{Guest blogger Karen Kimple sent this update about some recent success by some of the Braves family:]
The U-12 Jr Blue Dukes tournament team competed in the Port Washington Baseball Tournament this past weekend. The U-12 Blue team, which includes Connor Kimple, easily won their first game on Friday night against the Jackson J Hawks, with the slaughter rule kicking in. This tournament had a neat feature where the coaches each voted for the game MVP of the opposing team. For that first game, Connor got the MVP medal, presumably for his opening pitching and strong at bats. On Saturday, the team played Sheboygan (I think) and once again the slaughter rule was enacted. Due to the nasty weather and soggy fields, all games were canceled for Sunday. Based on its performance, though, the team qualified for the Championship Game, which will be played sometime in the future.
The U-10 team, which includes Carson, had a similar experience, winning all 3 of its games through Saturday evening. They too qualified for the Championship Game, which will be scheduled in the near future.
Showing posts with label Carson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carson. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Games 12: Braves 15, Padres 5
With several regulars on vacation or unavailable, the Braves relied on strong performances from a nine-man squad and a younger brother to defeat the Padres 15-5 on a warm Saturday afternoon at Water Tower Park.
The coaches awarded Jack the game ball for a strong afternoon that included his first homer, a blast over the right-center fence; four rbis; and a sparkling, intelligent play at third base that Coach Ross talked with the team about after the game.
With a runner on third, you will hear coaches yell, "Check 3, go 1." In this case, Jack actually did it, and made it pay off.
With runners on first and third and no one out, the Padres batter grounded sharply to third. Jack scooped up the ball and looked at the runner on third base, freezing him for a few moments. Jack then threw to Tyler at first base for the first out. The runner at third took off for home. Tyler fired home and Scott applied for the tag, for a rare but sweet 5-3-2 double play. Jack's look at the runner, freezing him for a few moments, made the double play possible, Ross said.
The Braves began the game with nine team members, plus Connor's brother Carson as a call-up from the minors. Tyler, who started on the mound, dispatched the Padres in the first inning with an economical 7 pitches, aided by a double play started by Connor when he caught a line drive.
The Braves scratched out a run in the second. Connor singled sharply on the first pitch he saw, moved to second in the course of play and scored on a single by Scott. Braves 1, Padres 0.
But in the top of the third, the Padres, aided by a couple of walks and some miscues in the field, put up 4 runs. Padres 4, Braves 1.
The Braves showed their resiliency by batting around and putting up 7 runs in their half of the third inning. Liam singled on a two-strike pitch (the first of his two two-strike hits this afternoon). Then Carson was hit by a pitch, putting runners at 1st and 2nd bases. Nick doubled to drive in Liam, with Carson moving to third. Matt singled, driving in Carson. Alec singled, driving in Nick. Then Connor singled, driving in Matt. With Alec and Connor on base, Jack fouled off several pitches to stay alive, then clouted his first homer in the majors, to genuine shouts of joy from his teammates. In the same inning, Anthony showed the value of batting cage work, laying down a perfect bunt single. Braves 8, Padres 4.
Matt took the mound in the top of the 4th, striking out the first batter and inducing ground balls to the next two.
In the bottom of the fourth with one out, Nick started the action by drawing a walk after a full count. Matt singled. With two strikes, Alec ripped a double, scoring Nick and Matt. Connor singled to drive home Alec, then Jack singled to drive in Connor. Jack eventually came around to score himself. Braves 13, Padres 4.
The Padres scratched out a run in the fifth, but the double play initiated by Jack snuffed out their rally. In the bottom of the fifth, Liam capped an 8-pitch at-bat by singling. Nick followed with a double. Then, with two outs, Alec singled, driving in both Liam and Nick. Braves 15, Padres 5.
Matt and the defense shut the Padres down in the top of the sixth. Final score: Braves 15, Padres 5.
