Time for Some Little League

Tonight the kids took in one of Malachi's Little League games.  Our favorite pitcher made the All-Star Team!  We adore this sweet family and are so blessed God brought them to our McDermott family!  

Caleb is thoroughly enjoying his time with Wes interning.  And Abigail loves hanging out with the boys babysitting.  I don't think it's really babysitting because they hang out at the park, play catch and ride bikes! 

Malachi had a good game.  He's got two great pitches and is working on his change up!  I hope he continues to play as long as he loves the game! 

Be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Girls of Summer

Spring ball is full bloom! Saturday brings out cleats and catchers gear. Jon and Abigail hit the field along with her Dirt Devils. The team is playing better each game! Today Abigail had two at bats with a single and a double. She had a couple of great plays at home.

Run in such a way as to get the prize.
I Corinthians 9:24

Glorious Double Header

Caleb’s team also played today. Caleb’s team has only won three games this season, but Caleb still loves to play and Jon loves being out on the field with the boys. Caleb had two good hits and it was an exciting game, (that’s Caleb on first base and Jon coaching first). The team finished with their fourth win of the season with a final score of 5 to 6.
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On a side note, Uncle David was a little weirded out that I shared my Sonic iced tea with Padme’, however in my defense, I only shared it with Padme’ after I was thru drinking.

Baseball Dad

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Jon has a love for the game of baseball. One of our first dates was a road trip to see the St. Louis Cardinals with the Broken Arrow church singles group. We have spent more than a few anniversaries at ballparks. Caleb and Abigail have both played recreation ball since they were four years old! On weeks that we don't have ball games or we get rained out Jon takes the kids to Extra Innings for batting practice.

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As big a part as baseball plays in our life you would expect Caleb to have some baseball great's name. In fact when I was pregnant and the child was to be a boy, lots of fun names were thrown around. My favorite was Jon's suggestion that we name him 'Later.' Because every great baseball trade includes the phrase, '. . . was traded for a player to be named Later.'

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Ask me one day what he wanted to name Abigail!

Got It!!

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What a great night for a ballgame or two!!! Jon helped coached Caleb’s team at practice, while Frankie and I took Abigail to her game. I love the action shot of Abigail above. If you look closely you will see the ball in her glove! Padme’ accompanied Frankie to the game. Caleb and Jon joined us following their practice. The girl’s won their game and Abigail’s buddy Jodee scored a run!

Play Ball

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Caleb is now playing ball in the major league division of Little League. It is still rec ball and not as competitive as the select leagues. Jon is assisting coaching again this year. Tonight he played catcher. His team didn't win, but Caleb had a good game. Hopefully Saturday's game will yield better results!

Spring Training

A lazy Monday with Jon included Math and Bible. Then the little kids took turns helping him change oil in the cars. They also dropped the engine on the truck. After time in the garage, the little guys headed to the batting cages for Spring training. Caleb is batting 65MPH balls and Abigail is swinging at 45MPH balls. Normally we don’t follow the local ISD holidays but today it was nice to have a break.

End of Fall Ball

Caleb's game marked the end of fall ball for our family. Prior to his game the city had a Veteran's Day ceremony and also honored those who were killed at Fort Hood.

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Caleb's team finished out strong, hopefully their Spring season will be equally strong!

Make-Up Games

With all the rain we have had the last three weeks, we could very easily be playing ball until Thanksgiving! Caleb did a great job pitching. He did well enough that coach wants him to pitch at least the next two games. He had two at bats, one out, one double and a run.

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Abigail's team won today, too! She played catcher the entire game. She had a couple of good at bats. All in all, a great day at the ball fields. If you can't find us next week, chances are pretty good that we will be at the fields!

Under the Big Lights

Caleb had a game tonight. Because of his age, he is now playing in one of the older divisions, so their games don't even begin until 7:30pm. Tonight Caleb had two at bats, with a single and a strikeout. He did get a runner out on 2nd during the game. Any night at the ballpark is a good night!

Softball Buddies

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Abigail's team the Blue Crush had another great game today. Most of the girls have played together for several seasons. This year Abigail's friend from church, Jodee joined the team. the girls have had a great time together. Today was also the OU vs. Texas football game, notice Abigail is wearing her Longhorn hat and both girls are doing the 'Hook 'em Horns!' Crazy Texas kids!

Put me in Coach

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The fields have dried out some from all our rain, so baseball season has resumed! Tonight the girls won 10-1. Abigail played catcher for 2 innings and pitcher for the 3rd inning. She really has a great team and a coach that has made sure these young girls know how to play the game.

Wet Sox not Red Sox

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Rain has postponed and rearranged our baseball and softball schedules multiple times. Tonight Caleb had a good game. He got on base twice and advanced runners both times. Jon took the clear shot of Caleb's at bat from the dugout. The season was suppose to conclude at the end of October but with all the rain we may still be playing at Thanksgiving!

Baseball & Softball

Fall ball has began. We had several of our first games cancelled due to rain so now the season is in full swing! Caleb had two at bats and had runs with both at bats. He played 2nd base. Abigail had two at bats with a double and a single. She played catcher the whole game! Everyone went home happy!

Fall Ball

Fall ball is upon us! That time of the year when the kids play baseball/softball to improve their skills for the Spring season. The weather is cooler, moms come to the fields with blankets and hot cocoa. The kids try to play ball in warm-up pants and parkas, you would never guess it is only sixty-nine degrees! But that thirty degree drop from our normal temperatures sure makes a difference. Caleb and Abigail have both had their first games rained out, so tonight both teams practiced for their make-up games this weekend. Caleb had announced his plans to retire after this season, but had so much fun tonight, he has decided to take a 'wait and see' approach before making that announcement. Abigail LOVES softball, she loves running, she loves playing catcher, she enjoys everything about the game!

Extra Innings

Each week includes a visit to Extra Innings to work on baseball and softball skills. Truth is Jon's a big kid and Caleb and Abigail let him play with them. Fall ball will start up again soon. Abigail is doing machine pitch with her 8U Blue Crush team.

Cage Camp . . .

After Abigail enjoyed a week at church camp, it was then Caleb's time to enjoy at little camp time. He attended camp at Extra Innings and brushed up on his skills. I think it's brilliant that they keep the kids in a cage, that would have helped at church camp! Just kidding!!!! Mr. Kelly's staff was great, they are such positive guys, Caleb had a great time!

At the Ball Park

If you ever wonder why you can't get in touch with us, or are curious about where we spend our evenings, the answer is very simple, we're at the ball park. Caleb played this season with the White Sox. I think they may have won three games all season. Caleb usually plays third base, he love to play ball but hasn't been with a winning team since he was in 2nd grade.
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Abigail, on the other hand has always been on the team that won every game. She has played up a grade level because she is very focused.
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The other day Abigail was in the back yard throwing the softball on the roof, letting it roll down to practice catching fly balls. While Caleb was inside finishing up the needlework I was teaching Abigail.
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It really is their personalities. Caleb is detail oriented and very creative and inventive, but doesn't have a competitive bone in his body. Abigail on the other hand wants to win and plays hard, but has no time for details!

My Brown-Eyed Handsome Man

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Somewhere between ball games we took team photos for Caleb's team the White Sox. Most of the boys on the team were able to make it for photos. We haven't had photos for Abigail's team yet. Ok well, we had a time scheduled for pictures, but one of the girls on the team fell and broke her arm while waiting for their turn. Needless to say we didn't do pics that night.

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Caleb is such a handsome young man. As much as he looks like me, in this photo I see Jon in him!

Hangin' Out at the Ballpark!

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Baseball is not necessarily an obsessive-compulsive disorder, like washing your hands 100 times a day, but it's beginning to seem that way. We're reaching the point where you can be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick. ~Thomas Boswell, Washington Post, 13 April 1990