G3 through 2

EV: (8-3) Gabriel throws a frozen rope to first! Pop up (3). Strike
out.
pc: 19

NAPA: Tyler walks. Luke strike out. Jake strike out. Cal walks. Juan
Carlos shot to right, brings in Tyler, runners on first and second. MJ
hard hit to third, over throw scores Cal. Juan Carlos out at home.
pc: 40

2-0 us.

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G3 through 1

EV: (8) Gabe makes a great catch in center. Hit by pitch, runner takes
second on wp. (4-3), runner to third. (9).
pc: 9

NAPA: Juan Carlos single to right. MJ walks. Gabriel out. Dahlen fly
out. Aaron grounder, play to second.
pc: 19

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Game on!

We won the toss - Juan Carlos is our starting pitcher. Dahlen
catching, Aaron at first, Tyler at second, MJ shirt, Jakey third.
Outfield Lyke left, Gabriel center, Cal right.

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Game Today, details:

We play East Vallejo today at 5:30pm.

Game is in Benicia: 40 Rose Drive, Benicia, 94510 (same as first two
games).

Anyone wishing to caraavan to the game can meet the coaches and team
at the In & Out on Soscol at 3:30pm.

Go Napa!!!

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Napa American plays today:

In American Canyon, vs American Canyon at 5:30.

Go Napa!

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Posting Comments

Many wonderful fans have emailed with questions or problems related to posting comments. Apparently my hyper-security-sensitive choices for 'settings' was making it difficult for people to post. I frankly had no idea anyone other than me would have so much to say on here, but love that is the case. I believe I have now broadened the scope of who can post comments to include anyone who is a registered fan of this site. Please try to post a comment, and email me to let me know if you are still running into problems. Anyone registered with the blog should be able to post, if I've made the changes I intended to. I love that so many of you have sought to comment, and hope the blog continues to be something everyone feels proud of.

Fans of the Game

It was a consensus decision, in no small part resulting from their effort to make it to Game 2, that this blog now feature a 'Fan of the Game', and that said feature start with these two: Robert and Mary Palmer (my amazing parents!) who are biologically related to no one on the team, and yet still so committed to the excitement of Napa baseball that they travelled five hours out of their way from Tahoe on July 5th to see Game 2, and then immediately following the game jump back in their car and drive back home to Manhattan Beach so Dad could be home for a 7am conference call. I am delighted to say the lobby for this post - particularly the inaugural award - came not from me, but from several other families truly touched by the effort you make to come to the games. Thank you to our first and preeminent Fans of the Game!

Game Two Recap

Another great game - most definitely showcasing the outstanding defense this team can play. I was happy to be out of the car after a five hour drive from Tahoe to make the game, and pleasantly rewarded with there already being two runs on the board in our first at-bat. Anyone interested in providing the color commentary for the first inning is welcome. Juan Carlos pitched an absolutely outstanding game for us - only 50 pitches for 14 outs after coming in for Dahlen in the second. He was backed by some fabulous fielding, particularly from MJ in the second, fifth and sixth innings; Jacob in the fourth, and his own great fielding play to first in the sixth for the second to last out of the game. Our hitting was solid, and my favorite offensive moment came in the 5th when Cal, on Aaron's double, nearly made it home on his full-tilt wheels despite a very adamant third base coach telling him to STAY on third. Post-game, we had a great all-family BBQ at the field. Any guesses from the pictures what game they chose to play after the coaches told them to 'settle down?'

Napa American Wins

14-4. Whoo hoo!!

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Game Over: WE WIN 5-0

NAPA: Luke - pitching change during at-bat - walk. Juan Carlos out.
MJ strike out. Gabriel strike out.
PC: 7

BE: strike out, OUT (1-3), out (4)
PC: 50

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Through 5

8-4 Napa American in the bottom of the 3rd!!

NAPA: Juan Carlos digs out a single! ((our photographer was asked to
leave the field... Eric has the bigger camera lense though!)), MJ sac
bunt - JC to second. Gabriel single, Juan to third, runners advance
on overthrow - JC scores, G to second. Dahlene single, G to third.
Dahlen stole second. Joe walk. Bases loaded, one out. Cal pinch
running for Joe. Aaron double to left, scores Dahlen and Gabriel - and
almost an enthusiastic running Cal :) - runners on second and third.
Colton strike out. Jake out (1).
PC: 47

BE: strike out, single, MJ gets the double!! (U4, 4-3)
PC: 43

5-0 through 5

Inning Quote: "There's a BABY on the field!"

