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A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

champions

With the season over, looking forward with softball

September 22, 2017

Softball season ended in late July.

It’s rather interesting that we actually ended when the season was supposed to end, considering all of the rain we got. A one-day-per-week league turned into several weeks with two games. That was something we had tried to avoid when switching leagues to the Over-35 league.

The old man league, that is.

It’s a crazy thought to look back in time and think about my first few years of playing softball. We were mainly filled with high school kids, rarely ever won, and just had fun. Take the time machine forward 26 or 27 years and here we are.

Another year, another championship.

Now, we expect to win. Sure, we don’t win every single game, but for the past four seasons – spanning two leagues – we have ended the season with championships. It is always fun to win on the field, and when we overcome as many things as we have done the past few years, it makes it even more fun.

The league was a little different this year. A couple of teams dropped, but one dropped late and messed up the scheduling. So our division was three teams and it got a tad old at times. I think the other teams would agree. Yet, the combination of the two divisions wouldn’t have made it that much better – if better at all.

Still, things worked out OK.

But the one thing about softball is there is usually a pretty wide range of ages on a team. When you go into the Over-35 league, you have to bid farewell to the “youngsters,” and that doesn’t make it easy. So this year, we played several games with fewer than 10 players. In fact, we played one game with seven (though we found a way to win that game – maybe because we are uber awesome! Ha!) and that just isn’t fun. When you are worrying about having to play that short or forfeit, then you have to start looking things over.

In 25-plus years of running a team, I’ve never had a forfeit on the field. I don’t even think I’ve ever been in a situation where we forfeited ahead of time because of a lack of players. I always said that if I ever had to forfeit a game, I’d be done playing.

We came close this year.

In the end, we won the championship. We swept the 2-out-of-3 series, winning by two runs and one run. The second game, we scored one in the top of the seventh and then held on in the bottom half of the inning – as the other team stranded the tying run at third base.

The games were fun, intense, and some pretty good softball.

With the season over, though, I’m not sure where that leaves me. The past few seasons, I’ve felt pretty good. I’ve hit really well and this year, despite my knees barking at me every other morning, I went back to catching. Though, to be fair, it’s a no-bunt, no-steal league, which means I don’t have to attempt to throw somebody out at second – especially with my rag arm.

The end of the season also makes you look back, reflect, and think about what one wants to do in the future. Do I want to keep playing? I’m not sure. I truly enjoy the aspect of playing the game. But the other facets – running a team, worrying about players, dedicating time to other aspects – it’s hard.

I still remember a few summers when I was younger and playing in three leagues as well as tournaments almost every weekend. There were some summers I came close to 100 games played.

That’s not true anymore.

Instead, I like going to baseball games more. Or I like just coming home from work and not having anything to worry about.

This decision isn’t easy.

I’d like to know the direction the league is going. Is it expanding? Will there be some rule changes to make it easier to have a complete team (ie: allow 2 or 3 players aged, say, 32 and up, to play) or garner interest from a few new teams. Or will we just be merging with the other division, thus making it so we might win a few games by forfeit or by lopsided scores? I’m not sure I want to do that, to be honest.

For a large part of my life, softball has been a mainstay in the summer. I’ve had a good run and have enjoyed every step. And though the game is great, it’s changed over the years. Between the lines, it’s the same. Outside of them? Much different. People do many other things now and it’s not as popular as it once was – at least near me.

So over this winter, I will look at the big picture. I’ll talk to guys on the team. I’ll get a feel for how things look with the league. And then I’ll make my decision.

In the end, I’ve had the fortune of playing softball with a lot of great players and teams. We’ve won championships and had fun along the way. It’s been a great sport for me and there will come a time when it’s time to say goodbye.

I’m just not sure if it’s sooner or later.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Filed Under: blogging, My world, softball, Sports Tagged With: adult softball, champions, championship, old man softball, recreational softball, softball, softball champions, softball season

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Winning doesn’t suck at any level

August 30, 2016

Winning doesn’t suck.

It’s easy enough to say, that’s for sure.

More than 25 years ago, I started playing softball in the summer. I’ve seen the game (modified pitch) go through a lot of changes in our area. From several prolific leagues to having it hard to find a good and steady league.

This year, with many of us showing age, we went to the local Over 35 league, which has some of the better competition because it’s the older groups that I used to play against some when I was younger.

