World Series Update
(and some definite fun at the beach!)

Okay, it's midnight here in Florida and we JUST got back from the ballpark. We had a game that started at 8 and it went until almost 10:30 (regulation time is just 75 minutes, so it should have been over at 9:15). So, you can imagine that it must have been an exciting game! In fact, it was one of the most exciting I've ever seen (and I've watched A LOT of ball over the years! LOL). But, before I give you that game play-by-play, how about an update on the games that got us here so far?

My last update told you about our first two pool play games (these are "practice" games that don't affect the championship games). We had lost 4-2 and then won 17-0, if you remember.

We won our last pool play game 9-4 (coming back from a 4-0 deficit) to a really good team called the Georgia Dynasty.

Then, this morning we started Bracket Play (these are the games now that really "count"! It is a double elimination tournament, so two losses and you're out). So, this is when the pressure is now on!

We played today at 12:30 (and let me just tell you, it was HOT!!!) against the River City Comets from Chattanooga, Tennessee. We won 11-1, mostly because our bats were on fire! We haven't been hitting too well lately but we did today! We played great defense and had good pitching and it was just a great win! So, we were on a winning track!

Because we won, we didn't play again until tonight at 8 pm (MUCH cooler! Thank goodness!). We knew we would have a tough game, because we were up against the East Texas Longhorns. They are back-to-back Texas state champs (and, ya know, Texas is kinda big so that's saying something!! lol) and were the #1 seed coming into the World Series.

We started out poorly and got into a 4-0 hole. They made some great hits, we had some errors, and we were down quickly. But we didn't give up! We battled back to a 4-4 tie and had to go into overtime. We went into an international tiebreaker (this means that each team gets to start with a runner on 2nd base). We went ahead 5-4 and then they got the last bat. But they ended up scoring two and won 6-5.

But what made it SO exciting was some of the amazing plays that we did in the game to get us to overtime!! And Delaney was a BIG part of it!! I was SO proud of her!! She hit in the first point of the game for us, with a great hit into right field that scored Neeley from 3rd base. Then she made a diving catch at second base (she was literally rolling around in the dirt with the glove almost on the ground. An amazing catch!) to keep the other team from scoring! (I think I yelled so loud at that play that I damaged a few vocal chords!) And THEN she made an out at first and threw out a runner going to third base by throwing to Reisa (a DOUBLE PLAY!!) And there were so many other great plays by other players--a hit that almost went over the fence by Caroline, a great catch by our shortstep, great pitching and catching. And then we almost forced the game to a second overtime when our centerfielder threw a ball at home and just barely missed the out because our catcher had to attempt the catch with a runner plowing into her. It was a great try!

Losing is never fun, but it's especially hard when you lose by one point after playing great to the best team in the tournament! Our girls truly played their hearts out and it's hard to imagine any game left in the Series being better than this one! We had all sorts of other coaches coming to us and saying it's the best challenge the Longhorns have had all year! (Not that it makes losing any easier, but I was still proud of how we played!).The good news is that I truly think we can keep going in the Series if we play like we did tonight! The bad news is that now we have to play three games on Friday and can't lose or we're out of it! It will be a long day!!! (And, of course, I'll give updates!)

Now...we have done a lot more than play and watch softball!

Some other highlights from yesterday and today....

* We went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix today during our break in games. Yay!!!! It was SO nice to be in a cold, air-conditioned theatre and I really enjoyed the movie (although there were a lot of differences from the book, which does bother me a bit!). But it was still really good!!

* Hungry Howie's pizza for lunch. As Rachael Ray would say, "Yummo!!!"

* Dippin Dots this evening after the game for a special treat! (We had told Delaney we'd go there if we won, but after the battle we had and the great plays she made, we decided it was definitely in order any way!) There were 4o flavor choices (I picked Chocolate Crunch)! Double Yummo!!

* Some more time at the beach, this time battling some jellyfish. But still too much fun!!!

* A nighttime beach party at our coach's house. The girls played beach volleyball, we enjoyed some delicious grilled chicken and good food, and Sydney entertained the entire crowd with her dancing!! (she has serious boogie talent!!)

Tomorrow we have the day off and won't play until Friday. So, tomorrow is all-day FUN!! We are meeting Rebecca's family at their hotel to enjoy their five pools! And then they will come over afterwards to enjoy our beach!!

I will pop on tomorrow night and post some pictures!!

And then I will be busy watching more World Series action. Keep your fingers crossed for us!!

(btw, I haven't had a chance to go read any of your posts because I have limited time on the Internet and a pretty slow connection. But I hope you all are doing great and I will, of course, catch up with all of you when we get home!)

See ya, Go Bolts, and Viva the Beach!!