Afterwards, Coach Ross stressed that playing solid defense, especially in the infield, and making smart decisions with the ball would be priorities over the next few games, as the Braves prepare for the playoffs in July.
Next game: Our next game is Monday June 21 at 4:30 p.m. vs. the Brewers. Please have your Brave at Water Tower by 3:30 p.m. If your player can't make a game, please let us know as soon as you can.
The coaches awarded Jack the game ball for a strong afternoon that included his first homer, a blast over the right-center fence; four rbis; and a sparkling, intelligent play at third base that Coach Ross talked with the team about after the game.
With a runner on third, you will hear coaches yell, "Check 3, go 1." In this case, Jack actually did it, and made it pay off.
With runners on first and third and no one out, the Padres batter grounded sharply to third. Jack scooped up the ball and looked at the runner on third base, freezing him for a few moments. Jack then threw to Tyler at first base for the first out. The runner at third took off for home. Tyler fired home and Scott applied for the tag, for a rare but sweet 5-3-2 double play. Jack's look at the runner, freezing him for a few moments, made the double play possible, Ross said.
The Braves began the game with nine team members, plus Connor's brother Carson as a call-up from the minors. Tyler, who started on the mound, dispatched the Padres in the first inning with an economical 7 pitches, aided by a double play started by Connor when he caught a line drive.
The Braves scratched out a run in the second. Connor singled sharply on the first pitch he saw, moved to second in the course of play and scored on a single by Scott. Braves 1, Padres 0.
But in the top of the third, the Padres, aided by a couple of walks and some miscues in the field, put up 4 runs. Padres 4, Braves 1.
The Braves showed their resiliency by batting around and putting up 7 runs in their half of the third inning. Liam singled on a two-strike pitch (the first of his two two-strike hits this afternoon). Then Carson was hit by a pitch, putting runners at 1st and 2nd bases. Nick doubled to drive in Liam, with Carson moving to third. Matt singled, driving in Carson. Alec singled, driving in Nick. Then Connor singled, driving in Matt. With Alec and Connor on base, Jack fouled off several pitches to stay alive, then clouted his first homer in the majors, to genuine shouts of joy from his teammates. In the same inning, Anthony showed the value of batting cage work, laying down a perfect bunt single. Braves 8, Padres 4.
Matt took the mound in the top of the 4th, striking out the first batter and inducing ground balls to the next two.
In the bottom of the fourth with one out, Nick started the action by drawing a walk after a full count. Matt singled. With two strikes, Alec ripped a double, scoring Nick and Matt. Connor singled to drive home Alec, then Jack singled to drive in Connor. Jack eventually came around to score himself. Braves 13, Padres 4.
The Padres scratched out a run in the fifth, but the double play initiated by Jack snuffed out their rally. In the bottom of the fifth, Liam capped an 8-pitch at-bat by singling. Nick followed with a double. Then, with two outs, Alec singled, driving in both Liam and Nick. Braves 15, Padres 5.
Matt and the defense shut the Padres down in the top of the sixth. Final score: Braves 15, Padres 5.
Afterwards, Coach Ross stressed that playing solid defense, especially in the infield, and making smart decisions with the ball would be priorities over the next few games, as the Braves prepare for the playoffs in July.
Next game: Our next game is Monday June 21 at 4:30 p.m. vs. the Brewers. Please have your Brave at Water Tower by 3:30 p.m. If your player can't make a game, please let us know as soon as you can.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Game 10: Braves 11, Red Sox 8
The Braves built a big early lead, then shut down a final-inning rally to defeat the determined Red Sox 11-8 Wednesday evening at Water Tower Park.
As visiting team, the Braves batted first. Matt and Alec drew walks. With one out, Connor singled to bring Matt home. Evan's single plated Alec and Connor. Anthony singled, then Ryan doubled to drive in both Evan and Anthony. Jack's groundout drove home Ryan with the final run on the inning. 6-0, Braves.
