Game 16: Clowning Around with Kyle

My Grandpa has been in the hospital and we wanted to get to visit one more time before school started so Gavin and I went to NY to see him and my Grandma.  There was a clown convention going on in Lancaster last week, so dad took Kyle to the Barnstormers game where they were having a clown parade on Friday. 

Cylo's #1 fan

Kyle LOVED the clowns!  We weren't sure if he would like them or be scared but dad said he just wanted to walk around and look at clowns and Cylo.  There were over 100 clowns there and Kyle got to meet many of them and get his picture with them.  It was also team card set giveaway and so Kyle went down to get a few of his cards signed too.  He did really well...probably because he was so cute they couldn't refuse! 

Gustavo Molina signing for Kyle

Another Clown in the bullpen

Saturday morning there was a write up in the newspaper about the clowns being there and Kyle was in one of the pictures too!  He had so much fun and saw LOTS of clowns...I just hope he doesn't expect them all the time at games now :)

Kyle in the Lancaster Newspaper

 Today's Autographs: 14
 2013 Autographs: 270
2013 My donation: $13.50

Autographs at the Little League World Series

One of the fun parts of the Little League World Series was walking around and meeting the players.  Dicks Sporting Goods gave away autograph books with a page for each team that made it really nice for getting signatures.  When we came home it makes it more fun watching the games because we can say that we met some of the kids.  ESPN also has a lot going on there and we were able to get Nomar Garciaparra and Orel Hershiser to sign for us as well. If you've never watched the LLWS, there are a few games left...check it out.  So here are some of the autographs we got while in Williamsport.

LLWS Autographs: 57
 2013 Autographs: 256
2013 My donation: $12.80

Little League World Series Day 2

After doing a little fishing, swimming, and mini gold back at the campground, we headed back to the ball games on Friday for some great baseball!  On the way, we stopped at a gas station to get some cardboard so we could slide down the hill at Lamade stadium. 

Our first stop was the Little League Museum.  It was really cool to see the history of Little League baseball and all the memorabilia from throughout the years.

1st Little League game

US Presidents signed baseballs

Isaac, Abe, Blake, and Gavin autographed ball

The first game was California vs Great Lakes.  WHAT A GAME!  Everyone likes to see offense, but there is something special about a pitchers dual.  Chad Lorkowski was pitching for Great Lakes and Grant Holman was pitching for California.  Both pitchers were on and at the end of regulation Holman had a no hitter and Lorkowski had a 1 hitter.  Extra innings were needed but Chad was out of pitches so Great Lakes had to go to the bullpen.  California got 3 runs in the top of the 7th and Grant Holman held Great Lakes hitless in the bottom of the 7th to throw the first extra inning no hitter in LLWS since 1979. It was awesome to witness!

Gavin sledding down the hill

Blake ready to go

Isaac, Gavin, and Abe making a train

California celebrates No Hitter!

NO HITTER!

We headed over to Volunteer stadium to watch Japan and the Czech Republic for the next game.  On the way over, we ran into Orel Hershiser who was there calling the games with ESPN.  He signed a few autographs for us and took a picture with me.  Japan is always tough but I was cheering for Czech Republic after getting to meet some of the guys.  The day before when signing autographs, Daniel Stoudek shook my hand and thanked me for being a fan.  In the 2nd inning he went deep for his first hit in the LLWS.  Japan went on to win the game 7-3 but it is always fun cheering for guys especially after you meet them and get to talk to them.

Orel Hershiser

Meeting the Czech Republic guys

Daniel Stoudek

As we were heading home, Nomar Garciaparra was at the ESPN stage so we were able to stop and get some autographs on some cards.  All in all it was a great day of baseball and a great time in our first trip to Williamsport.  Autograph totals from the trip will be posted tomorrow.

Nomar Garciaparra

Little League World Series Day 1

We made our first ever trip to Williamsport last week to watch the start of the Little League World Series and do some camping.  It would be our first time for both and we were really excited.  We went with our friends Abe and Isaac, and their dad Eric.  We left Wednesday to set up camp and get ready for our first Little League experience Thursday.

We've arrived!

Little League World Series

 

First Pitch of the 2013 LLWS

Overlooking Lamade Stadium



We got to the complex Thursday to take in the first game which was Panama against Puerto Rico.  We parked out in the outfield grass and had a great view of the game.  Daniel Fernandez hit a home run for Panama that went right over our heads in center field.  Panama went on to win 9-4 and we headed over to Lamade Stadium to watch Texas and Washington.  Washington won that one 8-4.

While dad and Gavin headed up to get some food, they ran into Karl Ravech from ESPN and Gavin got his picture with him.

Karl Ravech, ESPN

Texas vs Washington

Gavin and Abe taking in the view

There is so much to do there besides watching the games.  We spent some time walking around meeting some of the players and getting autographs.  One of the players stood out more than most and that was Chad Lorkowski from Great Lakes.  As you can tell by the picture, he did stand out.  He is listed at 6'3" and we are the same age! 

Chad Lorkowski and Blake

Autographs from Great Lakes players

It was really cool getting to see the players from different countries.  I had asked a couple of kids from Czech Republic to sign my book and the rest of the team came over and wanted to sign it too. This was the first appearance for them ever in the LLWS and they were having a blast.  One player shook my hand and thanked me for being a fan...he would be heard from again on Friday!

Czech Republic

Southeast...Tennessee

West...California Micah Pietila-Wiggs 

The sponsors have tents set up all through the complex as well with games and giveaways.  After taking some cuts in the Kellogg's booth, we headed back to camp to do a little fishing and get ready for some big games on Friday.

Tony the Tiger

Gavin in the Kellogg's booth

Blake in the Kellogg's cage

Game 15: Honoring The Mayor

When the Lancaster Barnstormers released their promotion schedule, this was a game we wanted to go to!  The Barnstormers would be honoring Ross Peeples and the 9 years he has spent in Lancaster by giving away a bobble head.  We got there early and got in line so make sure we would get one. 

Ross has been with the team since day 1 of the franchise and has done whatever he's called on to do.  His time spent here and community involvement earned him the nickname, The Mayor. 

Ross always signs autographs, talks to fans, has fun in the bullpen, and knows how to win.  Here is an article that Burt Wilson wrote and was just in the Lancaster newspaper on Ross...

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/878488_-Mayor--Ross-Peeples-loves-his-situation--surroundings-with-Barnstormers.html

Ross is one of the good guys in sports and is a better person than he is ballplayer.  He has already set a couple of records this season with another couple in sight. It has been great getting to know him through the years and...yes...getting his autograph!

Thanks Ross!

Today's Autographs:  1
2013 Autographs: 199
2013 My donation: $9.95

Game 14: Duck Dynasty's Mountain Man

Last weekend was a big one for the Lancaster Barnstormers.  One of the biggest shows on TV right now is Duck Dynasty.  The Barnstormers invited Mountain Man to come meet with fans and sign autographs for the night.  He talks really slow like in the show and even announced the batters for an inning.  He was really nice to all the fans and took lots of pictures and signed autographs.  I was able to get my ticket stub signed and get a picture with him.

Our friends Isaac and Abe came with us and got to play catch on the field before the game.  Gavin and Abe are big superhero fans and Wolverine was there as well.  We all got our picture with him when we got there.  It was a great night to hang with friends and watch the game even though the Barnstormers lost.

Duck Dynasty's Mountain Man

Isaac, Gavin, Blake, and Abe with Wolverine

Today's Autographs:  3
2013 Autographs: 198
2013 My donation: $9.90