Now With the Ohio Force and the Bombers
This year I switched baseball teams from the Riverbats to the Ohio Force. So far this year we have been doing great! This week we play the Butler County Bandits for a league game and this weekend we have a Memorial Day tournament at Flash fields, can’t wait! Also, next year I’m going to St. X for high school. Oo on Tuesdays and Thursdays I’ve been going to Spring conditioning for football. It’s been hard but really fun.
I’m Baaaack
I’m sorry I haven’t blogged in so long. Ever since I started 7th grade, school and playing sports has kept me super busy. In the fall, I played football for Ridge Junior School. I played linebacker and quarterback. We went four and four so 500, not the best season but I still had a lot of fun. During the winter I played basketball for Ridge. I started as small forward. The basketball team also had an okay season. Sadly we lost in the first round in the playoffs. I still had lots of fun.
I’m starting baseball season again with the Cincinnati Riverbats. Right now we’re only practicing and doing baseball lessons but in six weeks the tournaments start. It’s going to be a great season.
I’m writing today because a teacher in Americus, GA used my blog as an example for her the class. The teacher told her students to read SportzBitz.com to teach them about blogging. To the kids in Ms. Nichols’ class – thank you for checking out my blog and leaving so many comments. I hope you all start your own blogs. Send me a link so I can check-out your blogs, too.
My First Junior High Football Scrimmage
A few weeks ago I started playing football for Ridge Junior School. On Wednesday afternoon I rode the bus to a football game for the first time. We met at school at 2:30, dressed for the game in the locker room and took a bus to Rapid Run Middle School. It was cool to ride the bus with my teammates.
Our Ridge Junior High seventh grade team scrimmaged the Rapid Run seventh graders. We took turns running 10 plays on defense and 10 plays on offense. Everyone got to play a little. I played quarterback and strong-side linebacker. I connected with Johnny Noyen on a 15 yard pass. I also broke a block and tackled the ball carrier at the line. We didn’t keep score but we moved the ball enough to score two touchdowns and they didn’t score any.
Our Schedule:
August 25 @ 4:30 @ HOME V. Liberty Junior School
September 1 @ 4:30 @ Mason
September 8 @ 4:30 @ HOME V. Garfield
September 15 @ 4:30 @ Bridgetown
September 22 @ 4:30 @ HOME V. Colerain
September 29 @ 4:30 @ HOME V. Sycamore
October 6 @ Hopewell Junior School
October 13 @ Plains Junior School
Cooperstown Videos
My mom took some videos at Cooperstown Dreams Park. The first one is of the barracks that the Riverbats stayed in. The second one is of the ballpark. Cooperstown is an experience of a lifetime!!! GO BATS!!!
A Disappointing Start for the Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals started the season with the Hall of Fame game against the Dallas Cowboys in Canton, Ohio. The Cowboys dominated the whole game and the Bengals lost 16-7. Cincinnati’s defense looked pretty good. Pac-Man Jones played great after the first series. The offense couldn’t get anything going and struggled the whole game.
The Hall of Fame game was the first of five pre-season games for Cincinnati. The last time the Bengals played five preseason games they went all the way to the Super Bowl. Hopefully history repeats itself, except I want to see the Bengals WIN the Super Bowl this time. I have a good feeling about the 2010-2011 season. Cincinnati’s defense looks solid and the offense should be even better than last year. We needed a long-ball wide-receiver and we got T.O.!!! I expect the Bengals to have an awesome season.
GO BENGALS! WHO DEY!!
Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp – 2010
On Saturday, July 31st, my family, my friend Trece and I went to Bengal’s Training Camp in Georgetown, KY. We got sideline passes again this year – thanks Shawn and Kim!!! The Bengals looked really good at practice. Everyone was hustling and giving it their all. The rookie’s all looked awesome!
While we were watching practice we met Jarrad Trent, the brother of cornerback #25 Morgan Trent’s brother. Jarrad was a really cool guy and he promised to get us Morgan’s autograph after practice. Jarrad also introduced us to Leon Hall.
After practice was over the players stayed on the field for a long time and signed autographs. We got autographs from Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Jordan Shipley, Bobbie Williams, Tank Johnson, Dhani Jones, Cedric Benson and more!
More Cooperstown Pictures
Each team brings their own umpire to Cooperstown. Our umpire came to watch all of our games.
After every game our little sisters and brothers and grandparents made a tunnel for us to walk through. Even the coaches walked under the tunnel.
