Tagged: Lake Superior State
The Grand Finale’
LSSU Lakers vs Tiffin Dragons (NCAA)
Locey Field-Sault Ste Marie, MI: Going into the weekend, we knew this would probably be our last chance to see the Laker softball team play. What I didn’t expect, is the school making the decision to cancel the softball program entirely after this season, and that is as of last weekend. I do feel that we were fortunate, however, to witness the final games of the program.
Game one was a tough loss for the Lakers. Down four zip, the girls stormed back to tie the game in the sixth. The rally started when Soo native Jenna Holt hit a double to the wall, scoring Lindsey Pajot and Carly Banchiu. Alyssa Boucher then scored on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to one. Kylie Durre then tied the game by surviving a tough pickle situation. Boucher took the circle at the top of seven, but game up the game-winning home run. FINAL Game 1: LSSU 4, TU 5.
Between games, the Laker mascot Seamore the Seaduck was on hand to entertain the crowd. Of course, Brian had to get one last photo with him.
Brian and Seamore the Seaduck
On to game number two, the final game in the history of the LSSU softball program. With the Dragons up 2-0, catcher Katie Martin hit an RBI single to cut the lead to one. That would be all the Lakers got for a few innings, though, as Tiffin racked up a few more. Kylie Durre hit a dinger in the sixth, and Banchiu added an RBI single in the seventh, but it was too little, too late, and that’s all she wrote for Laker softball. FINAL Game 2: LSSU 3, TU 7.
It was sad to watch that final out, and the girls were obviously very emotional. The program has been very good to us over the years, with Lily, Trevor, and Brian all participating in their camps and clinics. We in turn have supported the team the best we can. Now, as we move on as a family, these girls must now do the same, especially the younger classes that will have to find a new team to play for. So, as this door closes, new ones are now opening for all of us…
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
The first in Four
LSSU Lakers vs Ohio Dominican (NCAA)
Locey Field-Sault Ste Marie, MI: Last weekend the Lake Superior State Lakers played their first home game in four seasons. With our impending move, it was good to see a game, and get distracted from life. It was a little cool, as it usually is up here, but the sun was shining and the field was in good shape.
The Lakers took on Ohio Dominican in a double header. In game one, Riley Durbano took the loss in the circle, pitching all seven innings and striking out two. The Lakers were led offensively by Katey Hendershott who went 2-3. Lindsay Pajot added a double, Taylor Steinhelper had a single, stolen base, and run scored, while Teryn Williams and Carly Banchiu added an RBI each. Lake Superior scored three runs in the first inning, but couldn’t push anything else across after that. FINAL Game 1: LSSU 3, ODU 6.
In the second game, it was the Panthers who jumped out to a lead, but they never relinquished it. Pajot had two of the three Laker RBI’s in the loss. Kylie Durre drove in Hendershott for the other Laker run. Freshman Alyssa Thayer pitched a complete three strikeout game in the loss. FINAL Game 2: LSSU 3, ODU 7.
Despite the scores, it was a fun day of softball. Brian being buddies with most of the girls, served as their batboy for a game, also!
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Little Lakers Clinic #3
Lake Superior State University-Sault Ste. Marie, MI: Last week Brian participated in his last clinic hosted by the Lake Superior State Lakers softball team. Pictured above, is him acting silly with two of his favorite players. They are always really nice to him, and were sad to hear that he’s moving away. Brian had a good time running through the basic drills and hitting off of the tee. He tired out a bit in the second hour of the clinic, though. I’ve always appreciated the clinics and camps that the Lady Lakers have made available to both the girls and boys throughout the years. Lily started attending when she was young, with her brother following suit. I’m sure we’ll take advantage of all the camps down in Kentucky with all of the colleges and pro teams in the area. This has also been an fairly easy winter up here, so we’re really hoping the Lakers are able to play their first home game in four years, so we can see them one last time.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Little Lakers Clinic #2
Lake Superior State University-Sault Ste Marie, MI: This week Brian participated in the second of three clinics the Lake Superior State softball team hosted. Brian was the only boy in the clinic again, but the players always have fun with him. They started out taking some ground balls, and then worked on some fly balls. The kids always love the obstacle courses, too. They like to compete with each other and it’s good that they get to run around since they can’t play outside in the weather up here. Then they played some other games that worked on their speed and agility before hitting the cage.
