The Champs!

 Saturday at the ball fields.  Jackson's team played in a one-day tournament at Triple Creek in McKinney.  It was a marathon!  Their first game was at 11:30 and they lost it at the end 2-1. They played again at 3:00 and won that game with Jackson coming in to pitch the last inning.   It was tied at 4-4 and he held them to no runs.  Then his team scored two more runs and The Fury won!

 

 Sweet Lila had been battling an awful stomach virus since early that morning, so we were homebound.  She missed her first soccer game, as well as two birthday parties.  Such a bummer of a way to spend the day.  She took a nap around noon, woke up and got sick one more time.  After that she seemed to turn the corner, though.  Thank goodness!  It was so wonderful to see her smile and tell me that she was feeling good enough to go up to McKinney. 

It was killing me to miss all of J's games.

 

When we got there, the boys were sizing up their competition. "I think we can beat them, mom!"

We took our seats, the girls had some snacks, and Lila didn't throw up anymore:)

Let's go Bubbie!

Starting pitcher for the semi-final game was Jackson Hays! 

He came out throwing some heat, but not always in the strike zone.

No wonder, though.  That west sun was all up in his face.  They don't let the pitchers wear sunglasses, so he was basically blind up there.  He pitched two innings and only let a few runs score. 

  

Ryder came it to pitch and did his job well, with J backing him up at short stop and getting some very key outs.  They pulled it off, too, and got the win!

After the game was over, the other team's coach led all the boys in prayer.  He thanked God for such a beautiful day and prayed for the boys to play well and have a safe championship game.  Made all us parents feel good that our boys are around such good examples and feeling God's influence out on the ball field.

The last game started well after 8pm and the boys had to be exhausted.  They battled, though, and were up 8-4 in the last inning.  They were out of all their starting pitchers, too.  The other team scored two runs.  Then they loaded the bases.  8-6 now.  Brock came in to try and close out the game, but he walked in the next batter.  8-7.  He just couldn't throw many strikes, and the count was 3-1 with the tying run on third base.  So intense!  Then our catcher overthrew him at the pitchers mound.  We lose, right?  Don't count us out yet!  Corbin was at second base.  He sees the overthrow, fields the ball and begins to run down the kid who was on second base.  He has to get him before the kid who was on third base crosses home plate.  Oh my gosh!  AND HE DID IT!  Tags out the runner.  Fury wins 8-7!!!

 

First championship for this team!  They earned it.  Every single one of them!

That first place medal sure looks good on him:)

So glad that Daddy got to be there to see him win it all!  The girls and I had left around 9:15 because sweet Lila just couldn't hang any longer.  I hated to miss it, but I got the play-by-play from Jared.  I am so proud of this kid.  Like Jackson said, "our hard work really paid off!"  And he's so right.  No one works harder than you, buddy.  Job well done!