I've got two congrats to put out:
First, Congratulations to Cleveland Dad and son. Son's team is one of the final eight in Div I highschool baseball in Ohio. Mentor was state runner-up last year. Wishing them all the best to take the trophy this year. They've played some great baseball!

Secondly, congrats to Chaz Roe, pitcher, Lafayette High School, Lexington, KY for being chosen Gatorade Player of the Year in KY. Not sure when the national winner is announced, but he would be a great choice!

Wow! I am touched by that Thank you so much! From all the stuff I have read on him, that award is most deserved. Please send my congratulations from Cleveland Ohio to Chaz personally and also to his parents.

For those of you not in the know, lafmom and I have been secretly scheming, wishing, hoping and praying for two State Championships this year - one from Kentucky and one from Ohio.

Our team this year is a gritty bunch of devoted team players. Our team last year was a superstar team that made it to the final game before losing. In sharp contrast, lafmom's team Lafayette had a team last year like ours is this year and also lost in the state championship game. This year, her team has had to deal with the huge expectations which is a very difficult challege and which Lafayette has adjusted to quite nicely.

We are obviously enjoying the ride very much for which I will be most grateful for the rest of my life. As Coach May puts it better than anyone, it is about the journey and not the destination. What a blessing our journey has been. Thanks again!

CDad-ditto, see post under ACC

CD - They are definately a "team" and may be a gritty bunch, but they're also a bunch of good ball players! You're always too humble. Hopefully, they have made it to one of the last four teams - irregardless, they're a good group and deserve applause! Let us know!

I posted under ACC as well. We won and are going to States. See you in Dayton! Thank you everyone for your support!

CD, Congratulations again! This makes Mentor one of the final four teams as they beat the #2 ranked team in the state! Not an easy task! Great job!!!

Hey ClevelandDad,
Just wanted to add my congrats on a great season and Good Luck to you and your guys.
Looking forward to seeing you during the summer.
We play our first league game tomorrow against Boys of Summer.

Daddybags,

Thank you very much! Many stories to tell when we meet. Look forward to meeting your son as well.

Our summer team has players from Padua and Mentor so it will be one more week before we convene as a team.

MCHS - congratulations to you tonight as Madison Central beats Lexington Catholic in 10 innings to go on to the 11 region championship game on Weds against LCA. Lexington Catholic has a good team - they beat Lafayette in a battle on Monday.

Good luck to you and tell M. to go get em!!!!

CD - Congrats! We were at Civic Center #2 (in a tourney) stinking up the place. During the day, various people were giving updates on how your boys were doing. Good Luck Friday AND Saturday!

Beezer,

This type of support and encouragement means alot to me. Thanks so much.

I'll bet Harry looked relieved when he got there

Funny story. Gary's son is a sophmore and was warming up to pitch late in the game against Royalton. As you know, Gary is a pretty cool customer or at least portrays himself that way. A fly on the wall told me that when his son was warming up, Gary's face turned pale as a ghost

Everyone wants their kid to play, but no one wants their kid to screw-up in a game like that!
I tell all the kids to have fun and watch your team mates back. That is all you can do in a big game.

Thanks again

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Beezer,

This type of support and encouragement means alot to me. Thanks so much.

I'll bet Harry looked relieved when he got there

Funny story. Gary's son is a sophmore and was warming up to pitch late in the game against Royalton. As you know, Gary is a pretty cool customer or at least portrays himself that way. A fly on the wall told me that when his son was warming up, Gary's face turned pale as a ghost

Everyone wants their kid to play, but no one wants their kid to screw-up in a game like that!
I tell all the kids to have fun and watch your team mates back. That is all you can do in a big game.

Thanks again

Actually, I never did see Harry. Talked to him via phone but never saw him. I think he was hiding out at Garfield when not at Eastlake. But was with Garry most of the weekend @ CC but he never mentioned that about his son. That's HILARIOUS!!!! Wish I'd known that.

Which summer team is your son playing for?

Team Ohio in the Cleveland Connie Mack league.
Two of the teams that make up that team are in the State Semi-finals, that is Padua (D2) and Mentor (D1). Padua's pitching coach - Doc, is the head Coach for Team Ohio. The two other teams that basically fill out the roster are Saint Ed's (D1) who almost made it to States by losing a heartbreaker to Toledo Start, and Lake Catholic (D2) who were also District Champions. Lake lost to the team that Padua beat. Lake and Padua could have easily played for all the marbles to go to States. There are so, so many ironies this year that my head is spinning. Team Ohio plays their first league game tomorrow night with only nine guys available to play. Good luck to your team this summer.

MCHS - Congratulations on a very good highschool season. Your guys played some excellent baseball this year. Good luck to you next year and with that other sport (don't get hurt!).

Congratulations to Lexington Christian Academy as they won the 11th region in the state of KY. They stand a good chance of making it to state.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Team Ohio in the Cleveland Connie Mack league. Good luck to your team this summer.

Do you know if they play against Stark Stars? Thanks for the good luck!! My son's team has had moments of brilliance and at other times they look terrible. But we face a tough non-league team tonight and then off to Morgantown, WV for the Beaver Valley tourney so they will definitely need the "Good luck"!!!

Thanks lafmom and for all your great support this year You are right, we are very proud.

If there are any parents or players from Cincinatti Elder, you have a fine team and good luck today in the State Championship game.

Beezer,

Not heard of the Stars. Interesting you mention Beaver Valley. That area of the country (e.g., Beaver Falls) has produced some legendary baseball travel teams over the years.

quote:

Beezer,

Not heard of the Stars. Interesting you mention Beaver Valley. That area of the country (e.g., Beaver Falls) has produced some legendary baseball travel teams over the years.

I don't know all of the details but think the Stark Stars is made up from the top players in the Canton area (Jackson, Glen Oak, Central, etc).

And yes, we played the "legendary" BV Red this weekend in the tourney. We lost 3-2 the first time we played them and then had to face them again in the championship. I can see why they are a national powerhouse. Their 14u team played the #7 ranked team out of NJ and dismantled them as well.

Beezer,

Congrats to your team sticking with them like that!

Forgot to mention they have produced some legendary quarterbacks as well. You may have heard of a few of them - Jim Kelly, Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath...That area though the Youngstowne area in Ohio is known as the Monogahela (sp?) Valley. This part of the nation has produced some of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Tough blue collar towns all through out so it doesn't surprise me. Other quaterbacks to come out of the same general area I am talking about are Bernie Kosar and of course one of the greatest - Joe Montana.

CONGRATULATIONS to Chaz Roe, RHP, Lafayette Highschool, Lexington, KY, 32nd overall pick to Col Rockies! Great young man that is very deserving! Lafayette folks are very proud of him!

Way to go Chaz!

I hope he has a great career.