Pre-Tournament Thoughts

Well, those Docs pulled it off in Klamath Falls and now its on to the AAA American Legion State Tournament in Corvallis.

Before I get much further in this post, let me congratulate Pepsi on winning the A Championship. Micah Audiss was the MVP. Coaches say Micah was one of the kids who increased the amount of work he was willing to put in in the batting cage to get better and it paid off.
Congrats Coach Charles and the Bottlecaps!

Well, this year's AAA Tournament features a unique twist: since Medford hosts the Regional Tournament, they have an automatic bye. That means if Medford wins the Oregon title again (it would be three straight) the other finalist goes to the Regional, too.

The Docs played Medford very, very tough. A three run rally in the top of the 7th of game 1 in Roseburg prevented the Mustangs from being swept by the Docs that day and Roseburg's win in game 2 is what propelled the Docs past Grants Pass into the third spot in the standings.

In otherwords, I'm not quite ready to just hand the trophy to the Jackson County Nine, but they are the prohibitive favorites.

Salem's (hated) Withnell Dodgers won the Area 3 title this season. They won 30 games and may be the best team to take a run at the Mustangs.
The Docs were scheduled to play Withnell a couple of times this season, but things got weird there at the end and I can't even remember why they didn't play now.
The Docs could face Salem in the semis IF they get past Canby and then beat Medford.

The thing about Medford is that they just seem to rise up in the State Tournament.
Sandy Kensigner and his boys are big time competitors. Always have been.
Watching them against other teams - you can just see the big innings coming. A crucial walk is followed by a slight bobble and an error, then a guy will get hit and take his base just before another guy bangs one off the wall. You almost feel bad for the pitcher in that situation because its almost inevitable.

The Docs can do that to a team, too. But they need to do it this week and on a big stage.

If the Docs follow the typical path, they will hammer Canby on Day 1, lose to Medford on Day 2 and then scramble their way back through the bracket and either break through against whoever is still breathing or fight hard and lose a heartbreaker - just missing the final round.

I have a prediction, though. Medford takes it all and the Docs will have to beat Withnell to travel to the Regional. Will they? I'm not going to guess.

I do have one guarantee: during the tournament you'll find me at the ballpark all day long.

Btw, you can listen to the broadcasts online at http://www.kskrthescore.com/.

Since you're already online here, skip over there and tune in. I think it will be fun.

Brian

Docs Pushing Klamath to Three

The Doc Stewarts showed everyone something win their 19-9 win over Klamath Falls Tuesday night: Every day is different in baseball.

One night after being embarrassed right out of Kiger Stadium, those Doctors got a big lift from Brandon Jackson and AJ Royal in a lopsided win of their own.

It was a great performance for the Docs, who have played better baseball at home all season and struggled mightily on the road. But now, the home games are over. If they win Wednesday, the Docs will make the state tournament in Corvallis starting on the 29th.

Personally, I hope the Docs go all the way now, because their Tuesday night win means I am going to Klamath Falls and possibly Corvallis instead of Lynden, Washington.

My wife and 10 year old daughter Abby, left this morning for the Cal Ripken Regional Softball Tournament in Lynden.
I was going to go if the Docs lost Tuesday night.
Instead, it'll be a kind of 'girls road trip' for them, but I am truly heartbroken not to be with them.

I told Abby last night that this tournament is really just the icing on the cake, that making the All-Star team was the big accomplishment and the rest is just a bonus.
My mother-in-law will also be going to support her and Abby will have a ton of fun and maybe even be able to say she's part of the best team in the Northwest if they win.

Its pretty cool to think that sports have already given two of my daughters something I never experienced: being an All-Star.

I honestly pray that the confidence the experience of sports gives my girls provide them with the confidence to accomplish anything they attempt in life.
Lessons of hard work and sacrifice learned in sports are extremely valuable. I wish more kids could understand the value of that lesson.

I am so proud of Abby for working hard to make the team after missing it the year before. She even had to learn a new position. But along the way, she earned a starting spot and actually has become one of the teams' best players.

I'll be in Klamath tonight, giving it all I've got, but part of my heart will be at a little softball field a few miles from Canada.

Hot Blog

Its the Fourth of July weekend, making references to tube steaks appropriate, no?

We've been talking about high temperatures alot on the radio lately.
Here are some interesting tidbits from the record high temperature list for Roseburg from the National Weather Service...

Fourth of July weekend high temps:
July 2 - 106 in 1942
July 3 - 99 in 1967
July 4 - 97 in 1967
July 5 - 97 in 1960

And what month would you think holds the All-Time highest record high in Roseburg written history? I would have guessed August, but the record high temp is from July 20, 1946 when it reached 109 degrees.

August does hold the other hottest days ever recorded - 108 on August 8 1978 and August 16th 1977.

I've decided my high temp threshold is 82. Anything higher than that it might as well get up to 134.

Speaking of the 4th and hot weather, I'm looking forward to a kayak trip down the North Umpqua with Sam Lee and his family. My girls (including my wife, Jannie) have come to love the ride with the Lees. Afterward, its a traditional 4th of July dinner with Sam's folks at their ranch on North Bank. Potato salad, fruit salad, cookies and more. I'm barbequeing chicken.

Today my girls (led by my wife, Jannie) are going to be busy in the kitchen - almost like Thanksgiving for all the stuff they plan to make. I love it!