In the years I've run teams, I've won six championships. These two are the only ones who have been with me for all six.

In the years I’ve run teams, I’ve won six championships. These two are the only ones who have been with me for all six.

It was a fun league and competitive.

We opened the season 1-3 and then reeled off 11 straight wins (a couple forfeit wins vs. “B” teams in there), including three straight in the double-elimination playoff tournament. We tied (with three other teams) for the regular season championship and ended up with the three seed. It didn’t matter as we had to beat the good teams, anyway.

We opened the playoffs with a 26-11 win over the No. 2 seed before facing the top seed in the winner’s bracket final. It didn’t look good early as we trailed, 15-1, after two innings.

Ouch.

See, this team is a bunch of hitters and we started going at it. It took nine innings, but we ended up with a 23-16 win.

We faced the same team in the championship and had the luxury of knowing we had to be beaten twice. It didn’t end up mattering, though, as we ended it in one game by winning 20-8.

How about a couple of quick stats:

  • Outscored opponents in playoffs, 70-35.
  • Hit 12 homers.
  • Had 78 hits
  • Scored four or more runs in 10 different innings

In the end, it was one heck of a playoff run that had us pretty much pumping things out without issue.

Also, for this one, three of us have been on all six of the teams I’ve run that have won championships. Glen and Marc have been with me through three leagues and have been part of all the titles, which is cool.

I strongly considered ending the playing days at the end of this season, but the one night per week was fun, so I would think I’ll be back next year, especially if the others come back as I would love to do this again with them.

It’s definitely hard to walk away after a fun season like this.

So, I’ll likely be back and hopefully we will be right back in it next year. If it’s as fun as this year, it will be well worth it!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook!

Filed Under: My world, softball Tagged With: adult softball champions, champions, championship, softball, softball champions, sports

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A long road pays off with a soccer state championship

November 28, 2013

Long before becoming a state champion, youth soccer was King.

This is a story that started long ago.

Maybe 2006? Earlier? Somewhere around there, anyway.

My niece, at that point, was a soccer nut. She played travel soccer for tots. She was all of about 8 or 9. So she probably started playing well before that, but this was my time in documenting many games with my camera.

State champ!

I haven’t been to every game my niece has played in. But I’ve been to my fair share. And, despite knowing quite a bit about the game, I’m not always the biggest fan. Whether it’s fans or whatever else, I don’t always enjoy myself. When I go, however, I try and get away from people. I watch, I’ll cheer and I support.

Two Sundays ago, my nice — a junior in high school — and her teammates won a state championship. It was the second straight year they played in the title game, losing in overtime last year.

Many of these girls have played together through all these years. From “pee-wee” style, to travel, to indoor, to junior high, to JV to varsity …

Yeah, it’s been quite a trip.

It’s quite amazing, actually, to look at some of these older photos. To see how these young ladies have grown and developed as players. They’ve always been quite talented, too.

One of the best parts about these girls is many of them went through the ranks together. To be sure, there are key people who joined up at different times, but a good handful of these girls started at a young age together.

That has to help.

Controlling the ball in 2006.

Not just for the sake of knowing one another, but have been friends for a long time and know what the others can do.

Last year, this one set of girls were sophomores. Though there were upperclassmen on the team, these girls made an impact.

How good were they?

Two of them shared player of the year honors from the local newspaper.

That good.

This year, they were strong as normal. They rallied in spots they needed to. They reached the state final and the opposing team scored early. Things didn’t seem so good.

But, despite how the game went, they battled. A goal early in the second half tied it and then the winner — an extremely odd and crazy goal — came with about a minute left.

When the final horn sounded, they exploded in celebration.

I went digging for the photos of my niece in this post. But while I was at it, I found some others of the girls she is still teammates with. It’s quite amazing to see what they were like back then — still battling, still playing and still competing. They learned young and the payoff was obviously worth the time.

Hopefully, they cherish this moment and relish in the accomplish they had. It’s something to truly be proud and thankful for. A hearty congrats and maybe they’ll be able to do it again next year.

Check out some of the photos below.

This girl has become one of the top players in the area. And the other girl in the yellow jersey is one of the fastest on the team.

This gal is now one of the top defenders.

Even at a younger, this one was connecting on corner kicks. Now they are quite an offensive threat any time she takes one.

