So we really did have an amazing summer! Bradley's baseball team competed in the Elite 32 World Series - top 32 10-year old travel baseball teams in the country and we were not first out at 0-5 - we did win one game in bracket play! This was a huge accomplishment for our boys and gave them all a taste of what it takes to play at the top level of travel ball. Needless to say, they will all be working hard for next year!
The Powerhouse then competed in the Global World Series at Disney and placed 3rd. They played a great tournament and only had one bad game which knocked them out of contention for first. After the game, they were able to get their picture taken with their medals & Mickey. I'm not sure where the picture for this went - but I'll try and find one. Special thanks to Liam Dillon (Temecula, CA) and Brooks Walton (Gainesville, FL) for playing with the Powerhouse this week!
In the midst of all of our baseball, we also had the Pride coming back into town for two series at Disney around our fastpitch events. We were blessed to have great weather and no marathon rain delays! For three weeks straight, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney was our home. Bradley can tell you every nook & cranny of the facility.
August found us hitting the road for Austin, TX for a series with the Chicago Bandits at the Round Rock Express minor league facility. TR & Bradley had some great "family" time and saw a bunch of country as they drove the truck & merchandise trailer to Austin and were waiting for us at the airport when we landed. Bradley & Ace (Jennie Finch's son) had a great time playing together and, of course, acted like they owned the park! This was the second series we attended with a special retirement segment dedicated to Jennie and yes, I teared up again. Hard to believe that she's not going to be playing in the NPF next year!
Bradley definitely had a GREAT summer living it up at the ballfield - from meeting Gator Coach Tim Walton & family (and a weekend trip to stay at the Walton house in Gainesville) to hanging with his Pride girls - I really don't think he would have changed a thing. Special thanks to Sam Walton for taking Bradley to the waterparks and giving everyone a much needed break during a really tough span of home games. Brooks & Bradley were pretty much inseparable and if Bradley wasn't with us - you could bet he was with his "other" family - the Waltons who he insists are much cooler!
Late August found us preparing for school and the NPF Championship series. Bradley was definitely not happy that the first week of school coincided with the series in Sulphur, LA. While TR & I hit the road (actually we flew) we left a very disgruntled middle schooler! He definitely did not think that it was fair he had to miss the Championship series because of school. In Louisiana, we stayed at the L'Auberge du Lac - a great casino property (complete with a lazy river) in Lake Charles. One last retirement special for Jennie (thank goodness since I really didn't need the waterworks!) and a NPF Championship for the Pride! Cat, who had suffered an arm injury in July, came out and pitched a complete game to take the third and final game of the Championship series from the Bandits. She was absolutely amazing - difficult zipper (inside joke) and all!
It was difficult to say goodbye to all of our Pride family members at the end of the season. However, they all signed a helmet for Bradley and wrote some great things about him. Bradley misses his "big sisters" and his girl Cat. Who would have ever thought when we were watching Cat play for Texas and Bradley declared her the best pitcher ever that he would get a chance to hang out with her daily!
Of course, we got back to Florida just in time for the Conference USSSA slow pitch Championship Series followed by our slow pitch World Tournaments (back at Disney!). September was a complete blur. Dot & Tommy came for a visit around a convention he attended and managed to stay a couple of extra days. It was nice to visit with them and they even were able to watch some major slow pitch softball.
We've also managed to survive the first 9 weeks of middle school and everyone is still breathing! With middle school in full swing, we're now getting back to normal and back to the baseball field. Bradley's been playing fall league and we had our first fall travel ball tourney last weekend. Also with the Rays losing in the playoffs that meant Stan could come home - BIG CHEERS - as we are definitely ready for some extra pitching & hitting!
And our Gator fan has jumped on the Bama bandwagon for football season since the Gators seem to have disappeared. This, of course, has been assisted by Bama alums Kelly Kretschman and Charlotte Morgan who brought Bradley back a Bama hat from their recent trip. Look closely, and you'll notice that with the Bama hat, he's wearing his Gator shorts!
Lastly, we were able to go to one of the Magic's preseason games last weekend and see the amazing new Amway Arena - not to mention our new seats which are only 3 rows from the floor and across from the Magic bench. Carson & Bradley had a great time and were able to see Vince Carter (go Tarheels!) and JJ Reddick both light it up.
Oh - and by the way - we've had PERFECT Florida weather - sunny & 85 -no humidity with a light breeze!
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