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G2 Through4

JC pitch count through 3: 24

NAPA: Benicia pitching change. Aaron out (1), Justin single - Tyler
pinch runnig, Jake strike out, Luke out (4-3)
PC: 15

BE: fly out (9), ground out (5-3)- great throw Jake!, double to left,
ground out (4-3)
PC: 35

2-0 through 4

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G2 Through 3:

NAPA: MJ ground out (1), Gabriel fly out (9), Dahlen single, Cal out
at first.
PC:58

BE: walk, strike out, out (5-4), hit - runners on first and second,
strike out.

Quote of the game: "Really lovely, boys!" Robin J

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Through 2

NAPA: Colton single - Luke pinch running, Hayden fly out - great at
bat, Luke steals second, Tyler strike out, Luke steals third, Juan
Carlos strike out with another great at-bat.
PC: 46

BE: ground out (1-3), pitching change to Juan Carlos, ground out
(1-3), MJ gets the third out on a great fielding play!
PC (Juan Carlos): 5

2-0 us through 2

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Through 1

NAPA: 2 runs scored before I got here! Juan Carlos and Gabriel both
cross home with hits by Juan Carlos, sac bunt by MJ advanced JC to
2rd, hit Dahlen
PC: 25

BEnicia (BE): strike out, strike out, strike out
PC:15

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Game on! We are visitors, Dahlen is our starting pitcher (gett'em Digger!), and I am trapped in soul-sucking bad traffic coming I'm from Tahoe. 1st Inning update will be via relay.

Game Today 5:30:

40 Rose Drive Benicia, California 94510 Second Game vs. Benicia - GO NAPA!!

Game One

We Win. 8-3 A great game, and very exciting start to the tournament. East Vallejo was a team of hitters (and a fan base of chanters) and we all felt the jitters until the final out. Aaron (through 5) and Colton (in the 6th) both threw well against big bats, and Napa had a few key defensive stops - my favorite being the 3-4-1 out at first to retire EV in the first inning -- it was the kind of 'everyone-know-where-you-are-supposed-to-be-backing-each-other-up' split-second play that these boys make look easy. On the offensive side, Gabriel's home run to start the game was such a great start for us, and several of the boys had key bunts to get us base runners. I'm still not sure how to 'call' the offensive play during the second that scored Jakey and managed to keep Gabriel safe at second. It wasn't a pickle - any comments about how to describe that series of events are welcome :> If you're interested in a recap of the play-by-play, welcome to my nerd-center: Game On! We won the toss - Aaron Shortridge is our starting pitcher. Pep Talk:

1st Inning: EV (East Valejo): Double, strike out, fly out, out at first - with a
great play by Juan Carlos to Aaron (3-4-1)

NAPA: HOME RUN by Gabriel Reyes -first batter!! Juan Carlos bunt
single. Dahlen walks. Canepa fly out, runners to 2nd and 3rd. Single
by Shortridge brings in both runners. Rustice pinch runner for Aaron.
Strike out. Rustice stole, out at second.

3-0 through one :)

2nd Inning: EV: out at first (5-3), out at first (6-3), fly out (7)
Aaron pitch count end of one 15
AS pitch count through second 31

NAPA: Colton hit by a pitch, on first. Cal pinch running for Colton.
Jakey single. Luke Strike Out. Gabriel single, Cal scores, runners
advance on overthrow. Juan Carlos out at first, Jakey scores when G
drew the play on a pickle at second. New Pitcher. Gabriel steals
third. Dahlen out at first.

5-0 through 2

Ev pitch count end of one 25
EV1 pitch count through second ?
EV2 count 4
3rd Inning: EV: strike out, walk (hit by pitch), runner steals second on wp, walk,
strike out, out at first (4-3)

Aaron pitch count 54

NAPA: Canepa single, Tyler pinch running, Tyler out at second on Aaron
grounder, Justin fly out, running error - Aaron out.

EV count: 11

5-0 through 3.

Favorite coaching expression for the game: "Don't get cheated!" Kyle

4th Inning: EV: Single to right, double play (4-6-3), strike out.
Aaron count 69

NAPA: Cal bunt single (awesome bunt), double play (1-6-3), Tyler bunt
single, Gabriel single, Juan Carlos triple, scores two. Dahlen
(Digger!) single to center, brings in Juan Carlos. Joe out at first.
P
EV count 33

8-0 through 4

5th Inning: EV: strike out, strike out, strike out.

Aaron count:81

NAPA: Aaron walks, pitching change, Justin out (1). Cal out (1). Out
(4) on Jakeys grounder.

EV pitch count 8

8-0 through 5
6th Inning: EV: solo homer, solo homer, pitching change at 87 pitches for Aaron -
Colton pitching for Napa. Out (4-3). Single to center. Strike out.
Double to center, one run scores. Walk. Out (4).

Colton pitch count:23

Caravan to the game

Meet at 8:00am today at In & Out on Soscol and Imola to caravan to Benicia.

Game Today 10am:

40 Rose Drive Benicia, California 94510 First Game - Don't miss it! GO NAPA!!