Now… the goalie.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: Family, My world, Photography, Sports Tagged With: champions, family, girls soccer, new york state champions, niece, oneonta, oneonta high state champs, soccer, soccer champions, state champions

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Softball season is back!

May 24, 2011

2010 League Champions

‘Twas less than a year ago when the boys of Thetford’s Towing extinguished a four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally and win Game 2 of the Oneonta City League men’s softball championship, earning a sweep of the series against the top-seeded Copper Fox.

The boys from Thetford’s finished the year at 16-2, earning their first Oneonta City League crown and first title since being Blinky’s back in the old Brookside Softball League in Delhi in 2001.

‘Twas a great year indeed.

New faces. Old faces. One helluva team.

But, as they say, as a season end and a team wins a championship… it goes into the record book and we move on.

Indeed that is so.

Tonight (weather pending) is when the boys of Thetford’s open the season in hopes of a repeat championship. There’s some new things to this team — including a co-sponsor in Legend’s Filling Station. There will be a few new faces and we’ve had to say goodbye to two key members of last year’s squad (one enlisted in the Navy; the other moved back to Florida).

Alas, Thetford’s/Legends will continue on.

The league, after being slightly down last year (entry fee was doubled last season…ouch!) is on an upswing with eight teams. Even better? One division. That means the playoffs will be eight teams. To win it will require winning three series, which makes it even better.

We open this evening against a new squad named The Fuzzy Dogs.

Yes, I seriously wrote that.

I’ll hope this team of fuzzy canines isn’t some loaded squad, as I’d hate to lose our season opener to a team that seems to be better named after a kid’s show. That being said, we’ll see what happens. After all, we haven’t done much as a team yet (which is the norm) and hopefully we can quickly shake off any rust and get back to playing some top-notch ball.

The week runs 14 games over seven weeks and then the playoffs commence.

Hopefully, when it’s all said and done, we’ll be lifting another trophy and saluting our sponsors and players. We’ll know by mid-summer, that’s for sure.

And as game time creeps closer, it’s like it is every year. Some excitement and wonder as to what the season might bring. But we’ll be ready, I’m sure.

Play ball!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com.

Filed Under: My world, softball, Sports Tagged With: champions, men's softball, oneonta, oneonta city league softball, softball, sports, thetford's softball

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She was so still for this photo. Make sure you f She was so still for this photo. 

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Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! You know, Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! 

You know, of course, Santa Paws travels with Santa Clause, making sure to find treats and toys for all the good little doggies! (We know they are all deserving, right?) So, Harper put out some milk for the big guy, carrots for Rudolph and the reindeer, and special cookies for Santa Paws! She is ready! 

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One of the best parts about having Harper as my be One of the best parts about having Harper as my best friend… ❤️
Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to sna Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to snap this shot. The colors in the sky were fantastic and the scene was nice looking (though, to be fair, I drove by what I think would have been a better scene -- the valley and hills full of snow etc.)

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The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪 The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪
Just a break on our morning walk … #goldenretri Just a break on our morning walk …

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Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! 

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I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I have her. It’s been a year and four months and she makes me smile and laugh more each day. It’s amazing how much a dog changes your look on life, and how much joy they can bring. 

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I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to post here, as well as on Harper’s (@harper_dublin) account). So, as I start to transfer photos, I’ll try and catch up. So photos coming could be from all seasons and who knows when. 🤣

This one is recent from the courthouse square in Delhi. We had some pretty good fall colors this year. 

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From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper t From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper to put her paws on the bridge and looked out, but she was more content jumping on me and looking up. I do love the way she seems to be looking at me.
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Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with t Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with the fog and frost settled in. 

Hamden Covered Bridge 

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Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend! #g Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend!

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So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t have @mallons_homemade_sticky_buns.
This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this on me morning walk Friday with Harper. Likely some college kids, but also as chance at local hooligans. I had Harper so not a lot I could do, but I managed to get the cart off the chair. (See second photo) This was in a local park.
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P.J. Harmer

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A video looking at my first year and a half of owning a golden retriever, my first dog. It's had its ups and downs, but I've truly loved the ride and look forward to the future. 

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When these boxes come, there usually some excitement. But this one ... is the ultimate unboxing! 

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I hate being in front of the camera, but also realize sometimes it's not the worst thing in the world. So, I'm getting better with it. Week 4's theme was all about us and having us in front of the camera, so I tried to come up with a creative way to do it. 

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