Tagged: Lakers
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
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
Little League Day at LSSU
Locey Field-Sault Ste. Marie, MI: On Wednesday night, the Lake Superior State Lakers softball team hosted Little League Day. The team invited the kids to watch one of their practices, and they were able to hang out in the dugout with the girls. After practice, the Lakers brought the kids onto the field for some fun and games. Brian did great in the throwing and running the bases competition. Then they played some catch, and Brian did some hitting in the cage with his favorite player. This was a really nice thing for the Laker Softball team to do for the Little Leaguers, I just wish that more kids would have showed up to participate.
After the work on the field was done, we all headed to Buffalo Wild Wings. The Lakers were giving out team posters that all the girls signed for the kids. Brian was really happy that the Laker mascot Seamore the Seaduck showed up to entertain his fans, also. We ate well, and the girls are always to nice to Brian and all of the other kids that showed up. It was a nice way to officially end our season, and for the Lakers to begin theirs.
Brian being silly with Seamore!
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
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
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.
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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