Preston the Pitcher

Last year during Super League Preston got to pitch. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen! He might be little and the ball may have come in slow, but by dang they were strikes! He struck a couple out and did great for his first time. Now if we could just get some meat on those bones to get his strength up! ;)

New Sliderzz

Preston has become a Slider! It is exciting to have two boys playing Comp baseball and both of them Sliderzz. My heart belongs to the Sliderzz and just like when you have another baby your heart grows, it does when I gain a new baseball family. (Especially if their uni's has the Sliderzz logo on it. ;))They Started their season off with a SU Baseball tourney and they took 2nd. Not bad for their first outing! Next up was March Madness, nothing like jumping into the baseball with the biggest tournament in St. George.

But, they did great! It turns out Preston is a good little bunter and plays great outfield. He mad a super catch in the Championship game, that helped his team come away with the Win!! Proud Mom moment! :)

Cute little boys playing a great game. :)

Landon played this tourney too, the big Sliderzz lost against the Venom in a bracket game. I heard it was an amazing game, we just came up short. I wasn't there because I was with Preston at his game. This is now going to be the story of our family's life. Gavin at one field and I'm at the other. Two boys playing at the same time most of the time, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Love the Sliderzz!

Sliderzz Off to a Great Start

Sliderzz started off the year with the Super Bowl Tournament. They did okay, but didn't make it to the "big game." Then it was on to President's Day. They were primed and ready...

Landon is pitching a lot better this year and did great. His hitting, not so hot, but he'll get it I know. The team made it to the Championship Day, and played the Rox first. It was a tough game, we were behind for most of it, but we didn't give up and ended up coming back and winning. :) Do you ever wonder what the rest of the fam does while we watch game after game??

They have a blast! All the kids in this family LOVE ball games no matter if it is to play in the game or play at the game. Everyone has fun! Good Times!

The Sliderzz played the Utah Aces for the trophy and won! Great job boys!!

The TOC

The Tournament of Champions was a little different this year compared to last. The boys came to the first game a little bit off, and it got worse from there...needless to say, we lost the first game of the tournament. The other three games we played awesome. We even beat The Horns, a really great team! But, because of our first lost, we didn't even make it to Championship Saturday. It was crappy, to say the least. Funny thing about it, The Horns ended up being the TOC Champions and we beat them. Ha! You win some, and you lose some. Right?! :)

Despite the lose, we still had a great 5 days in Park City. It has to be one of my favorite places in the summer, heck I think I would love it in the winter too! We rode the Alpine Slide and Coaster, partied in our condo with the Shipp's and the Stuart's shopped till we dropped and best of all went to the Kamas Demolition Derby! I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of it. What was I thinking? Guess we'll have to go back next year, so I can get some footage.  :)  It's a one of a kind, small town "Crashin' Derby" and we all loved it!

It was hard to come home after being footloose and fancy free... I love vacations! :)

Summer Games

The Sliderzz pulled it off again. 

Sweet Victory!!

Back to Back Gold Metal Champs.

Sliderzz Nation.

Kanab Heat Stroker

Kanab Heat Stroker in Pictures...

Great games! Great weather!

Snail anyone? Preston must have collected 80+...Yuck!

Good Times!

Spring in the Desert

The Sliderzz played in the Spring in the Desert Tournament in Las Vegas over Easter weekend. They didn't have a very good tourney in fact they lost all four games. The competition was fierce and they just couldn't come away with a W. Although, we didn't let that stop us from having a fun weekend. The kids swam until they looked like raisins and I got to go shopping with Natalie and Nicole for my birthday. Gavin also took me to Cheesecake Factory! The Stuarts and the Mortensen's came too, 6 adults and 13 kids at Cheesecake = Party!! :)

Check out the dress Addie has on in the picture to the right, Natalie made that for her for my birthday. Isn't it cute?! A baseball knot dress, it's adorable! The picture on the left is after the first two losses, at Big League Dreams. I was so glad that when I got to the car they were smiling even after defeat! I guess sometimes all you can do is laugh, and that is what we did!