On the mound, Alec was dealing from the start. (Translation: he was pitching well, firing strikes.) The Red Sox scratched out a run in the first, but that's all they would see for several innings. 6-1, Braves, after one inning.
In the top of the second, with two out, Nick ripped his fourth homer of the season into the trees beyond the right-field fence. Evan also hit a big poke to left field that the Red Sox outfielder corralled just a few feet short of the fence. 7-1, Braves.
Neither team scored in the third or fourth inning. Alec's pitching was aided by some strong fielding, including third baseman Ryan gloving a smash and throwing the runner out at first.
In the top of the fifth inning, Connor singled (he went 4 for 4 in this game), stole second and third and eventually scored on a passed ball. 8-1, Braves.
In the bottom of the fifth, with Alec still on the mound, third baseman Jack caught a line drive for the first out. Two Red Sox reached base on singles. But Alec reached back and struck out the next batter, then catcher Anthony fired to Jack at third to nab an attempted base stealer. A strike' em out, throw 'em out double play.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Braves added some insurance runs that turned out to be useful. Jack singled and Liam walked; both came around to score after a series of wild pitches and an RBI groundout by Tyler. Then Nick showed his speed by beating out an infield single and then swiping second base in a straight steal. Connor singled to drive Nick home. 11-1, Braves.
The Red Sox, though would not go quietly. The Red Sox parlayed a leadoff walk, a few hits and a few Braves throwing errors into a bigtime rally. Evan relieved Alec with one out and rung up a Red Sox batter for the second out. Then he battled through some adversity before striking out the final batter on a 3-2 pitch. The final score was 11-8.
Notes: The game ball for our previous game was awarded to Tyler, for his three-run double that broke open the game...With Nick's fourth homer of the season tonight, the Braves now have ten as a team (Connor has six)...because of external commitments that had the audacity to intrude into baseball, Matt and Tyler shared the leadoff spot: Matt played the first few innings before he had to leave, then Tyler arrived to finish off the game...Carson, Connor's younger brother, served as bat boy this evening.
Next game: Our next game is a rematch against the Red Sox at 9 a.m. Saturday June 12 at Water Tower. Please get your Brave to the park by 8 a.m.
Importance of communication: Coach Ross Harmsen noted that a few boys have family vacations in the near future, so we will play some games with a minimum 9 players. Please make sure you keep Ross posted on your son's availability for each game. Thanks.
As visiting team, the Braves batted first. Matt and Alec drew walks. With one out, Connor singled to bring Matt home. Evan's single plated Alec and Connor. Anthony singled, then Ryan doubled to drive in both Evan and Anthony. Jack's groundout drove home Ryan with the final run on the inning. 6-0, Braves.
On the mound, Alec was dealing from the start. (Translation: he was pitching well, firing strikes.) The Red Sox scratched out a run in the first, but that's all they would see for several innings. 6-1, Braves, after one inning.
In the top of the second, with two out, Nick ripped his fourth homer of the season into the trees beyond the right-field fence. Evan also hit a big poke to left field that the Red Sox outfielder corralled just a few feet short of the fence. 7-1, Braves.
Neither team scored in the third or fourth inning. Alec's pitching was aided by some strong fielding, including third baseman Ryan gloving a smash and throwing the runner out at first.
In the top of the fifth inning, Connor singled (he went 4 for 4 in this game), stole second and third and eventually scored on a passed ball. 8-1, Braves.
In the bottom of the fifth, with Alec still on the mound, third baseman Jack caught a line drive for the first out. Two Red Sox reached base on singles. But Alec reached back and struck out the next batter, then catcher Anthony fired to Jack at third to nab an attempted base stealer. A strike' em out, throw 'em out double play.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Braves added some insurance runs that turned out to be useful. Jack singled and Liam walked; both came around to score after a series of wild pitches and an RBI groundout by Tyler. Then Nick showed his speed by beating out an infield single and then swiping second base in a straight steal. Connor singled to drive Nick home. 11-1, Braves.
