Postgame Portrait

Blake and Dave traveled to Minnesota last night.

This morning, they and the rest of the West Des Moines, Iowa Valley Tigers showed up at the National Sports Center in Blaine. It was the Minnesota Showdown where the Tigers faced the Westside Boosters of Minnesota.

left to right: Dave, Shana, Blake, Ron...photo: Linda

Shana, Linda and Ron turned up at the field to cheer for Blake's team.

 Ron was snapped up to "run the sticks" with Dave for the game, leaving Shana and Linda in the bleachers to text us photos and updates on scores.

 

The Tigers won: 24 to 0. They will play another game at 3 p.m.

Stay tuned!

UPDATE: The Valley Tigers went home to Iowa with the championship trophy.
Congrats, guys!!!

Fishing at Racoon River

Hunter found himself with an unscheduled day and convinced Grandpa Al to take him fishing.

 

They fished from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. without a bite.
Lots of fresh air, though, and a nice time for bonding. 

Movin' On

The Lynx didn't win the World Series trophy.

Yesterday was their last game.

It was a fun series of Midwestern state teams that met

in various baseball parks around Des Moines.

Tomorrow it's on to the 9th grade football practice at school.

 

Last look at an Underwood baseball shirt for the season.
 

 

 

State of Iowa 2015 14U Baseball Champions

Hunter, bottom row, far left

Hunter is fourth from the right end.

Hunter topped off the last game with a home run.

Now the team heads to the World Series where they will play top teams from the region.
I think that means Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Nebraska (please correct if I am wrong).

Glow Golf with Blake

Glow Golf is our speed.

When we asked Blake what he'd like to do with us one day,

 his text response came quickly: "Glow Golf!"

 

 

Miniature golf in the dark.

 

Blake taught us the ropes and we found it doable for our old bones.

He said this place is super-popular on a rainy day :) 

 

Thanks, Blake!

We'll be back to use our free passes won at the last challenge.

Wedding Guest

Landon is a wedding guest today, invited to

 Geneva-on-the-Lake for the occasion.

Lake Erie, that is.

 

 

I couldn't help thinking that, in this serious pose

 to show me how he looked in the shirts I bought him,

 he resembles some aspects of second cousin Anja.

Surfer Dude is Back

 

 

 

Blake's hair is growing far below the edge of his baseball cap.

He wants it that way.

 

I wonder when he'll break down and submit to a haircut.

Here, he's warming up his pitches.

 

We spent the morning at Pickard Park while the Mustangs

worked at winning a couple games.