Youth Sports Post: Soccer Tournament

I usually spend the longest day of the year on the lake, but this year I was in Pasco, Washington for a soccer tournament. I've mentioned before that my son Isaiah is playing this summer for the FC Spokane U-17 team. This is club soccer, a step up from high school sports. This was Isaiah's first chance to play with them in a tournament, and it was our first chance to see him play with them. So it was two nights and three games away from home.

We learned that five of their regular players couldn't be at the tournament, which explained the fact that they lost all three games. But the coach explained that it was OK, that the main reason for playing was to get ready for the next tournament, which is more important somehow.

So it was hard work for Isaiah and the team. Isaiah was discouraged the first day, but by the end of the tournament he was feeling good about the improvement he had made.

As usual, we thought he played great.

Youth Sports Post: Spring Sports

With Spring comes spring sports.

My son, Jeremiah, will play baseball. These photos are from practice. We've had one game but Jeremiah didn't play because of grades, alas. We lost. I think he's got those grades up now, so maybe he can help us to our first win this weekend.

Soccer has kicked off as well.

That's Isaiah's sport. Last month he made the FC Spokane U18 team, and will play for them this summer.

As for the high school season, he, too, hasn't played yet because of grades, more's the pity. But he's busted his butt to be eligible, and should be playing this weekend. So far we have a record of 2 and 1, and Isaiah's return, I believe, will help us get firmly on the winning track.

Isaiah did play in a pre-season jamboree, and our team dominated. Isaiah looked very good.

I was surprised to see that last photo of mine on the front page of the Sports section in the local paper.

Actually, it's not mine. It was taken by Al Camp, one of the local sports reporters. I was out there taking photos, and so was he. He came over to talk to me, and give me pointers, so we were standing right next to each other when we shot the same play just a split second apart.

Youth Sports Post: It Was a Great Run While It Lasted

(Photos by Brent Baker, Reporter/Photographer, Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune)

I'm late in reporting that the football season is over. Last Friday, on a frigid night, on a field far away, our hometown team met its match, losing in the state quarterfinals 21 to 6.

Our opponents were a very good team, and we played them tough. We shut them down several times, and drove into the red zone several times ourselves, but we just couldn't get our game going. I was proud that Isaiah had the honor of running in our only score.

He had another good game, putting in a hard night's work of grinding runs, but wasn't able to break the big run this time. The week before he had run for 232 yards and four touchdowns, and passed for another touchdown, so we were hoping lightning would strike twice. But it was not to be.

Isaiah's take? He wished he could have done better, but was proud of his effort. He had tried his best, and gave due credit to the other team's good defense.

After the game the team was disappointed in the loss, but knew they could hold their heads high. It had been a good game, and one of the best seasons we've had in a long time. A big chunk of the team are Seniors, and they know they're going out on a high note.

So I'll close with one of my favorite photos of Isaiah. This was him a few games ago heading for the end zone and leaving everyone else behind on a 97 yard touchdown run against one of the best teams in the league.

Very well done, Isaiah.


Update: So today Jeremiah, who I'm also very proud of for his work on the football team, found out he made the varsity basketball team, so everything is basketball now for him. (I'll be so happy to be videotaping in a nice warm gym again!)
As for Isaiah, he's dreaming about an early spring and the beginning of soccer season.

Youth Sports Post: Senior Night

Youth Sports Post: Isaiah's Sixty-three Yard Touchdown Run

Isaiah had a good game in a tough loss. This is the high point of his night's work.

Youth Sports Post: Win Number Two

Our team got a victory in game two, but neither of our boys played. Isaiah had a hamstring issue, and Jeremiah had an unexcused absence issue. Both had improved by last Friday, I'm happy to say, and took the field for game three. I haven't had time to work on the video, but I extracted a few frames for this report.

It's still amazing to me to see them on the field together. Jeremiah is number 29, and Isaiah wears number 24.

Isaiah had another stellar game, running for four touchdowns. Here he sweeps left for his first score.

And here he breaks free for a forty yard gain.

