Results tagged ‘ Lake Superior State ’
Softball starts, spring is near…
There’s really no sign of spring up here in Michigan’s crazy Upper Peninsula. In fact, it seems that there is even more snow, cold, and wind than ever. Things will be heating up for the Lake Superior State Lakers softball team, however, as they start their season today in the Superior Dome over in Marquette. The girls play three game today, taking on Lakeland, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Wisconsin-Superior. Good luck to the girls this weekend, and all season long. Their season actually kicked off last weekend, though, with the annual ’Take Me Out To The Ballgame’ spaghetti dinner. There was fun and games, and the kids were thrilled that they won two of the raffles. They won a movie package that included, movie passes, popcorn and candy, along with different popcorn seasoning. Also includes some free movie rentals. The other raffle we won was a cooler, beach towels, beach toys, water bottles, and sun screen. Uh…we’ll have to put that one up on the shelf for a few months, but very thankful that we got lucky. And all the money for the tickets goes to the softball team, so it’s a good cause. Brian had a good time showing off his throwing arm and playing with the balloons. Lily and Trevor drew pictures for the girls on the paper table cloths. We had a great time, but we’re sick of the snow and ready to burn the snowman, already.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Lily learns from Lady Lakers
Lily has been pretty busy with softball lately. Yes, I know it’s December, but there’s really no off-season for us. Last weekend she participated in a free clinic put on by the Lake Superior State Lakers, where she practiced all aspects of the game. Also, during the week, Lily has some hitting clinics going on. They were very productive, as she was working one-on-one with Lakers head coach Lori Shimasaki. I could really see an improvement in her hitting over the past couple of weeks. Lily had a lot of fun, which is the important thing, and the clinics may start-up again after the first of the year.
Lily flies through the air during her catching drills!
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Lakers raise money for fallen student
This week members of the Lake Superior State softball team hosted a pancake social to earn money for the family of a fellow student who recently lost his life. The girls earned approximately $700 for the family of Jonathan Harris, a LSSU student who was killed in an automobile accident this month. The team members served the pancakes to over 130 students, faculty, and friends on campus, and a banner was signed by all who attended stating how they missed him. Jon was described as an outgoing and fun-loving individual who was cherished by all of his friends on campus. Stories like this really put life into perspective. Yeah, the Tigers suck now, but I still have the three things in my life that truly mean the most. All the best to the Harris family, and we are all extremely sorry for your loss….
Photos courtesy of Lake Superior State Athletics
An enjoyable Off-Season
It’s always hard to watch baseball come to an end in the fall, but at the same time it makes you appreciate it when it comes back the next spring. As much as we miss baseball during the winter, we don’t just sit around and sulk. Winters up here can get dull and depressing, so we really have to keep busy to beat the winter blues and make it through until the baseball fun begins. As usual, we take in a lot of hockey games up here. We live in the original ‘Hockeytown U.S.A.’, so between our Lake Superior State Lakers, junior and high school hockey, we spend a lot of time at the rink. We also do a fair share of ice skating ourselves, too. The kids are involved in their own activities throughout the school year as well. Lily participated in the youth bowling league, while Trevor played flag-football and wrestling. A special treat this winter, too, was that we were able to catch a Harlem Globetrotters game. I took Trevor and Lily a few years ago, but this was Brian’s first time seeing them and he had a great time. We were also able to see the Stanley Cup at a Detroit Red Wings Alumni game which was a thrill for the kids. It wasn’t just sports that held our interest, as we saw some rock concerts, too. I took the two older kids up into Canada to see Avril Lavigne (my hearts pants…), and saw legendary rock bands like Slaughter and Stryper come to town. We also spent some time playing outside, and over at the tubing hill blazing down the icy slopes. Do you think that scared Brian at all…No. Anyway, I might not win father of the year..I’ve been known to give the kids NyQuil out of a shot glass, and help them with their math by teaching them Blackjack, but we do have a lot of fun together. Plus, only a single dad can get away with a full size hockey net in the living room, and foosball table instead of a dinner table!
Winter Fun
Lots of Hockey
Harlem Globetrotters
Brian was in awe of the Globetrotters, even after seeing them on ‘Scooby-Doo‘!
Kids’ Activities
Rock Concerts
Bad pic, but Avril is down there, trust me. My eyes never left that girl the entire time she was on stage…
Photos property of M.I.B.
Spring is here, but the Snowman dies anyway…
This may seem like just a formality at this point, with record highs here up north in the mid 70′s, but our tradition of burning the snowman took place anyway. This is the first time I can remember us seeing this without at least having on a winter coat and hat. I’ve been taking Lily and Trevor for about six years now, and this is Brian’s second time. In all, this was the 42nd annual Burning of the Snowman and it’s always a fun way to spend the afternoon. It takes place at our local college Lake Superior State, so lots of students and town folk turn out to see the snowman burn in effigy and usher in spring. We enjoyed some hot dogs and the kids each got a free t-shirt from the radio station. Kids love getting free stuff, really, no matter what it is. The event always seems to take place when the kids have a half-day of school, so luckily we’re able to come every year. I hope this keeps winter away this year for good, though, and living in Michigan anything can happen. We’ve already been outside playing some catch, and really hope we have this kind of weather next month when we start going to the baseball games down state. While driving through the campus, I made sure to blast some Def Leppard in the Town & Country just to prove to all of the college kids just how cool I still am…and my kids think I’m embarrassing…
Photos property of M.I.B.
