Just around the corner!

Baseball practice starts Monday. Practice will be outside on all days possible. So, make sure you bring outdoor (baseball pants, practice jersey, cleats, hat, and warm clothing) and indoor (shirts, practice jersey, and appropriate gym shoes) clothing on all days. You never know when we will be inside. We can also have practice's that will be in both venues. Basketball guys will come out after there basketball season is over. I know that most of you do support the basketball teams, but if you don't, come out tonight and support both the boys and girls teams. They play here vs Verona. Don't forget to wear white for white out night.

Coach Hughes' Corner

With this snowy, windy, and freezing day, I only have one thought on my mind. BASEBALL! Spring Training for MLB teams start this week. Some players have already reported to their respective spring homes and have begun workouts. The Cardinals pitchers and catchers are required to report on Wednesday. This is the turn around time for me. I begin to get that giddiness that I always had as a kid. Speaking of that, it made me reminisce this morning.

I can remember the first day of warm weather growing up. I would make my way out to the sandlot behind my house(it really was just a field, but we called it the sandlot after watching the movie for the first time. And after a full summer of playing there, base paths and batter boxes and the pitching mound were without much grass). We never had umpires and could have up to 15 kids out there at one time. We would always divide up teams that was suppose to be equal, but at times they weren't. Home plate was an old stump that if you was a good pitcher could stop the ball. But occasionally we had to go chase it in David Shockley's back yard. We never broke his window on a foul ball. Which now that I think about it, it is probably a miracle that that didn't happen. 1st base ran down towards my dads garden, and if you really jerked one foul(me being left handed, happened a lot) you would hit a tomato plant or a row of corn. 3rd base was down by Mr. Garrison's shed.(I am sure if it is still standing, there is dents all over it). Right field was real short and the man that lived beyond the barb wire fence had an old junk car and garden right where most of my home run balls would go.(Keep in mind this was a 130ft from home plate) We played for hours and had no fights(that I remember) and only argued a few times. We was playing a game we loved and needed this game to get through our child hood. Some times, we even played to win. And if I was betting, most of you can remember a similar time when you was a child.

With the spring slowly seeping into our area(and I mean real slowly) we have that fever and excitement about a new season approaching. What else can we do other than grab a bat, ball, glove and go on down to that sandlot(when it warms up) and play a little ball.

Official practice starts March 1st for those not playing basketball. The basketball players will be out as soon as the basketball season is over. I am looking forward to this year and the challenges that come with this. I also am excited about the possibilities that come with this year. The season is almost here, will the weather leave in time.
Coach Hughes

I am now officially stupid.

LOL. I was contacted by another loyal visitor with an easy way to delete these unwanted blogs. It takes less than 5 seconds. So, with this knowledge now, I will put the blog back to its original way and you can post just like before. If you happen to see an unwanted blog, please let me know as soon as you can and I can delete it. Thanks
Coach Hughes

I am sorry it has came to this!

I was notified by a loyal follower of some spam that was put on some of our comments. It was really inappropriate and I have not be able to delete it yet. I am working on finding a way to delete this. At this time, to comment on the blog, you will have to become a follower(member) of the blog. Up on the top of the blog is a place that says follow. Just click on that a then you can become a follower. I will have to approve this, this will hopefully keep the spam out. Sorry for this inconvenience. If I find a better way to do this after consulting with some computer guru's, I will let you know
Thanks
Coach Hughes

Some Baseball Jargon According to Wikipedia

Rainout, is a term regarding an event, generally a sporting event, delayed or cancelled due to rain, or the threat of rain.

Ugly finder is a foul ball hit into a dugout, presumably destined to "find" someone who is ugly, or to render him that way if he fails to dodge the ball.

Uncle Charlie is a slang term used to describe a curveball.

Aspirin tablet is slang for a fastball that is especially hard to hit due to its velocity and/or movement.

Banjo hitter is a batter who lacks power.

Bazooka is a strong throwing arm. Also known as a gun, cannon, or rocket.

Dying quail is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder.

Booted is when an error is made, kicked it – typically referring to a misplay on a ground ball.