to cut down brush and not to use maliciously.

*Patience with the  natives when speaking to either my husband who didn’t understand a lick of Spanish other than “si” or the universal work “No” or with myself where my Spanish was rusty when it came time to verbalize in Spanish what I was talking about.

*The way a group of women who have one priority in the village, to the home, came together to form a softball team with a little help from donations and a curiosity.

*The neighbors…Alexandria who cooks with love and you taste it in her food to her husband who has mastered the straight blade that my husband was NOT sure about and now misses so much to the daughter who is well mannered and beautiful to the son who is an amazing kid and equally amazing ball player. Chris can’t stop talking about how he misses seeing Jeffrey at the back door asking him to throw with him and to teach him to throw a knuckle ball.

*That even if the women of La Represa lost to the ladies of La Cuchilla…twice and by a lot…could still hug and laugh and joke after the game instead of throw a fit and stop off mad.  AND that the towns shut down so they could cheer both ladies’ teams on…how cool is that!!

 *The act of sharing brand new gloves and bats with strangers KNOWING they were going to return when the Americanos (my husband and I) feared they would be stolen B/c they are new and we are used to that in the States.

INSERT: This reminds me of the blog Tamara posted about the “missing laundry” that was in fact not missing at all but was folded neatly in the washer thanks to the neighbors who saw the rain coming and the dry laundry hanging…she spoke about condemning before believing….GUILTY! But after being with these amazing people of the DR…well, Chris and I have taken a vow to TRY and believe in others before condemning. 

*A group of boys who play American’s Past Time Sport so effortlessly and compassionately. They practice everyday to perfect their passion. The coolest moment with these gentlemen were when they received their jerseys and the amount of joy they had as they politely said please and thank you and then as we were leaving they all ran from the far end of the field all the way to us to say thank you and good~bye as we were leaving that day. I was so caught off guard with great emotion to receive such a heartfelt thanks and safe travels.

*The respect and cherished loved for the elders like Ramon and Amelia who, by far are amazing abuelos and can sing like song birds! Once you meet them you are forever in love with their love for each other and life…and coffee, haha!!!

*A man who is liked by many in the States but treasured by all (except for those pesky motorcycle cops in the Capitol, haha) in the village. A foundation for his family and a rock for the village. His watch-less tanned hands help the village and his Spanish translating ability help the Americanos. His “without thinking” ability to help with the sick and his coffee and breakfast making skills did NOT go unnoticed! Mo, thank you for helping Chris communicate and sharing your family and time with us.

*A woman who homeschools her children, who washes and line dries the laundry, who helps with accommodating the school of La Respesa with her knowledge in teaching, guiding abilities, and teaches her daughters every day to get out and experience the events that cross their paths. Who falls down during a softball game and, while laughter erupts, gets up and curtsies to the laughter to show her daughters to brush off the hurt or possible embarrassment and roll with the punches. Not to mention she is one heck of a pitcher! Tamara, thank you for your words and insight during our girl time!!

*An almost 14yr old (at the time of visit) Americana whose curiosity for softball grew into a full time position on the La Represa Lions. And even thought she was heckled in the beginning and hurt by her insecurity to fail…she didn’t give up and is growing EVERY DAY as a Lady Lion…we are so proud of you Lauren!

Not to mention she is one amazing translator!

*A young lady Americana who sees no embarrassment or obstacle she can’t climb, no cup song she can’t tackle or slithery snake she can’t imitate..whose comments are hilarious and off the wall and whose heart is still so pure at her tween age. We are so proud of Lexie and her accomplishments in the DR.

The Ludlams shared their world with us for a week and we could not have been more blessed. We look back now and think how a honeymoon cruise or resort trip would NOT have been a ¼ as cool and memorable as our DR trip was. Don’t get me wrong…we were able, thanks to our donations from our wedding reception, to go to the resort for a couple days and bring the Ludlams with us…but Chris and I would have been fine to spend the last couple of days in the village. We knew that the resort would be a great break for our host family and it was a honeymoon~like experience for us. We enjoyed our honeymoon with family time at the pool, during meals and snorkeling the Caribbean. We had a blast and are soooo blessed! Thank you Maurice, Tamara, Lauren and Lexie for opening your home, opening your hearts, and sharing your thoughts and stories with us! We have been forever changed for the better! We even fiddle around with the idea of becoming DR residence…Oh, and you will hear us say on a weekly basis, “Well, that would have NEVER happened in the DR!” 

