Stayin' Alive

Long night last night! After Monday's rain-out, the Cubs played a 6:00 tourney game last night. It was the 2nd of our tourney games--double elimination. The boys were not into it at all. Half the team was dragging due to many daytime activities and family affairs, we were missing 2 players, and all they really wanted was to get it over with and head to DQ. (Lesson learned by this coaching family: NEVER pre-plan the DQ visit with "when our season ends, we'll take the team to Dairy Queen".) With us already down in the 6th inning, the Phillies got 4 runs...apparently that lit a fire under our boys because we answered with 6 runs and tied the game. In the tie-breaker inning, we pulled it out, sending us on to a doubleheader game 15 minutes afterwards.

I'll be honest, I never thought we'd make it this far, but the boys have been scratching and clawing their way through this loser's bracket. So we played the second game and it was looking much like the first. Some of out parents were unhappy that the Marlins were playing 6 outfielders compared to our 2. (Andy being the educational coach had agreed to let them do it - "just let the kids play" is his philosophy.) Now the boys were REALLY tired! (The pitcher was losing steam fast as well!) Down 6-4 entering the 5th inning...somebody must have brought out the rally monkey again because the kids squeaked it out 7-6. Whew! Getting home at 10:00 after 2 long games is new to us... We play again tonight; if we win, another doubleheader! Needless to say, the kids have all been commanded to rest a bit today. Go Cubs Go!