Winning without your best effort. GBLL 2 LVLL 12.

Top picture--2010 vs. GB
Bottom picture--2009 vs. LB

One year ago tonight, Mondesi Blanchard and Josh Fischer both homered in a dramatic win over Long Beach, with Josh's coming as a walk-off jack. The boys thought that was a good tradition so they did it again tonight vs. Greater Bellflower. In a game that was not their best effort overall, the boys handled business in any case, with Mondesi reaching base four times, Josh thrice more, with Ian Konek garnering three hits and 3 RBI's, and pitching three strong innings for the win. David Rivera (ol' doc) reached base three times in addition and Albert Rodgers hit a booming triple in the first inning as Village jumped out to a 4-1 lead right off the bat. The lads will saddle up again on Tuesday July 13th at 7:30 pm at Stearns Park in the championship game.

It's truly something, the march for greatness. The All Stars won this game tonight, a mercy rule game, on the basis of sheer force. Our team so outclassed the competition that we could miss five bunts out of five called for, get a runner picked off of first, get a runner thrown out at third on a lazy, slow slide, and make four errors and still come away with a double-digit victory. As the kids were informed after the game, our next opponent, likely to be Long Beach again, will not be beaten with the same effort.

Yes, they are, once again, 11 and 12-year old boys. But everyone grows up (hopefully) and this is a legitimate step for these guys, in our view. The lesson here is: how much do you care? Do you want to win District 38 All Stars for the second time in league history, and if so, are you willing to back it up with dedication and commitment? We will push on and on for greatness because it is an article of faith that these boys are playing as boys for probably the last time in their lives and will in all likelihood NEVER be on a team that is as talented and skilled as this one. It is a fine line we walk between fun and drudgery and playing hard and playing recklessly, but we aim to toe this line.