I leave this blog with a passage I was reminded of by a friend that reminds me of our experience, “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses (Proverbs 28:27 NIV).  We, Chris and I, were the poor and the DR and the Ludlam’s welcomed and loved us eyes wide open and for that…we are FOREVER grateful to you all!

Hope to see you all soon!!!!

The Browns

Chris and Ashlie

]]> http://julsoutloud.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/friday-night-at-the-field/ Sat, 18 May 2013 17:32:09 +0000 Julie Holcomb http://julsoutloud.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/friday-night-at-the-field/ http://olysports.com/2013/05/18/today-518-softball-districts-continue-bears-rams-t-birds-baseball-in-state-regionals/ Sat, 18 May 2013 16:24:09 +0000 Brandon Sparks http://olysports.com/2013/05/18/today-518-softball-districts-continue-bears-rams-t-birds-baseball-in-state-regionals/ UPDATE: District softball at Sprinker rained out. See below…

High school baseball

4A State Tournament
Olympia vs. Lake Stevens – Everett Memorial Stadium – 1:00 PM

Olympia travels to Everett to take on the District 1 champions, Lake Stevens, in the regionals round of the state baseball tournament. The Vikings finished in second place of the Wesco North but won three straight in districts to claim their spot. The winner moves on to play either Bothell or Kentwood at 4:00 PM at Everett Memorial Stadium while the loser sees their season come to an end.

3A State Tournament
North Thurston vs. Mt. Si – Bannerwood Park, Bellevue – 1:00 PM

North Thurston takes on KingCo champion Mt. Si at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue today in the first round of the state tourney. The Vikings beat Mercer Island and Bellevue to advance to state. The winner will take on either Meadowdale or Peninsula immediately after at Bannerwood.

2A State Tournament
Tumwater vs. Fife – Yelm HS – 1:00 PM

Tumwater faces a tough draw when they open the 2A State Tournament today against 22-3 Fife at Yelm High School. The Trojans have won 17 straight games including the West Central District championship to advance to this point. The winner will take on either Sedro Wooley or North Kitsap at 4:00 PM in Yelm. The game can be heard on the Eli Sports Network.

High school softball

4A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament
Olympia vs. Puyallup – Sprinker Rec Center, Spanaway – 11:00 AM
Rained out. Rescheduled for Monday at 1:00 PM

Do or die for Olympia this morning when they face Puyallup. With their split on Friday, they will face a winner-to-state, loser-out game against the Vikings. Puyallup was blanked by Todd Beamer in the first round and then blanked Mt. Rainier in the second round.

3A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament
Timberline vs. Enumclaw – Sprinker Rec Center, Spanaway – 11:00 AM
Rained out. Rescheduled for Monday at 1:00 PM

Timberline only got one game in before the rains came on Friday but moved to a winner-to-state game this morning against Enumclaw. The Hornets are the #1 seed and had a bye in the first round. The winner moves to the semifinals and is guaranteed a spot at state while the loser falls into a loser-out game at 1:00 PM

There is so much to do!!!!

Or, if you just want to get together with some people on the weekend, leave me a comment below. We get together a lot of Saturdays through the summer and I can let you know when our next meet up is.

Places To Play

• Directory Of Fields In Prague – http://goo.gl/maps/jxxqt

Leagues, Tournaments & Associations

• Heavy Hitters Charity Softball Tournament – www.ppef.cz/softball-charity-tournament/
• Czech Slowpitch League – www.slowpitch.eu
• Czech Softball Association – www.softball.cz
• Krc Eagles Baseball & Softball Club- www.eagles.cz
• Krc Eagles Slowpitch League – www.eagles.cz/cz/tymy/slowpitch
• Tempo Titans Baseball & Softball Club – www.titans.cz
• Kotlarka Baseball Club – www.kotlarka.com
• Joudrs Softball Club – www.joudrs.cz
• Radotin Softball Club – www.radotinsk.net
• Sabat Baseball & Softball Club – www.sabat.cz
• Spectrum Softball Club – www.spectrumpraha.cz
• Domazlice Wolfs Baseball & Softball Club – www.wolfs.cz
• Rytiri Trutnov Baseball & Softball Club – www.rytiri-trutnov.cz
• Trnava Panthers Softball Club (Slovakia) – www.trnava-panthers.sk

Gear & Equipment

• Sport R – Jaselská 244/18, Prague 6 – www.baseball-softball.cz (Recommended)

4A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament
Olympia 4, Rogers 2
Skyview 3, Olympia 1

Maddy Stensby allowed two runs on three hits and Olympia’s two run six inning led the Bears to a 4-2 win in the first round of districts at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway. Adrianna Rupright hit a home run and Nikki Schroeder and Leticia Farias each collected two hits in the win.

