More Pictures of....Who Do You Think?

First Rose of the Season...

Turtle

Julian and I went fishing this evening and our only excitement for the night was this large turtle we saw. It had climbed about 7-8' up a tree limb that was growing out over the water from the embankment and found a nice resting spot to take a nap!

Champions!!!

The Hope Little League team was able to do what the Patriots couldn't do and that was complete the perfect season! (Man it still hurts to think about the Pats in the Super Bowl!)

Hope took the field first and got 3 quick outs on Thomaston II and that would be a sign of things to come for Thomaston. After the first inning, the score was 9-0 as the entire Hope lineup and then some got to bat. In the second inning Hope added 4 more runs and luckily for Thomaston Hope didn't score anymore. After the 4th, Hope was up 13-0 and the "mercy-rule" went into effect and Hope was crowned CHAMPIONS! Sam Berry, the starting pitcher for Hope, didn't allow any hits, got 10 of the 12 outs by strikeouts and walked 4. Thomaston was simply over matched tonight.

Julian was 1 for 1 with a single. He had an RBI and scored a run. Julian has improved a lot this year and had some exciting moments. He will be a team leader next year as one of the older kids on the team and hopefully he will be a starting pitcher too!

Now It's Time for Golf!

Here was Julians schedule this weekend: Saturday morning at 9am-Little League All Star practice, then at 3pm-Golf tournament at the Samoset. Sunday at 2pm-Golf tournament at Goose River Golf Course, then at 5:30 Hope Little League practice! In between the days he had a sleep over at a friends house! Think this 10-year old is busy enough?!?!

The Midcoast Junior Golf League started this weekend and Julian placed 1st after shooting a 46 for 9-holes at the Samoset. (Pictured above with his trophy and gift certificate to a golf shop.)Today he placed 2nd after shooting a 46 again for 9-holes at Goose River.

Tomorrow night Julian and his teamates will face Thomaston II for the LL Championship-check back Monday night for results!!

On to the Championship Game!!!

Hope played their toughest opponent of the season again tonight, but this time it was for the right to go to the championship game on Monday. The game was scoreless early and Hope blew a couple great chances to go up early, incuding in the second inning when they had bases loaded and no outs, but couldn't manage to get any runs. Lincolnville struggled all evening to get anything going with their bats due to great pitching from Ben Welt who pitched his last LL game. Hope scored 1 run in the third and then put together a rally to score 4 more in the 4th. After that it was more great pitching and a couple great defensive plays and Lincolnville was held scoreless for Hopes first shutout of the season. Julian was 0-1 tonight with a strikeout.

Hope will face either Thomaston II or Washington, who played tonight, for the championship. Hopefully we can find out who won that game tomorrow!

Another Cute Picture of the Baby!

One Down, Two to Go!

Hope hosted their first playoff game tonight against Thomaston I. The field conditions were wet from drizzle throughout the day, which I think benefited Thomaston as Hopes hard throwing pitchers were having trouble gripping the ball and maintaining control. The game was close throughout the six innings and after 3 innings the score was 3-1, with Hope in the lead. A low scoring game was just what Thomaston was hoping for to have any hope for a win.

In the sixth inning things got very interesting and Julian would be in for a big surprise! The score was 4-2, and Hope has a pitching rotation going so that none of the big three pitchers throw more than 40 pitches an outing so that they are all available to pitch in the next game (Little League has pitch count rules to follow to help protect kids arms from injuries). There are 2 outs in the top of the sixth, 1 runner on base and the last of the 3 big pitchers is on the mound and he has thrown his 40th pitch. The coach decides, even though the pitcher has 2 strikes on the batter, that he wants this pitcher available for the next game and he decides to pull him out. He heads to the mound, has a conversation with his pitcher and takes the ball from him. He then looks over to second base where Julian is playing and calls him to the mound. Julian was caught off guard to say the least. He's been wanting to pitch all year, but has only been called upon once earlier in the season. The pressure is on and the season is on the line, but he only needs one strike and the game is over.....not so easy!! Julian ends up losing the first batter and now there is a runner on first and second. Julian then makes things even more interesting by walking the next batter! Now we have bases loaded, a mom who is about to be sick because she is so nervous and a base hit to the outfield will likely mean a tied game! The next batter stepped to the plate and the suspense ended when Julian struck him out swinging!

Hope survived a close one and will face their next opponent, still to be determined, Thursday in Hope. If they can win that game the championship game will be Monday June 23.

On another note, Julian made the 9 and 10 year old All-Star team!!

Happy Father's Day!

What's Worse Constipation or Prunes?

Nolan can't answer this question verbally (obviously!), but by his utmost rejection of the prunes Jamie tried to feed him today it was obvious that prunes were at least equally as worse-evident by the very unimpressive look above! Nolan did however down 2oz of prune juice this evening!

Undefeated Regular Season!

Hope went to Lincolnville and came away with another win! Lincolnville never really gave Hope a challenge and when the last pitch was thrown Hope won 5-1, making Hope's record 12-0! Julian was 1-2 with a strikeout and a single, in which good hustle down the base path beat the throw to first base.

Hope will now host their first round playoff opponent, yet to be determined, on Monday June 16.

Winners of the Selectmen's Race in Hope Are...

Nolan's Baptism

Nolan's Baptism was June 8th at the church of Our Lady of Good Hope in Camden.

Mike's sister Nicole is his Godmother and my brother-in law Pat is his Godfather. He was such a good boy and seemed to get a kick out of Father's voice as every time he talked to him, Nolan smiled and cooed. Following the Baptism we had a nice gathering with the family at our house.

One More to Go...

Hope played Thomaston I tonight and got another win to move their record to 11-0! The game was close tonight in the early going but after the second inning Hope stretched out the lead and won the game 10-2. Julian had great game at the plate tonight and got his swing back. He went 2-2, with a single, a double and a walk. He also had 2 runs and 2 RBI's.

If Hope can pull off a victory Thursday against their nemesis Lincolnville they will finish the regular season 12-0!

Wait and see!!!

Where the Ladies?!?!

First Fishing Adventure of the Season

Julian caught this 6 pounder (okay it was really 2.25lbs!) during our first outing of the season in the canoe. We wish we could tell you where he caught it, but that wouldn't be proper fishing etiquette now would it?!?!?!

VillageSoup Article: Running for Hope Board of Selectmen

Hope Clinches First Place and Home Field Advantage

Hope went to St. George tonight and put so many runs on the board we all lost track of the score! We believe the final score was around 15-2! The win gave Hope first place for the season regardless of what happens in their last 2 games and will give them home field advantage through the playoffs. Julian went 1 for 3 with 2 groundouts and a single.

Hope Goes to 9-0!

Hope played Thomaston II Monday night and didn't have any problem adding another win to their record. Hope's pitching was solid once again and the bats were spreading hits on all areas of the field in the 7-1 win. Julian was 0-2 with 2 groundouts. Unfortunately for Julian I wasn't umpiring the bases tonight becasue I would have called him safe on his second groundout as I thought he beat out the throw!!