P2 G2 I5 - game over, we win!

VC: Strike out. Out (1-3), great throw G. Strike out.
G pitch count 32

NAPA: Facing new pitcher. Hayden walks, Jake running for Hayden. Juan
Carlos walks. Jake out at third on steal. MJ RBI triple, scores Juan.
MJ scores on wp - game over!!

12-2.

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P2 G2 I4

VC: Strike out. Out (3). Out (3), great catch Joe Canepa!
G pitch count 22

NAPA: G walks. Steals second on wp. Joe single to right scores G,
plate to the plate gets Joe to second, Tyler running for Joe. Dahlen
fly out. Aaron strike out. Justin solid single, Tyler to third, Colton
running for Justin. Colton steal draws the throw, scores Tyler, Colton
safe at second. Luke strike out.

10-2, us.

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P2 G2 I3

VC: Out (5-3), nice catch Jake. Out (6-3). Out (1-3). Great inning.
G pitch count 8

NAPA: Juan Carlos out at first. MJ single. G walks. Joe SENDS IT over
left, scores three. Dahlen walks. Pitching change Aaron safe at
first, Dahlen out at second. Justin single, Aaron to third, Tyler
running for Justin. Cal RBI single to left, scores Aaron. Hayden rips
it to center, scores Tyler, runners to first and third. Juan Carlos
single scores Cal. MJ single, JC out at second.

8-2, us.

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P2 G2 I2

VC: Out (3). Solo home run. Single. Single. Out (3), runners to second
and third. Single, scores a run. Runners on first and thirdl.
Pitching change to Gabriel on a full count. Strike out.
G pitch count 1

NAPA: Colton ground out. Cal strike out. Jake ground out.

2-2.

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P2 G2 I1

VC: Single to center. Steals second on passed ball. Strike out. Out
(6-3), held the runner at second. Strike out.
JC pitch count 15

NAPA: Juan Carlos ground out. MJ walks. Gabriel SENDS IT out the left
field line - home run! Tyler walk with a GREAT at bat (9 pitches).
Dahlen walks, hit by pitch. Aaron out in a double play.
Pitch count 22

2-0, us.

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P2, G2 Game On!

Vs Vacaville Central (VC)

We are home, Juan Carlos is starting on the mound for us. Dahlen
catching, Joe at first, MJ second, Aaron short, Jake third, Colton in
left, Gabe center, Cal right.

Go Blue!

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Updated Brackets for Section 1 Tourney

This link (title) should take you to a bracket that is updated nightly - for anyone wanting to follow how the other teams in our bracket our doing (ahem, Dad?)

Phase II Game 2 Today - Lafayette

vs. District 64 Vacaville Central

Game time: 6pm

Location: 711 St. Marys Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549


Anyone wishing to caravan to the game can meet the coaches and players at 3:15pm at the In & Out Burger on the corner of Soscol and Imola in Napa.

GO NAPA!!!

Its always a team effort

I have been thinking of writing a quick post about this for several games now, and Cal's great play to score the go-ahead run against Petaluma National turns out to be not only an amazing play, but a great example of what may go unnoticed in my blog coverage.

For those of you following from afar, it is hard for me to completely capture the substitutions and rotations that happen among all the players throughout the game.  While I try to capture who is on the field in which position at the start, that certainly ebbs and flows throughout the game - as do hitters and runners when we are on offense.  There are several boys on this team who in some games play only one or two innings with only one or two at-bats.  This is a function of both the great depth we have on the team, and the fact that certain particular abilities are best used at key moments, and therefore are kept in reserve for those times.

In the Petaluma game, Hayden - at his only at bat in the game - came in to start us off at the top of the fifth and hit much a needed and solidly delivered single up third base. Cal was brought in to pinch run for him.  Next up, Tyler, in his first at-bat of the game, executed a great sac bunt to advance Cal, and finally Juan Carlos roped the double that gave Cal the shot at home plate.  That Hayden and Tyler could both deliver when we needed it, late in the game and on their first at-bat, is testament to their skill and their understanding of the team roles.  Every one of the boys on this team makes a contribution every game.  While my coverage here on the blog tends to spotlight only one or two things a game, I wanted to make sure I took a moment to acknowledge the deep team effort we see every game.

Napa Register Coverage

Again, if you have the time, send the editors a quick note to say thanks.  The coverage the boys are getting is great! (Click the Title to jump to the article in today's paper.)

