South Bend Cardinals

There's a baseball league here in South Bend - the Northern Indiana Adult Baseball League. Anyway, Bob has played on this team for years. I think he's one of the oldest guys on the team. Let me just start by saying that if you are a CARDINAL, you are part of a brotherhood. I really don't quite understand it all - but I know that beer drinking is a very major part. The team motto is "A Drinking Team With a Baseball Problem".

Over the past few years, the Cardinals have continued to age gracefully - but they found that they were no longer winning those championships and that the teams they were playing against were getting younger and younger. So a couple of years ago, the Cardinal "management" started bringing some younger players on board - you know, some "ringers". This season, our Kevin was asked to join the team. He really seems to be enjoying it, especially since he's hitting and scoring and running circles around the "old guys".

...and I think Bob really enjoys being in that dugout with his son. Have fun Kevin... you are now part of the Cardinal "brotherhood".

South Bend Cardinals

My wayward husband phoned home last night. They beat the team from Puerto Rico and are currently 2 and 0. Today, they have a double header and then off tomorrow. Depending on how they finish in pool play will determine their game time and opponent for Thursday.

He sounded happy, but tired. His comments were "this is it - this is my swan song - every muscle in my body hurts - I'm too old".

This is his third year to go to Florida in October to play baseball. Because of that, we've taken separate vacations - him with his buddies and me with my daughters. Well, the "old man" can act like a kid this week and then relax aboard the cruise ship with me in April. It will be nice to get away together again.

All His Bags Are Packed....

It's that time of year again - time for the boys from South Bend to head south for their week of baseball, beer and beach. Some started the drive today, a few fly out tomorrow and the remainder, along with my husband fly out early on Saturday morning. First game - Sunday afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida. They play Sunday, Monday and a double header on Tuesday. Wednesday is a built in "rain day" and the actual tournament starts on Thursday. He'll be home next Sunday, with a week's worth of dirty clothes and a beard.

Roy Hobbs World Series

The South Bend Cardinals will have one more night at the indoor batting cages - and then the equipment will be loaded and two non-flyers will start the drive to Ft. Meyers, Florida. The rest of them will fly out on Friday and Saturday. First game - Sunday evening at 6:00. The South Bend team consists of local players, along with two from Chicago and two from Massachusetts. As the guys love to put it - it's a week of Baseball, Beer, Beach and Ben-Gay.

Bob went for the first time last year - and couldn't wait to go back again. Could that be because he was voted last year's MVP? Is he looking for a repeat? Must be something pretty serious, because he gave up a Caribbean Cruise with me in 5 weeks to return with the "boys" to Ft. Meyers.