Game vs. Springford 5/23/2007 (W 17-7)

In a word, awesome!  This is what we like to see; the team playing up to its capabilities.  The team played a near-perfect...we caught the ball, we threw the ball to the proper places, and we really exploded with the bats (18 hits).

Kudos to:

• Julia, game ball, for a clutch two-out hit that drove in two runs; she also scored three runs.
• Maggie, game ball, for a very well pitched complete game.  In the first two innings, she threw only 15 pitches -- 14 strikes and one ball!
• Carolyn, batting leadoff for the first time, had three hits and two runs batted in.
• Melissa, batting second, had three hits and three runs batted in.
• Nicole, had a very hot bat, four hits, scored three runs, and three runs batted in.
• Jessica Burns, (thanks for playing for us!), walked twice, scored two runs, and played excellent defense at first base.
• Andrea Clemente, (thanks to her as well), scored three runs, had a double, and was great playing catcher.

Outstanding effort girls!  Let's keep the momentum going in the next game.

Mr. B and Mr. T

Game vs. Notre Dame 5/19/2007 (L 24-3)

Well...um...ok.  There has to be a coaches' note after every game.  Right.

Honestly, this note is perhaps the toughest one to write in the four years that there have been game notes for Mr. B's ARA seniors teams.  The intent is to be positive as much as possible; you have to admit, there are not many positives to take away from this game (except at the end, where we bore down and scored two runs off of one of the best pitchers in the league).

So, we'll put this one behind us and look at things we can do in the future.  The coaches got together and talked about this and here are some thoughts:

• We need to act more like a team.  This does not mean that everyone has to become lifelong friends, but during games, show concern for the other players on the team.  Encourage teammates that make a good play ("nice play") and comfort someone that had a tough play or error ("that's ok").
• Be "in the game."  What that means is even though a player is not directly involved in the game at a particular moment, still pay attention to what is happening in the game.  Is it possible that something occurs that is a learning experience and will help at some other time.
• Also, being "in the game" is to reduce outside distractions.  Softball games are not your entire life (far from it), but it's fair to ask that during the roughly two hours at a game that attention is focused there (on softball), instead of using cell phones, going in and out of the dugout.

Now, we understand that this team stuff is difficult due to the fact that we seem to have different combinations of players due to events that make players unable to attend games.  That should be slowing down now.

Don't think for a moment that we, the coaches, are standing on high, now spewing forth fire and brimstone down on the players.  We have not done everything that we could have during this season to unite the team.  If anyone thinks of anything that we can do to help or conversely, are doing something that is not helping, please do not be afraid to tell us, in private, if necessary.  That goes for parents as well as players.  We value your opinion.

There is no doubt in our minds that this is a very talented team.  We can compete with and beat ANY team in this league (yes, even Notre Dame).  Let's start turning it around now.  There is still time.

We believe in this team, win or lose.

Thank you for reading this.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Notre Dame 5/14/2007 (L 14-7)

Even though this game was not close, there were good things to take away.  We hit well again (only one less hit than our opponents), and committed no errors!  This is a beautiful thing.

Kudos to:

• Jenny Rose, game ball, two triples and three runs batted in.
• Amy, continues having a hot bat, three more hits and three runs scored.
• Sammy S., two hits.

Let me repeat, our defense was outstanding!  No errors, and when the ball made it to the outfield, it was picked up quickly and thrown to the proper base.  Let's keep on doing that.

Mr. T.

Game vs. Michigan 5/12/2007 (L 17-14)

This was one of those games that, based on hitting, we should have won big; we outhit our opponents 18 to 9.  Unfortunately, our defense let us down (six errors).  If we keep up the hitting and cut down the errors, we will win more of these games than we lose.

Kudos to:

• Sammi B., game ball, two runs batted in and a nice catch in center field.
• Caroline, who had five hits (!) and scored three runs.
• Megan, three runs batted in.
• Nicole, three hits.
• Jenny Rose, four hits (including a double) and three runs batted in.
• Melissa three runs batted in.
• Julia, two hits and two runs scored.

Let's keep those bats hot!

Mr. T.

Game vs. St. Bonaventure 5/6/2007 (L 14-12)

Geez, how many of these close games are we going to be unlucky in?  Another tough loss -- once again we hit great.  If we keep hitting as we've been, we will win games.  We must make slight improvements to our defense.

Kudos to:

• Nicole, game ball, hit a HOME RUN and had two runs batted in.
• Lisa, had a monster day at bat, three hits (two triples and a double), scored two runs, and had four runs batted in.
• Amy, had a double, two walks, and scored three runs.
• Megan, scored two runs and had three runs batted in.
• Sammy S., had a triple and two runs batted in.

Thanks (again) to Erin for filling in so we had enough players.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Michigan 5/5/2007 (L 19-16)

This game was a real exciting slugfest!  We hung in with them until right near the end, we just came up short.  Our offense is not a problem; as Mr. B. said after the game, we just need to improve our defense a little bit.  We have no doubts that it will.

Kudos to:

• Melissa, game ball, four hits and played great at third base (not her usual position).
• Caroline, pitched the entire game, had three hits and four runs batted in.
• Jenny Rose, three hits and three runs batted in.
• Nicole, two hits and three runs batted in.
• Sammi B., two hits and two runs batted in.
• Julie S., for playing for us, even though she is on another team.

All in all, even though we lost, you did not play a bad game.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Notre Dame 5/2/2007 (L 15-1)

Well, honestly, it's best we forget about this one.  It seems the one hour delay waiting for our opponents to show up really affected us; we had all kinds of trouble concentrating.

Kudos to:

• Maggie, game ball, for improved pitching.
• Amy, continued to hit the ball hard, had a double and was unlucky to hit the ball right at someone another time.
• Caroline, hit the ball very hard, unfortunately right at someone.

Let's put this one in the past! :)

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. St. Bonaventure 4/30/2007 (W 13-9)

A big win for us -- our bats were smokin' hot!!!  We had 14 hits in this game (including a triple and three doubles); our opponents only had six.  The only reason this game was only a little close was because of defense -- we must do better there.  I have no doubt we will.

Kudos to:

• Jenny Rose, game ball, two hits (including a double), two runs, and two runs batted in.
• Amy, continues to have a hot bat, three hits (including a double).
• Nicole, two hits (a double and a triple that was crushed), two runs, and two runs batted in.
• Sammy S., two runs batted in.

We would like to welcome Sammi B. to our team.  We're glad to have her play for us!

Great win girls!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.