Grantsburg has Superior Performance.
The season is starting to wrap up. The seniors had a successful graduation. The Jv is done for the year. The tournament starts on Thursday with the Pirates earning a bye. Rice Lake also earned a bye and we will scrimmage them on Thursday. For us the first tournament game is in 1 week where we will play the winner of the Cumberland and Turtle Lake/Clayton game. In the NBA tournaments are 7 games long. Therefore, the better team usually prevails and advances. In high school it is a ONE game shot. So if the other team is better....you tell the players We don't have to beat them twice....we only have to beat them once. And if we are the better team.....One slip and we are gone! Thanks Penny Bistram for the little video. It shows a determined squirrel advancing through its own tournament. I hope we can overcome as many obstacles as this Pirate Squirrel!
It was 48 degrees in Superior! FOR REAL.
A couple of years ago I listened to a Grad speaker. He proclaimed to the graduating class that his senior graduation marked the HALF way point in his formal education. Wow...I was thinking, don't tell them that. But for Grantsburg's talented seniors they have much more to accomplish. The greatest predictor of future success is past success... I think they have good things to come! Your senior year should NOT be the best year of your life.
My advice. 1) Listen to the people you trust. You may not have to make as many mistakes. 2) Time Management is the biggest thing at college. 3) In high school, study group sounds remedial. In college, get off your butt and attend. They are mandatory. 4) Schedule your Party time. Some friends will think it is every day. It can't be!! 5) College will be your life for a few years. Be good at it. Enjoy it.
Heather missed the pic. So Prom...one more time for her!
Notice all the extra GOLD by these grads...(academic gold)
A time for Dads to be PROUD! No feathers this year!!!
And so the tournament season begins. As we complete the regular season it has been apparent that this year has really been a team effort. We don't publicize complete stats because the only real stat we care about is winning. Since ALL 9 starters are sooooo equal, I will mention a few stats. The Team batting average is an amazing .479. Currently, the three leading in average are Kylie, Tiffany, and Emily. Players scoring the most runs are Michelle, Tiffany, and Emily. Most doubles would be Romo, Annie, and Tiffany. Most triples would be Gabbie and Annie. Most RBI's go to Michelle, Cody, and Heather. Annie, Jessica and Kylie lead the team in walks. Heather and Kylie have ZERO strikeouts going into the Superior game. Michelle's ERA is .69 with 1.18 walks per 7 innings. The next time you read one of these newsletters, 75% of Wisconsin will be DONE with softball...SCARY!
One of the most important decisions on the way was to pick out Mac's New Glasses. Here they are.....Now text Mac your choice.
This was a game filled with great plays by both teams. There are lots and lots of stories about the game. They will show up in the morning.....but for now....just know that Grantsburg beat Superior.
Good morning....I will be writing the game stories all morning.....so come back later.
We started the trip north in realllly warm weather. We had heard rumors of it being cool but when we arrived the first thermometer said 51 and eventually it dropped into the 40's. The mist came off the lake and it was quite refreshing at first...then it got cold. We would check Don for signs but we couldn't see him 'cause he was wearing camo. A Wonderful thanks to the Bosaks for bringing gator-aide and water. The players much appreciated it.
It is almost like clockwork...Tiffany hits either the first or the second pitch for a hit. With some wild throws she ended up at third. Kylie followed with a bunt on which they couldn't even make a play. It was a great start. Mich grounded to short and Superior held. When Annie walked the bases were loaded with only 1 out. Heather SMASHed a screaming liner toward center.....OOPS...we did NOT TAG> WE DID NOT SCORE. INNING OVER after next batter.
Superior had players that could put the ball into play. Surviving a single, Sarah threw out two runners and Michelle the other. Our players would soon learn that other good teams will HIT the ball and have BASERUNNERS... That is the way it will be from now on.... Hopefully, our gloves and decision making is good enough.
Cody started the second with a walk. With two outs she attempted a steal but was thrown out at second by the Superior catcher. All night long, Superior would make very good plays. They gave us nothing for free. Often, we just assume that the other team will make mistakes. Superior did NOT do that. It was perfect for us. In the Superior half of the inning, they went in order. Gabbie started making GREAT plays and KYLIE was not too far behind.
The third proved to be our good inning. Tiffany picked up hit #2 as did Kylie. Michelle walked to load the bases. With one out, Heather Cleaned them off...with a long drive to the gap in right center. Even with a game off, Heather was drilling the ball. Finchy went in to run saving Heather's still sore quad. Finchy also played outfield the entire game. Superior picked up another hit in their half but could not score. 3-0
Gabb started the 4th with a monster hit over the center fielder's head. Tiff and Kylie followed again with singles as they each picked up their 3rd hit of the game. When Mich sac flied the score was 4-0.
off to a meeting...back soon.steve
I'm back.
