Sun, 12 Jan 2025 15:11:12 -0800WeeblySat, 27 Jun 2015 09:43:19 GMThttp://qlddolphins.com.au/blog1/june-27th-2015Cooperstown 2015 Day 1.

We have arrived safely, albeit a little tired into Buffalo. All in all the travel went fairly well. A perfectly timed heads-up from Scott potentially avoided us being stuck in Sydney due to Customs staff walking off the job. We were in the middle of breakfast and quickly headed to immigration upon receiving notice. As the last group member was processed, staff were looking at their watches saying 10 more minutes and some given instructions to clean up...! Whether they went on strike or not we made it through in time and onto the next close call - a 65 minute transfer at LAX. I cant praise the group enough for their understanding and willingness to do whatever necessary at a moments notice. And Delta Airlines staff for helping us get through with enough time for a drink and a brief sit down.

The boys received high praise from the Delta Flight Crew - with 2 of the cabin crew commenting to me on how polite and well behaved the group was. There were at least 3 shout outs from the pilots over the P.A systems, one round of applause from the other passengers, and numerous well wishes and welcomes from interested parties and complete strangers. The boys were invited into the cockpit of the plane (after we landed - but even so!!) on the last flight.

So day 1 is in the books. After a little sleep in tomorrow morning, we are off to Niagara Falls, and then on to check-in at the tournament. Another big, memorable day ahead!!




Cooperstown 2015 Day 2

Big, big day. Started with an early breakfast and on the bus heading to Niagara Falls. It's truly one of those cant find the words moments. The afternoon saw us heading south towards the tournament. After a few hundred miles we arrived, and eventually made it to Brooks BBQ for dinner (sorry 2014 guys). I think it's a safe bet at least the parents will return there sometime this week. I must once again thank our wonderful supporters who have been so pati...ent and understanding, especially after a rather unexpected and challenging evening.
The group took a stroll around the campus tonight, and to say they were generally impressed seems a bit of an understatement.There were at least half a dozen scores of 15/17 or greater from the players.
Tomorrow afternoon is the opening ceremony and skills competitions. Those at home will be able to view some of it live by checking out the Cooperstown AllStar Village website. I know the boys are very keen and excited to get out on the fields. Our game schedule is also out and on that site no doubt. While not great for our guys sleepwise, it should allow those back home a chance to see us play live.

Lastly i must say a huge thank you to our bus driver Mike. Mike is an amazingly awesome guy, who has become an integral part of the group already, and has fit right in amongst us. So much so, that he is driving an hour each way from his home to watch the team play Sunday. Perhaps dinner will be in order that night. If only we knew a place......

Things we learnt today:
* Too many lollies and 4 hour bus rides dont mix.
*Josh Knechtli has been pronouncing his name incorrectly all these years.
* Ribs pretty much solve all of life's problems.

First baseball action tomorrow. I know the boys cant wait. Until then, TTFN




Cooperstown 2015 Day 3

OMG!!!! Like nothing I have ever seen before. The day started as regular as any other. A trip to Denny's for a hearty breakfast and across the road to purchase pretty much the entire baseball section from Dicks Sporting Goods. And that's where normality ended!! Apparently the Beatles were playing the tournament that afternoon or something. I have never seen our guys get mobbed like they did upon or return. You advise them they will be in demand and the ...centre of attention - but nothing could have prepared any of us for this. By the time we got back to our room, we had to make our way through a staircase and balcony packed with local players. And I'm not joking when I say there could have been 200 more players at the foot of each staircase. Thats right!! The same response at both ends of our bunkhouse! I have never seen anything like it.

Once we were able to sort through things and get back to somewhat normality, the skies opened up and it rained fairly consistantly for quite a while. So mush so that the majority of the skills events were cancelled. Which left us the opening ceremony, where the team received an outstanding ovation from the crowd in attendance. Liv Wilson went on to perform a brilliant rendition of our National Anthem, and we settled in for a long, cold, wet afternoon/evening waiting for our turn at the team relay challenge. I must say, that under the conditions, the boys did an outstanding job. You have no idea how wet and slippery the baseballs were after 42 other teams had thrown them all over the field. A hot shower, and some pizza for a late dinner, and the boys went to bed hoping the following day would be brighter weather wise and we would play our first game.




