Close - But No Cigar

Kelli and I are just getting home this afternoon - after a week in Akron, Ohio. We came oh so close, but just couldn't pull off the final win against the team from Ohio. Our final record at the Midwest Regionals was 5 and 1. Ohio is now on their way to Seattle for the Little League Junior Softball World Series. They were an awesome team and very deserving of the title.

I couldn't be prouder of our girls. We defeated Michigan, the HOST team from Ohio (which were last year's Regional Champion), Wisconsin, Missouri and Illinois. The weather was NOT our friend - losing a day and a half to rain, which played havoc with our pitching staff and when the rain stopped, the weather was unbelievably HOT and HUMID. The facility we played in (Firestone Stadium) was beautiful and first class all the way. How many girl's softball games have you been to where they use SIX umpires? The following photos are from Tuesday and Wednesday's games - against Wisconsin, Illinois (which we won in 9 innings) and the final game against Ohio. A high point for the girls was having Ray Snyder (our park president) drive to Ohio on Tuesday and see our game against Wisconsin. And the saddest part for the girls was having him call them yesterday after their loss and via a speaker phone tell them how proud he was of each and every one of them. I don't think there was a dry eye among them. As for Kelli and I, it was an experience we'll always remember - but it's good to be home!!