Our Week at Cooperstown Dreams Park
103 teams from across the USA were in the Cooperstown Dreams Park 12U tournament July 23-30 and my team, the Cincinnati Riverbats made it to the Sweet 16 and placed 10th overall.
I arrived at Cooperstown on Friday. My family, the Weigel’s and the Larbes’ all stayed in a house on Goodyear Lake. Instead of staying with our families all week, the players and coaches stayed at Cooperstown Dreams Park. We slept in barracks with bunk beds and no air conditioning. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner together under a tent. The food was good and we had a great time together. On Saturday morning we went right to our barracks, #21B and unpacked and immediately started playing Kemp’s, a card game. I said good-bye to my family and after they left the team went to dinner. A little while later we got our uniforms on and lined-up for the Opening Ceremonies.
At the Opening Ceremonies, all 103 teams walked around the field with their banners.
After the Opening Ceremonies the competitions started. Jay Wilson participated in the Golden Arm, Genesis Hillard was in the Road RUnner, Nake Hiles was in the King of the Swat and the rest of the team; Alex, Smith, Johnny Shutrump, Luke Larbes, J.D. Vanover, Rory Callihan, Andrew Weigel, Andrew Acuna, Nigel Williams and I did the Around the Horn. Out of the four competitions Nate Hiles was the only player from our team to make it to the second round. Hiles took fourth place with three home runs.
On Sunday we had our first game against Niagara Falls Purple Eagles. Wilson and Vanover pitched a phenomenal game. Larbes lead off the game and the tournament with a base hit that hit the 200 foot fence. Williams had a grand slam and a three run homer. Hiles had a home run against the Eagles, too. Larbes, Callihan and Hiles connected on a double play from center, to second to first. Hiles had another double play when he caught the ball and doubled the guy up at first. We ended up run ruling the Eagles 15-2 in five innings.
Our second game on Sunday was against the Tinley Park Bulldogs from Illinois. Williams and Acuna pitched a great game. Williama and Weigel both had two run homers. Smith also hit a shot that hit the fence in the air. We won 8-3 after six hard-fought innings.
on Monday we started the day early against the Mountville Indians from Pennsylvania. Callihan and Shutrump pitched well. Williams had another home run. I had a two run RBI to right center and a single to left. Both of my hits one hopped the fence. We finished the game on top with a score of 10-7.
Next, we played the Lockton Tigers from Missouri. Hiles, Wilson and I pitched an amazing game. Hiles had two homers and Hillard had a home run, also. Wilson and hooked up when I snagged a ball in right and threw the kid out at first.
Our first game on Tuesday was against Training Camp from Tennessee. Smith pitched five and Williams finished up a big win for us. Williams and Hiles both had home runs against TC. Smith had a big pick off from the mound to get the fastest kid out at first. We ended the game ont op with a score of 3-2
Next, we played Mendon Thunder. Larbes and Shutrump pitched a 13-1 blow-out game. Wilson, Hiles, Weigel and Smith all had home runs.
We ended bracket play 6-0 and got the 7th seed!
On Wednesday we went to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a team. It was very cool to see all of the baseball memorabilia.
Wednesday night we played Carrolton from Texas. Wilson and Acuna pitched a great game. Williams hit the top of the fence but the ball bounced back in for a single. I had a three-run double on two outs. I also doubled a kid up at right and on another play I backed up an overthrow and threw the base runner out at second. We bear Mendon 9-7 and advanced to the Sweet 16.
On Thursday morning we played the Kansas City Barnstormers. Acuna, Hiles, Williams and I pitched a disappointing loss. Smith and Hillard both had two run home runs. Sadly, we lost the game 7-4 to end our week at Cooperstown and our 12U season.
I feel we had a great tournament. We put ourselves in a great position to win the tournament we just didn’t execute. Everyone played great this season! GO RIVERBATS!!!!
Riverbats Advance to Sweet 16
On Wednesday night we beat Carrollton (LA) 9-7. We had a great game!
We play KC Barnstormers (KS) at 8:30 am on Thursday.
The 12U Riverbats are undefeated after pool play in week 8 of the Cooperstown Dreamspark Tournament.
Riverbats Pool Play Games
Sunday:
Niagara Junior Purple Eagles (NY) 15-2
Tinley Park Bulldogs (Illinois) 8-3
Monday:
Mountville Indians (PA) 10-7
Lockton Tigers (Missouri) 11-4
Tuesday:
Training Camp Baseball (TN) 3-2
Mendham Thunder (NJ) 13-1
