And Now This.....

....after being back for a week, the snow returns!!!!! The lion of March will soon turn into the kitty cat of April.

Can't believe it's been a week since we're back!!! Can't seem to get enough of talking about the trip. Memories that will not fade away.

Thoughts on the Final Day......

A group of 20 or so headed out to sea, led by Magellan, on a catamaran for a day of snorkeling on a coral reef.  Common sense - or is it being old & tired - got the best of me.  I was one of the group that stayed behind.......  Those that stayed behind hit the beach.  Trust me on this one:  the beach, a "speedo" & an over the top body builder are not three ingredients you want to stir in the same kettle.....

Motorcycle riders definitely do not need to obey any traffic laws here.....

I'm really glad that I got my Puerto Rico haircut; now if I'd only thought to wear a hat other than on the baseball field......

Had a nice group dinner in the restaurant at the top of the top of the  hotel.  It was nice to have everyone together for one last time.

Most folks depart for the airport @ 6am for flights that depart between 8-8:30am.  We all rendevous at Bradley around 2pm.....

Can't believe it's over already!!!!!!!!

The Puerto Rican lifestyle is relaxed & laid back..... 7 o'clock might mean 7 o'clock or 7:15 or 7:20 or 7:30...  If one is patient, they can get along & around very well; if not patient, the wait simply becomes longer & longer...  Just the opposite on the baseball field...  players run on & off at all times; between innings, PR teams are ready to go in about 2 minutes; no wasted time; PR teams try to play 7 inning games in 2 hrs or less; we were done games in about 2:15, not too bad....

Sky High On Day Five.....

Today's gamed was in Villa Marison just outside of Bayamon, about 20 miles outside of San Juan.  It was my favorite field of the trip because of it's location right smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood.  Nothing better than neighborhood baseball on a sunny Saturday morning.......

When the Deputy Commissioner retires, there certainly is a place for him in Puerto Rico.  For the life of me, I can't understand why they even paint lane markers on the highways - nobody uses them anyway.....  Probably half of the police cars we've seen (and there are a lot) simply ride around with the blue lights flashing; I have no idea as to how one would know to pullover.......  I am not convinced that traffic lights mean anything........  Some people drive 25mph in a 65 zone, you pass them then come to a traffic light where people have actually stopped, the guy going 25mph comes up behind you and beeps the horn because you have not moved fast enough when the light turned green even though there are 13 cars ahead of you.......

Magellan took about 22 people to El Yunque Rain Forest for a guided 3 hour tour (I did think we were going to see Gilligan at one point).  About 2/3 of the way up, we passed St Peter at the Pearly Gates; he said hello and hoped that we were enjoying ourselves  Really, truly a beautiful place.  After kayaking in the bio lagoon on Thursday and hiking today, I'm glad that Magellan did not know there were limestone caves on the island........  Magellan took pictures of me on the hike for proof that I was there - I hope he accidentally deletes them.....

Tomorrow's a free day except for those joining Magellan (of which I may be one) on a catamaran/snorkeling excursion for the day - when will I learn.  Maestro Moretti has organized a group dinner for tomorrow evening in the hotel restaurant as a final get together - Magellan will probably make us take the steps to the restaurant which is on the 10th floor.......

Puerto Rico All-Stars 9; Glastonbury 8

Gbury dropped a hard-fought contest to the Puerto Rico All-Stars, 9-8.

Gbury took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the 5th inning when that wacky inning struck once again as it has in all 4 games.  After 2 hits to lead off the inning, PR was able to plate 5 runs without the aid of any other hits.  Gbury came back to tie the score at 8's in the top of the sixth on a Josh Barrett single.  PR added what proved to be the game winner in the bottom of the 6th.

Ben Sellew pitched 4 strong innings.  He surrendered 3 runs, only one which was earned.  Nick Neild & Kevin O'Connell also pitched well.  David Johnston with 2 hits & 3 rbi's led the offense.  Barrett & Pat Morton also had two hits.  Neild added a single to the attack.

Today's game ended the 4 game experience in Puerto Rico.  All games were competitive with one wacky inning, unfortunately, going a long way determining the outcome of each game.  Most importantly, guys had a lot of fun playing in great weather competing against good teams and made new friends. 

Quarter For Your Thoughts On Day 4.......

Woke up to partly to mostly sunny skies....  High today got up to 83 degrees....

Overnight rain precipitated a schedule change that moved our game to the nice stadium in Caugus where we played yesterday......  Too bad for us!!!!!

Made a strategic schedule change after this morning's game - moved the hike in the Rain Forest to Saturday to give the guys a chance to charge up their batteries (Magellan is ok with that) - they're not yet like that Eveready bunny that keeps going & going & going......  Spent a leisurely day around the HJ's and/or  at the beach.....  Too bad for us!!!!!!

A bunch of folks walked to Lupi's for dinner....owned by former major league pitcher Ed Figeroua, the 1st native Puerto Rican pitcher to win 20 games in a season  in the majors.  Ed wasn't there (he must not have known we  were coming...); lot's of MLB memorabilia around the restaurant.  Roger wore his Mickey Mantle replica game jersey.....

You know we've been here awhile when I can get back from the stadium we played at today without directions and an escort by using road signs - yes, those same signs that I still can not read......

A fact we did not know - Bryan Mester is an animal lover; doesn't matter what kind as long as it is alive.  Can't wait to what they might find in his bag when they check at the airport with what he threatens to catch and take home... 

Just found out that our buddy, Anthony, won his 1st round state tournament wrestling match, 8-7.  He grapples again tomorrow in quarterfinals...  Go Ant; Atta Baby!!!!!!

Talk to y'all tomorrow; can't wait to see what Magellan has in store for us at the Rain Forest!!!!!

PRBAHS 11; Glastonbury 3

Same school, different team, same result but a whole different way of getting there........ 

Glastonbury took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the 4th when  three wood bat hits,  three misplays, a balk and assorted other things led to a 9 run PRBAHS inning.  One of those innings where the "Baseball Gods" took over for them.

David Johnston led the offense with an rbi single, stolen base and run scored in the 1st and an rbi triple deep over the center fielders head in the 3rd.  Bryan Mester & Nick Neild also had hits.

Bryan Mester was dazzling on the mound for the 1st three innings before things came apart in the 4th.  Joe Spero was solid in finishing up the game.

Due to rain overnight, our game was moved to the stadium in Caugus for the 2nd straight day; the 4th inning must have been our "payment" to the Baseball Gods for that privledge.

Ramblings From Day 3..........

Day began with an early wake-up call @ 5:45am after getting back to hotel at 10:45pm from Wednesday's game.....

Day started out sunny & clear then transformed into overcast with interment, light showers...

Three more "team" family members arrived bringing the traveling party to 31; more are expected to arrive on Friday.

Mark "Magellan" Sellew coordinated a 2 hour evening kyaking trip to the infamous bio-lagoon for 22 - I was one of the 22 that will now question my sanity forever....  and a bunch of folks are accompanying Magellan tomorrow on a 5 hour hiking tour the Rain Forest - why do we do these things to ourselves???????????

Several other folks spent a much more relaxing evening taking in the pleasures of Old San Juan - this would have been the smarter ones of our bunch......

It is likely that we have never met a nicer bunch of opponents over the 1st 2 games of this trip.  The players are really enjoying themselves......

Players & coaches have had the good fortune of spending a significant amount of time in the presence of Hector Ortiz, former Texas Ranger catcher and current 1st year manager of the Texas Class A affiliate in Hickory, NC........

Enough for tonight - I'm tired.........