Since the baby is due at the end of the season and I didn't want to leave my team hanging without a coach, Brian is coaching both boys this season. But I'm assisting and helping him out. We were able to get in three practices for each team before the first games yesterday.
Rylan's team is all green this year (shirt, shorts, and socks) and sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods.
Carter's team is all blue (shirt, shorts, and socks) and sponsored by CCA (Corrections Corporation of America - they "specialize in the design, construction, expansion and management of prisons, jails and detention facilities"). What an interesting sponsor for a youth soccer team! :)
We really like both of our teams this year. Rylan's team is all new (except for his buddy Radnor who played on our team last fall only). Luckily they aren't all the super young kids that barely made (or didn't even actually make) the cutoff like he had the last two seasons. There are even a couple of ringers on the team that are really good already. Carter's team is about half returning players that requested Brian as a coach again. The rest of the kids are all well behaved and listen well. And aren't bad soccer players either! It's looking like it's going to be a good season for both teams!
Rylan's game was first at 10 am. It was hot and humid yesterday. It only got to 90F, but it was so sunny and miserable.
We are SO PROUD of Rylan! He started off the first two practices with his normal crying when he falls down and whining about everything. But after some bribing - promises of a "chicken burger" after practice (which is what Rylan calls a chicken sandwich from Wendy's) and Chuck E. Cheese after two good practices - Rylan is pulling it together! He did great at this week's practice and AMAZING at the game. He fell down tons during the game and was pushed around a bit but never once got upset. And he scored 2 goals!!!
Rylan's first goal ...
So happy!!! And getting congratulations from Sam on the other team - Sam did speech with Carter last year.
I have a picture like this of Carter from last year but can't find it. I love how Rylan is trying to get everyone to stop because one of the players is on the ground and doesn't want him to get kicked!
This may be Rylan's second goal - can't remember for sure.
Rylan's team scored a couple dozen goals. Brian even held his team back and eventually was playing only 2 players to their 5 (and Rylan's team was still scoring). They were eventually were able to let the other team score. It was weird being on the other side of the dominance with Rylan's team! The boys on the other field also did better than the other team but I think Brian put both ringers on Rylan's field (it's hard to know until the first game how to split up the boys).
Rylan was also super proud of himself for playing so hard and we are okay for now if we have to bribe him. He enjoys it when he's playing and afterwards.
Carter's game was immediately after Rylan's at 11 am. We have 3 overlapping games with baseball this season so for this one, we had Carter play a quarter of his soccer game before I rushed him over to his baseball game at the fields about 1/2 mile down the road.
Carter played really hard for the 8 minutes (as always). When the quarter was over he was purple in the face and soaking wet from playing so hard!
And he even managed to get the first goal for his team!
He was so proud of himself! And we were super proud of him too! He tries so hard and we couldn't ask for anything more from him!
Brian said the boys on his field all scored one or two goals and they held the other team to about two goals. I believe the other field was dominated by our team as well. Everyone seemed to have fun and I can't wait to see a whole game next weekend!
Carter quickly changed uniforms in the car and I tried to get a little fluid and food in him. I dropped him off as close to his baseball field as I could (the coach's older son was walking in then too so he walked with Carter to the field) and parked the car. I got to the field just as the first inning was about to start.
Carter played shortstop the first inning. He was super close to getting an out when a slow grounder was hit his way and he tried to get the runner out coming to second. He was half a second behind the runner.
I believe this was the first time that Carter played shortstop. He is so aggressive and wants to back up all hits no matter where they are hit on the field. There were even hits that weren't getting to the pitcher that he was running for. However, he never tries to take the ball from the other kids or get in front of them. He truly does just back them up (and often does get the ball - there was a hit that went to second that went through three other kids before Carter fielded it!).
Carter had a solid hit his first time at bat and easily made it to first base. He's hitting the bottom of the ball lately and usually putting it over the pitcher's head (but it doesn't reach the outfield).
Carter played first base during the second inning. Mr. Serious!!! I think the hot day and lack of food was starting to catch up with him but you'd never know it by how he played!
Carter got two outs that inning. The first was a hard grounder right to him that he fielded cleanly and took to first.
The second was a hit to Jack Henry at pitcher that he threw to Carter.
Notice that stare he's giving the runner!
Carter had another similar hit the second inning. Since he was the last batter in the line-up, he got a "homerun" both times at bat.
Brian and Rylan made it over to the baseball fields just in time to see Carter's last hit.
I'm amazed by Carter's energy and enthusiasm. He's such a dedicated baseball player! Yesterday morning Carter was thanking us for having a busy day and letting him play both soccer and baseball. He loves this stuff and I'm so glad. It's challenging to get him to everything but it's worth it. We are so proud of how both boys did yesterday!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment