A Beautiful Friendship

It's getting closer to graduation time for my favorite catcher girl.  Abigail and Sarah, her HSAA pitcher, had pictures taken together today.  

The girls have played ball together for six years as pitcher and catcher. Abigail and Sarah are co-captains for the Angels.  The girls have played high school ball and select ball together and it just seemed fitting to have this portion of their senior pictures taken together. 

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:4-6

Angels vs. Lebanon Trail

The HSAA Angels took on Lebanon Trail High School tonight.  Lebanon Trail is one of the few public High Schools that we play, most of the other teams are private schools.  

The Angels had a good showing but weren't able to pull off the win.  They got a little behind in the second inning and even though the Angels continued to score they they never caught back up.  

We will play them again later this month with hopefully a better outcome.  Abigail had three at bats with one hit and a walk. 

Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,

    and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

Psalm 36:10

Next Time

I'm pretty sure this post should be titled, "That Wasn't Pretty" but I'm not sure that would entice any one to check it out.  One of the great life lesson in softball is that you won't win them all.  It's a life skill to lose and more importantly to lose gracefully.  The next lesson is to get up and play ball again and shake off the loss. 

The Angels were given that opportunity tonight in their game against John Paul II. But tomorrow night is another game and the slate is wiped clean. Go Angels!  

a time to seek, and a time to lose . . . Ecclesiastes 3:6

Her Mission Field

Usually when I post to the blog I prefer to make a collage of pictures but today I'm going with just this one photo.  It depicts most of my favorite catcher girls softball world.  I don't think there has ever been a game when she hasn't made small talk with the home plate umpire.  

Abigail has this great mindset that she will be spending the next ninety minutes with him looking over her shoulder they might as well be able to make small talk.  We were sitting in the stands the other night at a tournament when the officials for her next game stood behind the backstop.  One of our teams parents heard the umpire say he would ump behind home plate because 'that girl' is my favorite catcher.  She's my favorite too! 

The HSAA Angels lost to Ursuline Academy but it was a close game! Next time! 

Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. Ecclesiastes 7:19

Triple Header

The HSAA Angles played a triple header in a tournament hosted by John Paul II.  We began the day with an eight a.m. game against Trinity Christian. Our pitcher didn't allow a single run as we defeated Trinity Christian 1-0! 

Next up was our game against John Pail II, which unfortunately wasn't as pretty as the game against Trinity Christian.  The girls final game was against Grapevine Faith Christian.  HSAA swept the game with a 9-0 win! Abigail had a couple of great hits and two terrific plays at the plate! You know she's getting serious when she rips off her mask! 

“Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 2 Samuel 7:3 

HSAA Hit a Thon

Tonight was the Hit-A-Thon fundraiser for the HSAA baseball and softball teams.  The junior high and high school teams took to the fields at Craig Ranch.  Each of the players were responsible for getting sponsors for their hits.  The money raised goes to offset the cost for the teams to rent fields, pay tournament fees, uniforms, and coaches equipment.  

Each player took five pitches and then the longest hit was recorded for sponsors.  Baseball fields are larger than softball fields.  On a softball field 200 feet is 'out of the park.'  Abigail's longest hit was 210 feet! 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 
Acts 20:35

HSAA Angels vs. J. J. Pearce High School

Tonight the HSAA Angels played J. J. Pearce High School.  My favorite catcher girl had two great hits with an RBI.  She had a single and a triple! It's always fun watching her play ball!

I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.  Psalm 119:32

HSAA Angels Defeat Richardson's Berker High School

Our Lady Angels faced Richardson's Berker High School on the ball field.  Several high school teams play in the fall league to hone their skills for the spring season.  

Abigail had two at bats.  Her first at bat was a ball straight to the first baseman.  Her second at bat was a ground rule double, she advances on a passed ball and scored on a base hit! 

The Angels won 7 to 3! 

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 

Romans 14:19

HSAA Angels Defeat GLB

Tonight the HSAA Angels took on the Garland Lady Bombers at Winters Park.  The girls had a great game winning 6 to 1!  Abigail had several great plays including the series of three pictures across the top depicting her throw down to third base for the third out!  Frankie and I enjoyed the game with a yummy tray of concession stand nachos, jalapenos on the side! 

When the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. . .  and show them no mercy. Deuteronomy 7:2

HSAA Angels Victory Over Naaman Forest

Tonight the lady Angels faced Graland ISD's Naaman Forrest High School.   

Abigail caught for two innings and then played in the field to allow another catcher some time behind the plate. The HSAA Angels didn't commit a single error in the field. Abigail had the most chances in the field with seven!

She had two at bats and one run!  Always a good night for a ball game and winning 7-4 made it even sweeter! 

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:6

Fall High School Ball

Just because Abigail has had select tournament ball all weekend doesn't mean that she gets out of high school ball practice tonight!  the HSAA Angels took to the batting cages at Extra Innings tonight.  High school ball season should begin in two weeks.  Because we are a home school team we rely on the batting cages for practice.  

Because we do not have a home practice field we play ball with the Garland league to get in practice during the fall and to help the girls prepare for the spring season. 

“There are three types of baseball players: Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.” – Tommy Lasorda

tEAMSMiTH Softball

For this Labor Day Weekend the beautiful weather was perfect for tournament ball.  Abigail's select ball team, tEAMSMiTH played several games today and advanced to games tomorrow afternoon. 

My catcher girl had several great plays at the plate and several really good at bats with two RBI's and two runs.  Any day she can play ball is a good day! 

“Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” Babe Ruth

Texas Rangers Game

Tonight Caleb and Abigail attended a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Park in Arlington.  The game was hosted by Oklahoma Christian University's Alumni Association.  The university hosted dinner for potential students. Abigail sported one of my now vintage Oklahoma Christian College shirts.  Fortunately Caleb refrained from wearing any LCU attire! 

The Rangers played a great game and beat the San Diego Padres. 

In the Big-Inning, God . . . Genesis 1:1

All Tournament Team

Remember the softball tournament Abigail and team played in Tennessee last month?  She was told at the tournament that she had been named to the NASA All Tournament Team and her plaque came in the mail today. 

It is an honor that is voted on by every coach in the tournament.  Each coach votes for the most valuable player on the opponents team and then the players with the most votes are named All Tournament.   Pretty cool! 

A kindhearted woman gains honor,

    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

Proverbs 11:16

HSAA Softball & Baseball Honors

Tonight HSAA (Home School Athletic Association) honored their high school baseball and softball teams.  The players were honored for their achievement over the season and in tournament play.  

Abigail was voted 'Most Christ-Like' by her fellow players.  She was also named Division 2 All Tournament Team voted by the coaches at the NACA  tournament. 

It was a pretty exciting evening for our Catcher Girl! 

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15

NACA Tournament in Tennessee - Day 3

The HSAA Angels spent the morning in tournament play finishing strong and then headed out to dinner to celebrate.  There was a break in play in the middle of the afternoon so Jon and Abigail visited the Dayton courthouse.  Where the Scopes trail took place in 1925.  The case where High school teacher John Thomas Scopes was charged with violating Tennessee's law against teaching evolution instead of the divine creation of man. 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

NACA Tennessee Tournament - Day 2

In tournament play the girls faced Suffolk Christian Academy and Cross Lanes Christian. They are loving the beautiful Tennessee countryside and the much cooler weather!  I'm thankful that I can watch the game online! 

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

NACA Tournament in Tennesee

Today Abigail and the HSAA Angels played three games!  They faced off against Evangelic Christian, Kings Academy and Suffolk Christian in the NACA tournament in Dayton, Tennessee!  Talk about a long day! My catcher girl caught all three games and loved every minute of it! 

Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. Proverbs 24:27

HSAA Angels vs John Paul II

The lady Angels took on John Paul II's Cardinals tonight.  This is one of our favorite places to play ball.  The home team is ALWAYS friendly.  Their parents are great and it's just a nice place to play ball.  

There is always an announcer and walk up songs for each girl.  Just a lot of fun.  It's also usually a very competitive game.  

Abigail had three at bats with two hits! 

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. I Peter 4:9

Strike a Pose

Several of the HSAA teams headed to a hotel in Dallas for a photography class.  The class was being hosted by a nationally recognized organization of professional photographers who get together annually to learn best practises.  The HSAA teams took turns modeling for the team sport classes.  This was the second year for the softball team to participate in the workshop.  Lots of fun pictures.  I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of back drop they put on the green screen. 

To the faithful you show yourself faithful,

    to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

to the pure you show yourself pure,

    but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.

Psalm 18:25-26