Fan(s) of the Game

Jerry, Butch, and Ray - The Grandfathers.  They know the game, support the boys, delight the stands, and thoroughly enjoy one another.  We all love them, and are lucky to have them in our numbers.  And now we have a tech-savvy test for them -- who will be the first among them to mention they saw this picture on the blog? :)

Phase II Game 1 Recap

This was a close game.  Petaluma National is a good team, and they played well all game.  

The score stayed 1-1 until the top of the 5th inning, when Cal Bard performed the offensive play of the game, week, month and year: a gritty dive for home that was captured both by our own Eric Schlienger (whose great pictures are posted below) and by the professional sports photographer who came to the game (his picture can be seen in the link below this post).  Cal's play is a fantastic display of the kind of drive and ability this whole team operates with.  I don't know how many of the other boys could do exactly what Cal did, but I know they work on that kind of 110% (in Cal's case, this play might more accurately be a 200%) effort every game.  Aaron and Gabe combined for 12 strike outs on the mound.

Defensively, the play of the game was without a doubt the 2-1-6 pick off of the runner on second in the sixth inning: bottom of the sixth, no outs, runner on second with the tying run at the plate, the boys pick off the base runner with an electrifying play.  I honestly don't think the runner ever saw it coming.  At that point the momentum completely swung our way, and the team wasted no time getting the last two outs.  

This was one of the tougher games we've had to play - a true grind all the way - and a well deserved win  thanks to each and every player keeping their head in the game and doing what they needed to do to all the way through.  I can't say enough how much fun it is to be at these games, and how intensely proud I am of how hard they work and how well they play.

Enjoy the pics:

1- Juan Carlos digs out the single

2 - MJ makes sure he and the first base ump are in agreement

3 - Gabe gets ready to send that ball back out

4 - Cal dives for home

5 - Such a great effort it deserves two pictures :>

6 - Post game, coaches make sure the boys say thank you to the Petaluma stands as well.

A picture is worth a thousand words....

Click on this link.

Cal Bard, pure grit.

P2, G1, I6 WE WIN!

NAPA: G fly out. Joe walks. Joe takes second on a wp. Luke single to
left. Runners to third and first. Aaron ropes a double to center,
scores Joe, runners on second and third. Pitching Change. Cal fly out.
Tyler strike out.
PN: Double. OUT!!! (1-5 pick off). Strike out. Out (6-2).
3-1, us. Yes, yes, yes.
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P2, G1, I5

NAPA: Hayden single up third base. Cal running for Hayden. Tyler
sacrafice bunt. Cal to second. Justin strike out Juan Carlos double to
right, Cal scores with SWAN DIVE over the play at the plate. Just
awesome. Juan Carlos to third in the confusion. MJ out at first.

PN: Strike out. Strike out. Strike out. G has seen five batters,
struck out five batters. Nice.

2-1, us.

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P2, G1, I4

NAPA: G walk - very patient at bat. Joe deep fly out to right, G tags
up and takes second. Umpire calls G out for leaving early, we
disagree. Dahlen single. Dahlen takes second on wp. Aaron ground out.

PN: Strike out. Pitching change at a 2-2 count. Gabriel pitching for
us. Strike out. Strike out.

1-1.

Sent from World Headquarters.

P2, G1, I3

NAPA: Jake rips a single to right. Juan Carlos grounder - Jake out at
second. MJ fly out, double play to first to pick off Juan Carlos.

PN: Strike out. Strike out. Out (3-1).

1-1.

Sent from World Headquarters.

P2, G1, I2

Pitch count correction: 27 through one for Aaron

NAPA: Aaron walks, Luke running for Aaron. Cal fly out to center.
Colton hits into a double play.

PN: Single up third base line. Shot through the infield, Gabe makes a
great play to feet the lead runner (8-5). Runner on second. Out (6).
Single. Runners to first and third. STRIKE OUT.

1-1.

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P2, G1, I1

Napa: Juan Carlos terrific bunt single to start us off. Out - JC
picked off at first. MJ ground out. Gabriel rips it to center for a
solid single. G steals second on wp. Joe ropes a double to center,
scores G. Tyler pinch running for Joe. Dahlen ground out.

PN: Out, Jake makes a great throw to first (5-3). Batter hit by
pitch, takes first. Runner steals second on an attempted pick off at
first. Single to center. Runners on first and third, one out. Strike
out. Runner home on wp. Runner at second, two outs. Strike out.

Aaron pitch count 24 (not sure I'll have this all game, no count on
the board - that was via the umpire :))

1-1.

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P2, G1 Game On!

Vs. Petaluma National

We are visitors, Aaron will be our starting pitcher.

Gorgeous morning for baseball!!

Sent from World Headquarters.