But the Bears managed just four hits and committed three errors in their second round 3-1 loss to Skyview. The loss drops the Bears into a loser-out game against Puyallup on Saturday at 11:00 AM at Sprinker.

3A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament
Timberline 12, Kennedy 6
Auburn Mountainview 11, North Thurston 5

Timberline knocked off Kennedy 12-6 in the first round of the 3A district tournament at Sprinker Recreation Area in Spanaway. The Blazers’ second round game was rained out and will be played on Saturday morning at 11:00 AM. They will take on Enumclaw in a winner-to-state game at Sprinker.

North Thurston’s season came to an end with a 11-5 loss to Auburn Mountainview in the first round at Sprinker. The Rams finished at 15-7 overall.

2A District IV tournament
Centralia 10, Tumwater 3
RA Long 7, Capital 0

Tumwater and Capital’s seasons both game to an end on Friday afternoon with losses to Centralia and RA Long respectively.

LSU edged Central Connecticut State 3-2 in the opening round of the Baton Rouge Regional on Friday. LSU pitcher Ashley Czechner racked up 15 strikeouts in the game and allowed only three hits, but they resulted in two runs that kept the game close to the end. LSU’s Bianka Bell and Allison Falcon each contributed RBI’s for the Tigers in the win. LSU moves on to face instate foe Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday in the second round.

With just 8 teams left, the Dutch feel this could be their year, but they will have to do it from the loser’s bracket.

Central fell in round one on Friday to Montclair State 4-1.

The Dutch face Tyler-Texas Saturday afternoon in the double elimination tournament.

Missouri opened the Columbia Regional with an 3-0 win over Stony Brook. Senior Jenna Marston hit a 3 run home run to lead the sixth seeded Tigers to an opening round victory over the Seawolves. Senior Nicole Hudson pitched her second complete game shutout of the year for the Tigers. Missouri will face Hofstra in the second round tomorrow.

Kentucky and Marshall played probably the most exciting opening round game in the Lexington Regional on Friday night. In a classic pitchers duel, Marshall’s senior pitcher Andi Williamson and Kentucky freshman pitcher Kelsey Nunley went into extra innings allowing only one run each. It was Kentucky freshman third baseman Nikki Sagermann that connected on an walk-off bases loaded single that drove in the winning run for the Wildcats in the 2-1 victory. Kentucky had 10 hits in the game and Marshall had 6 hits, but neither were able to muster more than one run before the extra inning RBI by Sagermann. Kentucky will move on to face Virginia Tech tomorrow in the second round and Marshall will face Notre Dame in an elimination game.

Texas A&M scored five runs in the first and second innings and cruised to an 12-0 win in five innings against Penn in their College Station Regional opener on Friday. Aggies Cassie Tysarczyk and Meagan May both hit home runs to lead the offensive attack and sophomore pitcher Lauren Ainsley earned the win while holding the Quakers to just one hit for the game. Texas A&M will face old Big 12 foe Baylor in the second round tomorrow.

The Florida Gators got off to a slow start in the Gainesville Regional and found themselves down 1-0 after two innings against Hampton. The Gator offense got heated up in the bottom of the third plating four runs in that inning and finishing the game with seven unanswered runs on 11 hits including home runs by Kelsey Horton and Taylore Fuller in a 7-1 rout of the Pirates. Florida pitcher Alyssa Bache moved to 9-0 on the season by pitching a complete game and holding the Pirates to just 1 run on 2 hits. Florida moves on to the second round where they will face South Florida for the third time this season. The Gators won both earlier meetings this season with the Bulls, but lost in this same regional last season to South Florida.