Cooperstown 2015 Day 4

RAIN! RAIN! RAIN!
Unfortunately we woke to a water logged facility after an all night downpour. As hopeful as we were we would be able to get out and play, that didnt eventuate and the day was cancelled about 9am. We took the opportunity to go to Cooperstown and see the Hall of Fame. With no vehicles and no notice, we were very fortunate to be given rides by our new friends at the Warriors Baseball club of Michigan. Everyone seemed to have a great day,... unfortunately the rain remained fairly constant and continued into the night. The Grounds Crew assure us that regardless of weather they will be out at 4am ensuring the fields are playable in the morning. We now have 3 games scheduled. I'm not sure if they have updated the website, but we play at 10am, 4pm and 10pm!! A big day in store tomorrow so the boys were in bed relatively early in preperation. The hysteria wasn't as intense today, but we are still very much in demand. The kangaroo has been Christened "Boomer" by the team in the bunkhouse next to us. Offhand i forget which team it is, but they were here last year, and one of their players (Drew - red hair and freckels kid, those who were here would remember him too) remembers and asked how Jermain and Billy were doing! Kinda nice knowing that our guys made that kind of an impact last year. Boys are itching to get started. Hopefully we are still as keen at midnight when our last game finishes.




Cooperstown 2015 Day 5

GAME DAY BABY!!!

While still quite damp, the rain had eased and the day itself was relatively fine and warm. We started the day with our first game against the Indianapolis Monarchs. The combination of big kids, short fences and perhaps a few nerves meant we were down 4-0 after the first inning. It wasnt long though until Lachie settled in and showed his ability and determination, not allowing a run for the remaining 3 innings. Unfortunately after losin...g the entire previous day's play, all games were only 4 innings today. With the score still 4-0 at the top of the last inning, our guys battled back, and after homeruns from Lachie and Joel Wilson, the go ahead run came to the plate. Unfortunately we were unable to do any further damage and the game ended 4-3.

The second game had us facing a very good pitcher from the E3 team from Los Angeles. He threw considerable harder than anything our guys were used to and we werent really ever in the game. But to our credit, the boys never quit and gave their all till the last out was made. Harry threw well in the first inning, and Henry finished the last 3 innings, striking out 5 in total. Unfortunately, once again, strong kids, big bats and small fields meant the game finished 8-0 after the 4th inning.

For most of the boys our last game was their first ever night game, and I'm pretty confident none of us had ever had a game start at 10pm before!! We played our new friends, the Warriors from Michigan. I heard someone say they may have been State Champions back home. They certainly knew how to play, and combined with a huge day of games for us, we were never in the contest. I must say though, I'm not sure i have ever seen such a display of sportsmanship and shear enjoyment from both teams in a game. It was truly one of the most fun games I can ever remember having been involved in.

After sorting uniforms to be sent off to be washed, showering and preparing for bed, it was around 12.30 this morning before we actually got to sleep. Fortunately we arent playing again until 2pm tomorrow. And then a 9pm game on the artificial turf of Yankee Stadium field. Hopefully the rain and tornado's stay away.




Cooperstown 2015 Day 6

Dejavu all over again....
This morning had us wake to more rain.
Lots of rain. Enough rain that the only time we set foot on the field before dinner was to get a team photo on the astroturf of the Yankee Stadium field. Eventually the rain stopped and the games resumed, and we faced the Park Ridge Warriors Red from the Chicago area. After hearing that Nick and the Schafer's were at home watching live, the boys were determined to play well. Although he s...pent the majority of the past day and a half in bed sick, Xavier took the ball to pitch, determined to go as deep into the game as he was physically able. And thats just what he did. He gutsed it out for 2 innings, even when clearly unwell and physically sick between innings, until unfortunately in the third he could no longer pitch due to a little arm soreness of all things. This no doubt inspired the team and they played agressive, error free baseball for 6 innings. Every player swung the bat well, with some of our guys getting 2 and 3 hits. Kyle launched his first homerun of the tournament, Harry and Ryne continued swinging hot bats, and we ran the bases hard, pushing for the extra base when possible. On defense, Kyle was spectacular behind the plate, saving many runs with his blocking ability and throwing guys out on the bases. The rest of the defense was flawless, our infielders attacking every ball, even on the quick artificial turf surface. Even the pop ups and fly balls weren't an issue in this one, and we went ahead in the 5th inning with some selfless team batting from Tobey Phillips and the other guys in front of him. Joseph Field did a great job getting us through the 3rd and 4th innings, and Bailey Jackson closed out the final 2 innings for our first win 7-6.