March Madness

 March Madness is a tournament that won't be forgotten, not just because the Sliderzz won a 35 team tournament, but because of the experience that happened after all the games were over.

This is probably the biggest club baseball tournament in St. George during the whole year. Last year the Sliderzz didn't even make it to the Championship day. The boys knew going into it they had to be on their A game, and that they were! The boys played awesome in the four pool play games. The first two were in Hurricane in the wind and cold. I hardly got out of the car the first day. Thank goodness the warm sun came out for day two.

The "fans" had a great time in their short sleeves playing at the park. It finally felt like spring! The Sliderzz played great baseball in Toquerville and set themselves up to be the #2 seed in the playoffs.

Carlee had fun too! 

Glad we took a few pictures on Friday, because Saturday I was so nervous I hardly got out the camera. I have a tenancy to forget when I get wrapped up in the game. 

Saturday came, we beat the Edge in the first game and then moved on to play the Marshals. The Marshals jumped up on us quick scoring 6 in the first inning. The boys looked deflated, Gavin and Shane gave them the big pep talk as they were coming off the field. They picked it up and ended up beating the Marshals 14 to 8. Then it was time for the Championship game. Wow there was electricity in the air. Lots of people watching and the boys were pumped to win. It was a tough battle back and forth. In the bottom of the 7th we were up by two. Three outs and we win! Our closer Logan was on the mound, he had pitched great throughout the day and everyone was getting excited because we were so close. Right off the bat he had the batter in a hole with two strikes, then the next thing I knew he was hurt. He grabbed his arm and said there was a burning feeling in it. Everyone was sick. 

After evaluating the situation, the coaches put in Kyler to finish the game. Ky did awesome, he looked so confident out there on the mound. The Sliderzz got three outs and won the tournament! It was a beautiful victory.

Everyone was excited, but mostly sick because of Logan's arm. The coaches gathered the team together after all the trophies were given, and pictures were taken. The boys were nervous for their friend and teammate. Bishop Brad suggested that the team say a prayer. That helped calm their nerves. Then they decided Logan needed a blessing. Right there on a bucket of baseball's those 10 boys got to witness something a lot more important than baseball. They saw the power of the Priesthood at work. They watched their Coaches along with Dads administer to their friend in need. It was a powerful moment. One I know I will never forget. This helped me realize what is really important, baseball is secondary. Our Father has a beautiful plan, a plan that allows the Priesthood to be on the earth. I am so thankful for it, and for the power I felt on March 19, 2011 on a baseball field, and I know those little boys felt it too.

On a lighter note... Look the Sliderzz made The Spectrum!! Pretty cool! :)

Another Baseball Weekend

Baseball is life around here these days, and life is pretty good! :)

Presidents Day Tournament

My kids love baseball tournaments! Not only does Landon get to have fun playing the game, Preston and Addie get to have fun too! They find their friends and play and play and play. Most of the time they come home dirty and tired. Which translates into a good day!

This was at the Presidents Day Tournament. Funny thing is I don't even have a picture of Landon! The Sliderzz played the first day and won both games looking good going into day 2. Well, day 2 never happened it rained and rained and rained. They ended up canceling the tournament, which was a bummer, at least everyone had fun the first day! 

Sliderzz Start It Off Right

The Sliderzz started off the 2011 season right by getting the big W in the Super Bowl Tournament. It was cold for the Championship game, but the boys played great.

Landon was the winning pitcher in the championship game, as a mom I couldn't have been prouder. He did great! Baseball is back for another year! Woo hoo! :)

Last 8U Baseball Tournament.

Rocky Mountain Baseball had their last tournament for the season in Cedar on July 30 and 31st. Since it was so close we went. I can't believe these boys have been playing now for a whole year. They all have learned so much and become great baseball players. I love the above picture. It is reminds me of this one Bradi took back when Landon just started Tee ball...

Where did those years go? Crazy! 

Ok, back to the Tournament, The boys played good and made it to the Championship game except this happened...

Rain, rain and a little more Rain came right before we were to play, so they canceled the game and went off of records, we ended up with the second place trophy. We all were a little disappointed because we wanted to play, but running around in the rain was kind of fun too.  