Jeremiah had said after the first game that he didn't think football was fun. It probably wasn't then. He plays defense, and got blocked hard for most of the game. So this time he decided to be proactive, I guess. He seemed to have lots of fun, especially on kickoffs like this one.

He would level his man, then pop up to get in on the tackle. He also got this beautiful solo open-field tackle.

And, as a corner back who takes his inspiration from the Seahawks' Richard Sherman, he covered his man like a rug and broke up a pass on this play.

So we had another great Friday night under the lights, and our team went away with a 41 to 6 win to bring their record to 2 and 1.

Now I have a few things to do before heading down the road for a Monday game. Jeremiah will play with the Junior Varsity today against one of our chief rivals. Word is they're pretty good this year.

Looking forward to it.

Youth Sports Post: Isaiah Runs For 217 Yards in Season Opener

The high school football season opened last Friday night. It was the first time both our boys were on the field at the same time. Here they are, as the game ends; Jeremiah is number 29, and Isaiah is number 24.

Jeremiah did well considering that this is the first he's played football since he was in Middle School. He's a Junior this year. He helped the JV team to a victory in the early game with some nifty running, and then played defense--he's a safety--in the Varsity game.

But this is Isaiah's year. He's a Senior now, and has become the primary running back after missing his entire sophomore season with a torn ACL. He ran for 217 yards in this opening game, which very much impressed his Dad.

The hard thing is that it came in a losing effort. We led the entire way until late in the fourth quarter when our opponents came back strong to go up 39 to 35. Our final drive was within 20 yards of the end zone when we ran out of time.

Still, it was a noble effort, and we're proud--the whole town is proud--of our boys and this team. It's going to be an exciting season.

Isaiah Breaks One...

...in an intra-squad scrimmage. (Jeremiah missed this practice. He was on the way to a Mariners game in Seattle with friends.)

One more day and the scoreboard will be lit and the stands will be full. And both boys will take the field.

Really looking forward to it.

Youth Sports Post: Football On the Brink

Another practice begins. 

Season opener is Friday, September 5. Both of my boys are playing this year.

Looking forward to it.

Youth Sports Post: Header

Isaiah is playing soccer in a local Men's League this summer. He got a great header in the last game. A little taste of the World Cup in our own backyard.

Fly Fishing and Soccer

I think I'll go fishing on Father's Day. It's a tradition of sorts.

But for now I'm staying home to watch soccer. Two games were on Thursday, three today, and tomorrow there will be four. I haven't looked at Sunday's schedule yet.

This is a new thing for me. I used to find the game boring. But then my son Isaiah started playing and I took some time to learn the game. And the more I watched him play the more I got hooked.

I don't want to stretch the point, but I find the ebb and flow of the play on the pitch similar to my fishing experience. I don't catch a fish on every cast, but I don't get bored. No, the accumulation of repeated casts while simultaneously solving problems of technique or current or wind, and the buildup of anticipation and expectation, all finally culminate in the thrill of a take. Just like the buildup to a goal.

Soccer is called "the beautiful game," and it can certainly be that. But I know one thing for sure: watching these games with Isaiah is a beautiful thing.

To celebrate, I pulled out this video of highlights of one of Isaiah's team's best wins this past season.

Hats Off To You, Mr. Robinson

Hats off to Jackie Robinson who, on April 15, 1947, broke the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base.

Robinson said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Each time I see my sons on the athletic field I am grateful for his courage, and for the impact he is having on their lives 67 years after he walked out onto Ebbets Field. And I hope his example will shape their lives well beyond the athletic field.

Leo Durocher, the Brooklyn manager in 1947, said of Robinson that he was "a Durocher with talent." He greatly admired Robinson, and made it clear to the other players on the Dodgers that he would trade them before tolerating any opposition to Robinson's joining the team. 

Robinson also said, "I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me...all I ask is that you respect me as a human being." Durocher told us more about what Robinson meant by respect when he said of him, "Ya want a guy that comes to play. This guy didn't just come to play. He come to beat ya. He come to stuff the goddamn bat right up your ass."

I hope my sons will learn from that example as well.

Hats off to you, Mr. Robinson.

1955 Topps Baseball Card

Youth Sports Post: A Busy Spring Continues