We had a game's break and made our way over to field 34 to play our last game of the day, or should i say first game of the next day!!With a scheduled start of midnight, this was clearly the first time any of the guys had been out playing baseball this late. And while high on excitement and adrenalin from the earlier game, the weather intervened again and we were sent back to the bunkhouse as lightning rolled in and put an end to the games for the day. While the forecast for tomorrow isnt much better, the tournament is determined to get all the games played and the finals will begin after our last pool game in the morning. We currently stand 1-3, and though it may not be the best record here this week, no team is more happy and enjoying it more than our guys.

Fingers crossed once again for tomorrow.





Ok so back on deck with the updates. Hopefully I remember it all!! It has been nothing short of chaos and we have had to adapt almost hourly. Here's why....

Cooperstown 2015 Day 7


 An early start to make up the previous nights rainout. Quality opposition and a hectic schedule didn't help and eventually the game finished up 17-0. I was very proud that the boys never hung their heads or quit, and we did achieve our goal of not allowing a run over the final 2 innings.
We then went in and out of ...rain delays and eventually played our first knockout game of the tournament at midnight that night! The boys were determined and focused, and behind great pitching by Henry and Lachie were tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 6th inning. Harry smoked a home run in the third and went within inches of a second later in the game. Kyle hit a towering homer to LF in the first inning, so when he came up in the last and had the winning run at 2nd and 1st base open the other team chose to walk him!! Lachie calmly walked to the plate and with the game on the line delivered a hit off the base of the RF wall to drive in the winning run. It was a magical moment at 2am, not because of the result, but rather cause they all contributed at some point in the game and were rewarded with the win.

Cooperstown 2015 Day 8


 Having already technically played once that morning, it was very hard for the boys to wake and play again at 10am. But they did, and gave their all against the third ranked team. We played fairly well, but ultimately went down. The afternoon consisted of wiffle ball against the Renegades from NY and preparing for the closing ceremony. It was another late night, but as always the boys were smiling and enjoying every moment.

Cooperstown 2015 Day 9


 Its always sad leaving new friends. And once again we have made alot. The bus brought us back to NYC, and after checking in, dinner at Bubba Gump's and a brief walk it was time for bed. We've had a week of little sleep, sick kids, plenty of rain, and a little baseball - and you wouldnt see a happier bunch of kids. Signing off for now. Abig day in Manhatten ahead!




Cooperstown 2015 Day 10

A big day. Visited the Rockefeller Centre, played chess in Washington Square Park, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, reflected at the World Trade Centre memorial, Spent the afternoon with Lady Liberty, ate our fill while watching the Staten Island Yankees, and watched in awe at the 4th July fireworks over the East River. An eventful day, an eventful night, but everyone home safe and sound again. Tomorrow we head to Yankee Stadium for the game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Lets hear you Brisbane..... "LETS GO YANKEES!!"



Cooperstown 2015 Day 11


 A relatively easy day. Taking in the Yanks V Tampa Bay game. Quite a warm day at the stadium but we quickly found some shade and enjoyed the game. Maybe not us Yankee fans as they didnt play overly well and were beaten 8-1 i think in the end. The night was rather quiet too with most people venturing off to do their own thing....

Cooperstown 2015 Day 12


 Was a later start to the day, after a leisurely breakfast in the hotel we boarded the Subway for the Natural History Museum. After seeing the dinosaur fossils and a little time to wander the halls, we headed across the street to Central Park for a short walk. We then went our seperate way to do any last minute shopping before meeting at the Empire State Building that night. Home to pack and prepare for the final morning on tour.

Cooperstown 2015 Day 13


 Off to the U.S.S Intrepid!! Another very cool experience. Massive ship - many cool planes on display - and the Space Shuttle. Unfortunately our time away came to an end though, and it was on the bus bound for JFK Airport and the start of the trek back home.

I would just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their patience and understanding this year. Unfortunately a great many things didn't go as planned, but there seemed few grumbles, we just got on with things and made the most of it, for which I am very thankful. There were many who helped us out, and the trip wouldn't have been as successful without those people. So a big thank you to all who pitched in. And to the players in particular. Hopefully you guys enjoyed the experience and are better players for it. Keep working at it. I cant wait to see how you guys continue improving, and what your baseball futures hold for you. My door is always open so to speak if you ever want advice or to work on something. Best of luck to you all






























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