So, there you have it. The Sliderzz have moved on to 9 and Under, their 8 and Under days are over. It was an awesome year and we look forward to 9U being just as great! Good Job Boys! 

I made this for their end of the year party, Natalie took all the great photo's and I put it together. I thought it turned out really cute and had to share. Cute, cute boys.

The TOC Champs!

Over the 24th of July Weekend, the Sliderzz went to Heber and competed in Rocky Mountain Baseball's Tournament of Champions. To be eligible to play you had to have won a Rocky Mountain tournament during the year, lets just say the competition is tough. Every team in the tournament was good, and these Sliderzz boys played their hearts out. They won the Championship game 5-4 beating the North County Crush. It was crazy intense during the whole game (really during the whole weekend), but these little boys played tough and hung on to win.

I love this picture. Gavin puts a lot of time into helping Landon become a better athlete. He is a great Dad, and Coach. 

I am not sure if watching those baseball games was very good for my blood pressure! ;) I felt a lot better after it was all over. Who knew 8 year old baseball could be so intense? I surely didn't! 

Way to go Sliderzz!

The Face of a Champion.

                                      

           Concentration.

                (Kanab Heat Stroker)

       Focus. 

              (Richfield)

          Defeat.

                

          Victory. 

              (Cedar, Summer Games)

                                   Happiness. 

         Pure Joy! 

Kanab Heat Stroker.. (Literally)

The Sliderzz have started their summer with the big W! They are the Kanab Heat Stroker 8u Champs! It was a fun tournament. The first night after our game we had a BBQ at the park with the team, and then headed back to our hotel and played more baseball on the lawn. On Day 2 after the games, the boys jumped in the pool and had a blast. I am still trying to decide who had the most fun, Gavin or the boys?! ;) On Saturday (Day 3) we had to win to play in the Championship game. The boys did great against Kanab and then came back and beat the Cedar Crush for the title. Saturday had to be the hottest day on record so far this summer and all you had to do was look at my ankles to prove it! Ha..ha! :) It was great to get away and play a little baseball too.

Sliderzz at the Jazz Game

These are a lucky bunch of boys! The Sliderzz and their dads were able to go to the Jazz playoff game on April 23rd. How fun would it be to hang out with your some of your friends at a Jazz Game? I have to say I was a little jealous. Maybe next time the moms will have to take them! :)  The next morning they got up and played a couple of scrimmage games in SLC and then headed home. Sounds like a fun weekend to me!

I have to say I had fun too. I went to Natalie's and we ordered take out and made bows. We decided the next craft night will have to be minus the extra 6 kids we were entertaining in between the glueing. We still had a great night, just didn't get many bows made!

Did you notice Landon's eye? He got pegged with a ball at practice a couple of days earlier. He kind of looked like an Avatar there for a little while. Didn't seemed to bother him, I think he kind of liked the attention.

Sliderzz March Madness

The Sliderzz played in the March Madness Baseball Tournament this last weekend. They lost their first game after two extra innings. It was a tough battle, but we came up a little short. Because they lost that first game they didn't make it to the playoff's. I guess you can't win them all, right? All in all the boys played great over the weekend. They are definitely a fun team to watch! 

 

Landon on the mound.
He pitched great!

At the plate.
Landon had by far his best hit of all time in the game after this one. It was a shot, hit to the center field. It looks like all his practicing is starting to pay off!

Sliding home!
You know baseball is like life, there is no place quite like home!

PS. I got a new telephoto lens for my camera, what do you think? I was excited to finally get some action shots! Yea!

Only Memories

The Sliderzz played in the President Day Tournament last weekend. Landon was so excited to play on Friday and Saturday which meant he was able to miss a day of school! They made it to the Championship game and ended up beating a team from Las Vegas for the Championship! 

Now all we have are the memories from that great weekend. Memories that I know will last 11 little boys a lifetime. There aren't many things better than a hard fought battle and coming out victorious! It was so fun to be apart of.

 Hope this weekend is filled with a good memories for you too!