As usual, Brian is a boss in the batting cage. He hit well, but is his own worse critic. Getting him to relax and have fun is the real challenge, as he feels he should be pounding the ball every pitch. I didn’t help that we had a busy weekend with little sleep, so that made him a little grumpy as well. The joys of being a parent, I guess. The kids ended the clinic with more games, and Brian had the chance to don his tools of ignorance for a little while to take some pitches. The Lady Lakers will be hosting one more clinic next month.
Here’s a video of Brian in the cage:
Photos and video property of Minoring In Baseball
Little Lakers Clinic #1
Lake Superior State University-Sault Ste. Marie, MI: This week Brian was lucky enough to take part in a clinic hosted by the Lake Superior State softball team. Since we don’t have a baseball team up here, the girls are gracious enough to invite the boys to join in, and get taught all aspects of the game. He had a chance to show off his batting skills in the cage, and really stroked the ball well. He also was given good instruction on his throwing and catching mechanics, which is something he needed. Brian was also given the chance to break in his new catchers gear that he got for his birthday. He had a lot of fun and was able to learn some new techniques to help out his game. The players area always really nice to him and he loves spending time with his ‘friends’. The Lakers will be having two more clinics in both February and March that he plans to attend.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Valentine’s with the Lady Lakers
Saturday was Valentine’s Day, and who wants to spend that day alone? So Brian and I, being the wild and crazy guys that we are, bundled up to combat the sub-zero temps and spent the evening with the Lake Superior State Lakers softball team. The team was having their annual pasta dinner to raise funds for their road trips this season. We ate well, and Brian kept busy playing with some of the other kids in attendance. He even gave some of the players a Valentine, and got his picture taken with his favorite player (with spaghetti sauce on his shirt, no less).
The Lakers start their season in two weeks, travelling to Marquette, Michigan to face Marian (Wisc.), Finlandia, Edgewood, and Concordia (Wisc.) in the Superior Dome. They then will travel to the St. Louis area in March, to face some more non-conference teams, gearing up for their GLIAC schedule. The Lakers complete schedule can be found HERE. We wish the girls the best of luck this season in their GLIAC playoff bid, and are confident they’ll reach their goal. Trevor joined us for the hockey game after the dinner, but we missed him and Lily this year. I hope they’ll join us next year if we’re still living in the area.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
A Hockey Holiday
Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Iowa Wild (American Hockey League)
Van Andel Arena-Grand Rapids, MI: I hope this post finds that everyone had a safe and very Merry Christmas! To celebrate our holiday, we headed downstate to visit family, and to keep busy, took in a hockey game. There are really only two seasons in our eyes, baseball in summer, and hockey in winter, so we spend many nights at the rink when the ballparks are covered in snow. On this night, Brian and I went with Papa to see the Griffins host the Wild at the Van. Our first Griffs game of the season, and it was a good one. They wasted no time, as Andy Meile tickled the twine just 14 seconds into the game. The Wild tied the game shortly after, but not long after that Landon Ferraro re-established the lead for Grand Rapids. Teemu Pulkkinen scored with 43 seconds left in the period to give the Griffins at 3-1 lead going into the first intermission.
During a break, I tried to take a few pics of Brian and I with my iPhone, but they didn’t turn out too great (still posted on Twitter). This one of Bri didn’t turn out too bad, though.
Brian loves watching the Zamboni
The second period was a good one for the home team. Mitch Callahan scored a power-play goal just 2:35 into the period to put the Griffins up by three. Grand Rapids kept pouring it on, as Tomas Nosek scored a highlight-reel goal, and Marek Tvrdon scored his first AHL goal shortly after. The scoring didn’t stop there, as defenseman Nathan Paetch scored on a laser from the left circle, and Nosek tapped in his second of the night to put an end to the second period. Brian and I tried to catch up with the mascots Griff and Finn, but they didn’t get out with the fans during the game or intermissions.