The Red Sox, though would not go quietly. The Red Sox parlayed a leadoff walk, a few hits and a few Braves throwing errors into a bigtime rally. Evan relieved Alec with one out and rung up a Red Sox batter for the second out. Then he battled through some adversity before striking out the final batter on a 3-2 pitch. The final score was 11-8.
Notes: The game ball for our previous game was awarded to Tyler, for his three-run double that broke open the game...With Nick's fourth homer of the season tonight, the Braves now have ten as a team (Connor has six)...because of external commitments that had the audacity to intrude into baseball, Matt and Tyler shared the leadoff spot: Matt played the first few innings before he had to leave, then Tyler arrived to finish off the game...Carson, Connor's younger brother, served as bat boy this evening.
Next game: Our next game is a rematch against the Red Sox at 9 a.m. Saturday June 12 at Water Tower. Please get your Brave to the park by 8 a.m.
Importance of communication: Coach Ross Harmsen noted that a few boys have family vacations in the near future, so we will play some games with a minimum 9 players. Please make sure you keep Ross posted on your son's availability for each game. Thanks.
Success story!
[At my instigation, Karen Kimple has written this guest post about a great team victory that includes Connor's younger brother, Carson.]
Although this isn’t directly related to the Braves, I thought I would share some good baseball news with you. This past weekend the Jr. Dukes Baseball U-10 Team won the Cudahy Baseball Tournament and became the first Jr. Dukes Baseball team to win a tournament! The team includes Connor’s younger brother, Carson, and is coached by Darren Miller.
The team won their first game on Saturday morning by beating the New Berlin Magic 7-0. Scattered showers interrupted their Saturday afternoon game against Southwest. The Jr. Dukes were ahead by quite a margin when the skies really opened up and the umps decided to finish that game on Sunday.
Early on Sunday afternoon, the team resumed the game and beat Southwest to advance to their next game. I can’t remember which team they played, but this was a very close game which resulted in a 1-1 tie (Carson scored the only run). They had to play a California Rules tiebreaker. The Jr. Dukes smacked in a number of runs to win the tiebreaker and advance to the championship game.
The championship game against New Berlin Magic was a real nail biter, with our team down by something like 5 runs in the 3rd inning but the team rallied. They believed - they made plays, they got hits, and they really supported each other as a team. It came down to a 6-6 tie in the 5th inning. One of Carson's teammates hit a single that allowed the runner on 3rd to run home and score the go-ahead run. It couldn’t have been any more exciting and we delighted that our boys were able to bring home trophies!
-- Karen Kimple
Although this isn’t directly related to the Braves, I thought I would share some good baseball news with you. This past weekend the Jr. Dukes Baseball U-10 Team won the Cudahy Baseball Tournament and became the first Jr. Dukes Baseball team to win a tournament! The team includes Connor’s younger brother, Carson, and is coached by Darren Miller.
The team won their first game on Saturday morning by beating the New Berlin Magic 7-0. Scattered showers interrupted their Saturday afternoon game against Southwest. The Jr. Dukes were ahead by quite a margin when the skies really opened up and the umps decided to finish that game on Sunday.
Early on Sunday afternoon, the team resumed the game and beat Southwest to advance to their next game. I can’t remember which team they played, but this was a very close game which resulted in a 1-1 tie (Carson scored the only run). They had to play a California Rules tiebreaker. The Jr. Dukes smacked in a number of runs to win the tiebreaker and advance to the championship game.
The championship game against New Berlin Magic was a real nail biter, with our team down by something like 5 runs in the 3rd inning but the team rallied. They believed - they made plays, they got hits, and they really supported each other as a team. It came down to a 6-6 tie in the 5th inning. One of Carson's teammates hit a single that allowed the runner on 3rd to run home and score the go-ahead run. It couldn’t have been any more exciting and we delighted that our boys were able to bring home trophies!
-- Karen Kimple
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