Lady Lakers have success in Cali
The Lake Superior State Lakers came away from their West Coast swing with a 5-4 record. Not bad at all, for a team travelling so far from home for some softball. The trip started and ended on a positive note, both sweeps. Their journey started in Lancaster, with a sweep of Antelope Valley in a double-header. The won the first game 11-2 and the second game 5-4. The next leg of the Lakers trip was to Fullerton to take on Hope International. LSSU earned a split in this series, getting shut out in the opener 7-0, but bouncing back to take game two 10-1. The Lakers then travelled to Azusa, California, to take on LSSU Head Coach Lori Shimasaki’s alma mater. Azusa Pacific spoiled Shimasaki’s return, though, sweeping the Lakers 4-0 and 6-1 respectively.
As a player at Azusa, Shimasaki set APU’s record for stolen bases and was a honorable mention NAIA All-American in 2006. She amassed a career batting average of .371 before graduating in 2007. She was also an assistant coach at APU for three seasons, and at Chadron State before coming to LSSU.
Back in the road, Lake State stopped in at LaVerne, California to and dropped a decision to LaVerne University 5-4. The trip ended on a good note, though, as they swept University of La Sierra in Riverside, CA. They won the double-header 5-3 and 6-4.
Leading the team offensively is red shirt freshman Amanda Maxon. She batted .364 with two home runs and six RBI’s. Also pitching in was sophomore Felicia Gingrich. She has a .350 average, and has hit two double. Gingrich also help out on the mound, going 1-2 on the trip, with a 5.73 ERA. Lake State was led on the hill by senior Jillian Willette. She made four starts, going 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA. The Lakers start league play on March 23, taking on Ohio Dominican.
Photos courtesy of Lake Superior State Athletics
Lakers ready for California dreamin’
The Lake Superior State Lakers softball team is ready to this the road this spring, as the first leg of their season takes them to California. Trips like this are expensive for small programs, especially since LSSU is the smallest state funded college in Michigan. One of the ways the girls earn money for the trip is the annual Take Me Out To The Ballgame dinner. This has also been a tradition for the kids and I, who’ve been going since Lily and Trevor were probably Brian’s age. We had fun again this year, and the kids Papa was able to join us, too. One of Lily’s favorite things to do is to put a pie in the face of her favorite player. They started doing this last season, and it’s been a big hit. A lot of the players already know Lily from the local softball camps and clinics, so it’s fun for them, too. The girls were also raffling off a flat screen TV and went out on the ice during the hockey game that night to announce the winner and promote the team. Pictured above is the team sporting their very cool new uniforms. The photos below are from the banquet, and feature Lily sporting her new softball hoodie and us enjoying our spaghetti dinner. Good luck to the Lady Lakers this season, and we hope the weather is decent this April for their home games here in the Sault. Here’s the link to the girls 2012 schedule:
http://www.lssulakers.com/sports/w-softbl/2011-12/schedule
Top photo courtesy of LSSU Athletics
Bottom photos property of M.I.B.
How we do things U.P. North
Great little story from my own Lake Superior State University about the girls softball team. With the team getting a little sick and tired of practicing in doors, our second year head coach Lori Shimasaki decided to shake things up, and take it outside. Despite the cold sup-zero weather and waist-high snow, the girls took in some diving drills, and used the snow to their advantage. Things like this are great for team bonding and morale. I don’ t think the team will be out much today, though, as I write this we’re suffering from freezing rain/sleet/snow. Brutal.
Photo courtesy of LSSU Athletics
Lakers Close Season at Home
The Lady Lakers were able to play through the crazy U.P. weather to close out the season at home. They hosted Northwood Thursday and Friday, and played a make-up game against Saginaw Valley State on Sunday. The Lakers lost 11-9 on Thursday in game one, but the second game was postponed due to sleet. Friday the girls played a triple-header against Northwood, dropping all three games 9-2, 4-0, 9-3. This was the best day weather wise, though, so nice to be able to see a few games in one day. The Lakers last game of the season was Sunday, losing to SVSU by the score of 14-4 in a make-up for a rain out on April 20. Seniors Ronlea Peterson (SS) and Nicole Cartensen (OF) played their last college game for the Lakers, and were honored after Fridays games. These girls work very hard every game, and under first year head coach Lori Shimasaki only good things will come to this program in the coming seasons. The team will be hosting some softball camps next month, and Lily will definatley be attending a few of those. Brian spent most of the game playing in the mud puddles. Such is life with a three year old.
Photos property of M.I.B.
Lakers Sweep Rare Homestand
The Lake Superior State Laker girls softball team was able to beat the nasty weather on Friday and sweep Ohio Dominican. They won the first game 9-8 in extra innings and pounded their oponents 18-8 in game two. The Laker double-headers on Saturday and Sunday were rained and snowed out, so I guess we were lucky to see at least a couple of games. Lily knows many of the girls from their softball camps, so she was able to get plenty of autographs and they took the kids into the dugout. It’s also fun to talk with the parents and get their take on things. A lot of positive comments on new head coach Lori Shimasaki and how she’s building a solid softball culture at Lake Superior. The team is scheduled to play some more games, so hoping the weather hold up for them.
Photos property of M.I.B.
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