Eric is playing on one of the two HP basketball teams in the Stan Evan’s Basketball League. Practices are on Tuesday and Thursday nights with games on Saturday mornings. There are eight kids on the team so everyone gets to play a lot. The games consist of 5 7 minute quarters and they are generally low scoring affairs with scores in the teens or low twenties.
Eric’s lacrosse team finished strong losing by 1 goal to Whitesboro in their final game.
The team got together for picture night and then went out and played a great game, beating the previously undefeated red team.
The Northern Community League had an opening ceremony for all the Little League teams. Below Eric’s team gathers in preparation. One by one all the kids were called out by name (a long process). Eric was 1st for his team.
Eric greets his team mates as they get called out to join the lineup. The field ended up being filled with all the teams represented by a multitude of uniform colors.
At 4pm Eric’s team had a game. He played pitcher and did a good job of fielding the ball.
Eric was 1 for 3 hitting.
Eric decided to play Minor B Little League this year, primarily because his pal, Jack, was playing baseball. In Minor B there are called strikes, coaches on the field and a coach pitching. After 3 practices they had their 1st game. Eric was tagged as catcher for the game. He said he didn’t like the position because he got hit with the ball a lot – even though it didn’t hurt. By the end of the game he was catching a few of the pitches / tips.
Eric batted 6th and in his 1st at bat came up with bases loaded and two outs. He made contact; a slow roller down the 1st base line. The 1st baseman picked up the ball, stood up and was mesmerized by all the kids running. His coaches, parents and spectators were yelling for him to step on 1st base. With all the chaos he froze and Eric beat it down to 1st base safely. Over the 1st two games Eric has 5 hits for 6 at bats. You got to love playing on stone dust, because once the ball is rolling it carries out of the infield.
Eric had his 2nd baseball practice (Minor League B). Practice mainly consisted of one coach pitching and one coaching helping the kids hit and everyone else hanging out in their position in the field. Each kid stood in batting until they got 3 hits and ran to 1st base on the 3rd pitch.
Below Eric lined up as a mid-fielder deep behind the pitcher and then demonstrates his swing. He seems to be a line drive hitter.
After the 3rd hit, drop the bat and run to 1st. After a minute of standing cool on 1st base Eric peeked over to see if Dad caught all the action.
Right now baseball is fun and he is enjoying learning new things. It certainly is less work (running) than soccer.
Our weekend began on Thursday evening. Eric had his final swim lesson at the Holland Patent pool. He is doing basic strokes; crawl and backstroke. He is jumping off the diving board. He is treading water and learning to dive off the side of the pool.
From the swim lessons I took him to his 1st little league baseball practice. It is playing Minor League B in which the coach pitches to the kids. He played short stop in the field and took his cut at batting and made a 3 hits out of six or seven pitches. The practice was cut short due to lighting. The next practice is scheduled for Tuesday night.
We continued our home remodeling. I removed the TV sliding tray from our entertainment center moved all our computer equipment into the entertainment center and co-located it with the desk in the living room. We working on getting the layers (and layers and layers) of wallpaper and plaster from the foyer.
I removed nails from all the molding and wood which had been pulled out of the house. Eric and Trevor sorted through the wood pile claiming boards to use for their log cabin.
We did two coats of paint, ceiling and walls in Eric’s room – Barely Beige on the walls and one wall of a dark, brick or Spanish red. Saturday night Eric slept on the coach and despite the room being finished on Sunday night the fumes were too much to have him sleep there Sunday evening. His closet is opened up and is the last item to be completed. Yet to be completed is the painting, installation of the shelves and drawer unit and the sliding doors.
Our large snow pile and slope have been perfect for sledding. It has been the site of several Olympic competitions. Below Eric and Trevor build a jump to sled off.
Since the big snowstorm 10 days ago the days have been sunny with temperatures in the mid-30s, making for packy snow. These conditions are perfect for making runs and jumps. Below Eric and Trevor pack snow to build a jump.
The backyard olympic events included distance events but a participant favorite was the stunts categories: going over jumps with a leg in the air, falling off the sled and or catching big air. After about an hour the contestants are soaking wet and need to come in the house for refreshment.