Yesterday I watched a group of young ladies jumping up and down grasping a huge trophy, passing it to one another, taking pictures with it and then it happened. One parent decided that they needed to point out that their daughter reached a personal statistical milestone for the season during the game and they were holding the ball that she did it with. We were all suppose to stop taking pictures, celebrating with each other, high-fiving each other, rolling around on the ground with each other to listen to how, in that moment, one person was more important than the collective team. Thankfully, all the parents continued to snap pictures, the girls kept cheering and rolling around on the ground celebrating… including this parent’s own daughter. The parent was left clutching a ball that only meant something to them. To her credit, this young lady is a heck of an athlete and I love watching her play and she will go on to greater things if she can remain focused and not be jaded by her parent’s efforts to make her more important than her teammates. Being a life-long athlete myself, I’ve always seen the parents who selfishly try to “fix”  their own past failures by living through their children. I will say right here and right now, no matter what stats I put up as a baseball player through my life, no matter who scouted me or recruited me… my daughter has forever surpassed me as a the better family athlete. And honestly, I’m perfectly okay with that. She’s a “Champion” and she earned it… with her teammates and through her own effort and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

Parent’s… we’ve had our time and unfortunately many of us are not retired major leaguers or headed for the Hall of Fame for any organized activity… except parenting. The next time you’re at your child’s game, think about how you felt when your dad yelled at the ref when a bad call was made against you or when your coach asked you to please tell your dad to calm down at games. Being that kid is not a good feeling. Let the kids be kids and let the game be the game. It would be great if we could represent our children the way that we ask them to represent us when they’re not around us.

Mississippi State committed four crucial errors against Florida State and could never really get back in the game and dropped the opener of the Mobile Regional against the Seminoles 5-2 on Friday. Mississippi State plated both of their runs in the sixth inning on single RBI’s by junior Logan Foulks and sophomore Briana Bell, but were unable to overcome the early five run deficit that the Seminoles had built up. The Bulldogs will face Mississippi Valley State in an elimination game on Saturday in the Mobile Regional. The Bulldogs beat their intrastate foe the Delta Devils 1-0 at home on April 24th in the teams only meeting this season.

The Arkansas Razorbacks got a solid effort in their NCAA regional opener against Fordham in Norman, Oklahoma and downed the Rams 5-1 on Friday. Razorback sophomore pitcher Kimmy Beasley pitched a complete game and allowed on one run on six hits with eight strikeouts in the game. Arkansas Clarisa Navarro led the team at the plate with two RBI’s. The Razorbacks will now face the winner of #1 seed and regional host Oklahoma and Marist on Saturday.

After we stuffed ourselves on BBQ, cole slaw, salad, Tater Tot casserole, and baked beans, we had a wild and wooly softball game (see attached video). 

This is my sister and her family.  

Mom and Penny

Chance, Grandpa Mike, Hubby

Tater Bug.

From left….Katie, Cristin, Zach, Chance, Chance’s friend Jordan. 

The ice cream truck came by.  

Mom and Paula.

Hubby

My Father In Law

Clay at bat.  

I think my sister had a moment of exhaustion or unconsciousness,  I don’t know which.   No worries…she is fine.      I don’t think naps are allowed during softball games…especially when you’re the pitcher. 

My father-in-law after his big home run.      Oh…the glory of the victory!

The pitcher.

Team photo.

I swear, my family alone keeps Cheetos in business.

I love this face. 

Pretty girls.  

Michael and his parents.  

Now this video isn’t great, but I think it gives a little something extra to my post. I like videos.    Enjoy.

And…Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there.  

Tennessee was led by pitcher Ivy Renfroe, who struck out six batters over five innings, in the Knoxville Regional on friday. Lady Vol Cheyanne Tarango had a 3 run home run and Rainey Griffin had a 2 run homer as they Lady Vols beat Longwood at home in NCAA Regional play 9-0 in five innings and will move on to the second round against North Carolina State. The game against the Wolfpack of the ACC will be a rematch from a February 15th game in Tampa, Florida won by the Lady Vols 7-0 in the teams only prior meeting this season.

Are we scary or what?! They call us “The Jackson Five.”

South Carolina became the second SEC school to win in the NCAA softball regionals on Friday in Austin, Texas. The Gamecocks fell behind Houston 1-0 through two innings, but scored 4 runs in the third inning to pull ahead of the Cougars. Houston rallied though and came back and tie it up in the bottom of the sixth inning at 4-4. The Gamecocks were able to add two more runs in the top of the seventh and pitcher Katie Marks came in to the bottom of the seventh to shut out the Cougars and collect her second save of the season. South Carolina’s Ashlyn Masters connected on a home run and drove in all 6 runs for the Gamecocks in the win and pitcher Julie Sarratt went six innings to pick up her 12th win of the season. The Gamecocks will face the winner of Texas and Army on Saturday in the second round of the Austin Regional.