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While they finished the campaign around
the .500 mark, the coaches felt that this was a good ballclub. That
should come as welcome news to the area high school and college
coaches who will be welcoming these players back next spring. From
my vantage point, I say more power to all of them. I loved Legion
baseball.
In fact, I loved Legion ball more than
regular school diamond battles. Playing with college players and
other players from around the area was a blast. We also played
against many top talents who went on to play professional baseball.
It probably kept us off the streets too… but this is not a social
commentary. It's more of a salute… a salute to guys like Thomas and
Thornton who give so much of their summer vacation to make sure that
these young players continue to develop good fundamentals and ready
themselves for future high school or college ball.
This week's tip of the LDN cap goes to
the Lincoln American Legion team for another good season!
Late
baseball bulletin…
The LDN has learned that the Lincoln
Heat went 5-0 in their local tournament and will advance this week
to the regionals in Bay City, Mich. Good luck, Heat!!!
Gators
getting it done too
One of the many benefits to visiting
our local pools is seeing other teams in action. Like taking my son
to swimming lessons out at the Elks pool has given us the
opportunity to watch the Gators practicing for the summer meets.
Their coaches also do a great job with them, and even my son
recognizes that these kids work hard and swim a lot. Not only is it
good exercise and fun competition, but it keeps these kids off the
streets as well.
As the summer season is coming to a
close, coach Heidi Heidbreder is excited at the invitation that one
swimmer has received to compete on a newly formed regional team.
Brennan Elsas, who holds mostly A times, will be swimming with the
boys in the 11- and 12-year-old category on the elite team.
Maybe sports aren't quite as bad as
some people make them out to be.
Cubs
battle Astros down in Houston
The Cubs won a big game down in Houston
on Friday night on the strength of a late blast off the bat of
Moises Alou. Carlos Zambrano also went yard as the Cubs attempted to
gain ground on those pesky 'Stros. A tough 3-1 loss Saturday did not
help the cause much, but a big win Sunday afternoon put the Cubbies
within striking distance. The bullpen staff did some nice work, and
it was good to see Chicago take two out of three down there in oil
country! The addition of Lofton and Ramirez may just be the thing
that vaults the Cubs into the playoffs.
Cards
can't gain ground… but did somehow anyway?
Even though St. Louis scored a lot of
runs this weekend, they still couldn't gain any ground themselves on
those nasty Astros. Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Edgar Renteria and
even Tino Martinez rattled the bats for the 'Birds, but it wasn't
enough to do any damage in the standings. Now that Jim Edmonds looks
perilously close to going on the shelf, the Cards' chances may be
going on the rack right next to him.
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article] |
Woody Williams won his National
League-leading 14th victory. On Sunday, you were probably just
disgusted that with the Pirates in town you expected to gain some
ground on the 'Stros… BUT, that wasn't happening. To make matters
worse, the El Birdos were trailing the Bucos 3-1 heading into the
ninth and had given no indication that anything special was in
store. In fact, the sweltering heat appeared to have reduced the
team into a hurried "let's get into the clubhouse as fast as we can"
demeanor.
Hollywood could have written a better
script for you Redbird rooters. After the first out was incredibly
matter-of-fact, the Redbird bats started to rattle. After a wild
pitch the Cards had runners on second and third and Orlando Palmiero
at the dish. For some reason he thought he was Rafael Palmiero and
delivered a game-tying line drive right up the middle. Then an error
and a walk brought All-Universe Albert Pujols to the plate. And of
course, he smashed a game-winning single right through the box, and
the Cardinals had an improbable win.
I'd like to think that games like this
are the kind that springboard you into the playoffs, but with Jim
Edmonds now reduced to sitting next to Tony La Russa and Lance
Painter going down again, the injury bug is just not going to let
the Cards succeed!
Trade
J.D. Drew?
Puh-leeze! Unless you can get Pedro
Martinez for him, I wouldn't even think twice about this one. J.D.
is starting to come into his own, and he's beginning to learn to hit
to all fields. Yes, I know that he's had some injury problems, but I
do NOT want to see No. 7 come back to haunt us. Here's hoping that
Walt Jockety has something up his sleeve rather than dealing Drew.
Lance
Armstrong
Lance Armstrong finished third in the
individual time trial Saturday, virtually assuring him of his fifth
Tour de France title. This title was the closest battle Armstrong
has ever been locked in. His closest and biggest rival, Germany's
Jan Ulrich, fell on wet pavement and finished right behind in fourth
place. So, Armstrong wins his fifth consecutive Tour to tie Spain's
Miguel Indurain as the only cyclists to ever pull off the feat!
Armstrong insists he'll be back next year to try for a record sixth
title. At a time when the sports world is crying out to find a hero,
how about the nomination of Lance Armstrong?!
Things to
do with the rest of your summer
Over the next couple of weeks the LDN
is going to try to suggest some things you and your family can do
with the last few weeks of your summer. Please understand that some
of these you can do on your own and for some you will obviously need
the help of your parents to at least get you to these places. Stay
tuned and watch for all the fun suggestions.
Tip of
the LDN cap to:
...Longtime faithful LDN readers Gary
and Leslie Klockenga on the birth of their daughter, Kendall Lynn,
and to Bobby and Kristina Straface on the birth of their daughter,
Josie Rose. I am certainly the proud uncle this morning!
That's it
for me… Have a great week, everybody!
[Jeff Mayfield]
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