Griffins mascots Griff and Finn
The third period wasn’t as excited, but still held some very good stories. First, with the Wild getting beat up, they decided to finally pull their starting goalie, and replace him with David DeSandler. With the other netminder called back up to Minnesota, the Wild needed a back-up, and signed the west Michigan native to a one-day tryout. DeSandler did a fine job, too, only giving up one goal and making six saves in his one period of work. The only goal he gave up was to former Lake Superior State Laker Colin Campbell at the 5:53 mark. In net for the Griffs, Thomas McCollum, who was sent down from the Detroit Red Wings earlier in the day. He was stellar on the night, stopping 32 out of 34 shots for Grand Rapids.
The Red Wings top prospect Anthony Mantha
Brian enjoying the game with his Papa
Fight! Fight! Dropping the gloves!!!
This was a fun night with family, and we hope to make it down to another game this season. As the last post of 2014, it was a great year and we really look forward to the challenges that 2015 will bring us. I’m still hoping to get transferred to a warmer, more baseball friendly environment, so keeping my fingers crossed, and see where the new year takes us! Final: Griffins 9, Wild 2.
Video from our YouTube channel:
All photos and video property of Minoring In Baseball
Softball starts with Spaghetti
The Lake Superior State University Lakers kicked off the 2014 season with their annual ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame’ spaghetti dinner this weekend. The kids and I had a fun time, and proceeds go to the team to help fund their trip to California on February 27. While out west, the girls start their journey at Vanguard, while also visiting La Sierra, Concordia, Cal State San Marcos, Hope International, and Azusa Pacific. The Lakers are scheduled for their first home stand on March 22 against Ohio Dominican, but I think we’ll still have about ten feet of snow on the ground, so we’ll see how that goes! I hope they get some home games in this season, though. Due to the numerous softball/baseball clinics the kids have attended, along with other college functions, the kids have gotten to know a few of the players, and always feel good when they say hi. The dinner also gave us a chance to wish them luck on the coming season. You can view the Lakers full schedule HERE.
Photo property of Minoring In Baseball
Little Lakers skills camp
Over the weekend the kids participated in the Little Lakers skills camp and Parents Night Out on the campus of Lake Superior State University. It was a chance for the kids to learn more baseball and softball, and for us parents to get a break for a few hours, too. The Laker softball team ran the kids threw some drills, played games, and fed them some pizza. Even though I was supposed to go out and get some ‘me’ time, I only stayed away for an hour or two before checking up on the kiddoes. They broke up the girls into about three groups, but there was only five boys, so Trevor was in a group with Brian and a few other little ones. I was able to get a few pics of them doing some drills and games, but the Student Activities Center still is so dark. They all had a good time, though, and got a good workout in. The players and coaches always work really well with the kids during the camps. I hope the team holds more during the winter.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Lakers’ free & fun basic skills clinic
Lake Superior State University-Sault Ste. Marie, MI: Over the weekend Brian participated in the fun free baseball/softball clinic held at LSSU. The clinic was hosted and ran by the girls’ softball team, and they did a great job with the kids. Brian was a little shy with the girls at first, but warmed up when they offered to play catch with him. He did great from there with the drills and games that were played. He hit the ball well off the tee, and in soft-toss. I really saw an improvement with him catching the ball and he’s always had a cannon for an arm. The lady Lakers will be holding another clinic next weekend, this time with more games and pizza for the kids. With the weather cold, rainy, and snowy, I’m grateful the kids have this to look forward too, and a chance to stay active. It’s tough living up here at times with our nasty winters, as they’re obviously not very baseball friendly. The camps are held in the Student Activities Center at the college, which continues to be my Achilles’ heel when it comes to taken decent photos.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
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