And Suddenly Superior made its move. Moe started the inning with a triple over Gab's head. Then next batter also got a hit and the first run was in. Soon the bases were loaded. A grounder was hit to Kylie who threw to the plate. The runner knocked the ball out of the glove and they had scored again. At this point Don and Michelle had the 40 foot rubber removed. They had left it in and had asked us if it would bother. It did. So Annie and some other strong guy ripped it out. It made a difference and Michelle was back in the groove. When she drags her trail foot it would hit the old rubber and it was a touch disconcerting... It was gone! Superior would tie the game in the 5th with a 2 bag blast and another single... So the score after 5 was 4-4. Good thing we practiced against Unity.
Interesting play: Superior has the bases loaded. Grounder to Kylie. Throw to Romo. We argued that even though the ball was dropped after contact by the runner, that the runner should have been declared out when Romo caught the ball.... It was a force. Don didn't get his way.... but he sold 2 puppies.
off to another meeting.
Grantsburg came to bat in the top of the 6th with the score tied. Tiff was first to the plate already having three hits for the night. BAM she took one off the helmet.....Even though the players thought it was automatically a run, Tiff only got first. She stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Michelle came through with a single to right scoring Tiff. The Pirates were in the lead 5-4.
Superior was not done. With 1 out the #9 batter singled placing the tying run at first. Kylie picked up the next ground ball and through to Tiff for the force. Berg picked up her second hit of the night. Then Gab worked her magic in left one more time as she ran down a drive to the gap. Nice Catch. It was almost as good as her earlier catch where she did a lay out dive and back handed a line drive down the left field line...wow.
Heather started the 7th with a shot to center but was eliminated when Romo grounded to short. Cody picked up her second walk of the night but we then proceeded to strike out twice to end the inning.
Superior came to bat in the 7th with one more chance. The lead off batter walked. She attempted to steal and then amazing things happened... The throw was high. Kylie went higher. As she was landing she brought the ball down by her feet and made a sensational tag to the runner who did not reach second base. It was FANTASTIC..... With 2 outs, Superior singled one more time but Mich smoked the last batter to preserve the win. Quite the game.
Superior would end the game with 10 hits and 3 walks. It was an impressive performance for their hitters. Superior plays much better teams than we do and it showed. They were able to not only hit the ball but pull it to the left side. In the field, they kept making great plays. It was a good game for us to play because Superior played well. The game could have gone either way.
Grantsburg won this game with their gloves....for the first time of the year. It was good to know that our players could make the plays when necessary. Gabb and Kylie were exceptional. In the remaining games, the other teams will get hits. This year the 43 foot rubber is forcing teams to be good with their gloves, arms, and decision making. We have a lot to practice. Tiff and Kylie each picked up 3 hits again...wow. Heather came off the DL and blasted the ball....receiving 2 hits and 3 RBIs. Michelle had 2 rbi's for the night. Cody had the good eye and walked twice. The Superior pitcher was good and great practice for us. What Don and I like about this team is that there is ALWAYS somebody who steps up and has a good night. Players cannot have good games 20 times in a row....but the percentage is high enough so that so far....somebody has always come through... It makes me wonder.... Who will be the players that STEP UP in the tournament????? We WILL find out>>>> or just move on to the next sport.
TWIS: EC came to my room and puked twice. She watched it on www.ifan.tv. (the game not the puke) The guy promised me that it would be soon archived...we can watch the game again. 48 degrees??? what is with that? I sold my jacket to Don. Thanks again Bosaks....for the treats. Rice Lake scrimmage Thursday at about 4:30. Nice to see Cody's Connecticut connection. The JV finished the year undefeated with a 7-1 victory. Jenn MISSED the sign.... pinch runner needed. Hi Carinna...thanks for helping out. Carinna was Elise's second baseman and best friend from Carleton...where the average ACT is 30. Burger King won out because only Don and I voted. Heather's quad is improving. Graduation was good. Be a well rounded person. Nice parties... good wind. Most of Wisconsin has the first tournament game Thursday. 44 in a row for the Burg! Kylie and Tiff are now batting over 600!!! JV is now done....join your summer league. Grace pitched more innings this year than the rest of her life. It is not 1 HOUR to Superior. WE will pull in extra bleachers for the tournament here. Nice job Pirates 2010. I like the new version..... Good to see Shelby who stopped by to say hi.... Hi. Kylie forgot her glove again...thanks grandma! During the game she actually used it. Don will give his watch to Michelle. We left balmy Superior....and it got warm again...life returned to Normal....sweat and a stench!
SYBTF
