The Beards: The Beards Weekly Sports Review Update.

Here is a summary of the past week for Brooklyn and Maddux and their sporting events. After starting the year 2 - 0 in baseball the team hit a two game skid before snapping out of it Thursday night with a win. For some reason they decided that they were not going to hit for two straight games. I have never seen a whole team not hit but we managed to do it twice. Maddux struck out twice on six pitches, not even coming close to hitting one, another thing I have never seen. He actually hit in the second game but we ran up against a team that could hit the ball. Our main problem is getting the kids to focus. I don't know how you teach focus but if we could figure that out we would be really good. I stand right next to them and try to get them to watch the batter and what is going on. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as the ball is hit they are digging a tunnel in the dirt or starring straight up into the sky looking at who knows what. I guess at this age it is all about having fun and that we are. I decided to open Maddux's stance up a little bit and he has been doing a much better job at hitting. It forces him to step towards the plate instead of third base and thus he has a better chance of hitting the ball. I have also started working with him at hitting left handed and he has done surprisingly well. After two attempts he has the stance down and is making contact constantly. Doesn't have the power yet but that will come with practice. We usually go out 1/2 before the game or practice to get some extra swings. I am just thankful that I have the opportunity to coach his team and watch his talent grow on a day by day basis.

One of the few occasions where Maddux is actually paying attention and not drifting off. He has gotten better at his fielding and just needs to remember to slide his feet and get in front of the ball. His catching and throwing have also improved significantly.

On the way to the game. He doesn't wear the glasses in the game but I like the look.

Brooklyn went to her first basketball camp this past week and it was really her first organized basketball of any kind. She went with her friend, Maddie, which I think made things a little funner. The camp was Monday thru Friday and taught by an ex-player for the University of Akron. I did manage to get and see a little of the camp and I think the girls had fun. Brooklyn did struggle the last couple of days but that was due to sunburn. She went swimming outside at her friend's pool and the sunscreen Jennie put on must not have been waterproof because she burned pretty good. She has such fair skin to begin with that it doesn't take much to burn. I also think she over acted just a bit but she ended up skipping Thursday because she couldn't lift her arms up because it hurt. She has the height and now just needs to develop the coordination and the hunger to play. From what I hear about Jennie she was the same way when little. For those of you who know Jennie she is far from that now so there is hope. Here are a couple of pictures that I managed to get the one day.

Brooklyn passing the ball to her teammate. Look at that form.

Here she is getting ready to check the ball in. I had a problem with how they ran these little pick up games. If you notice in the picture there are 5 kids trying to steal the ball. The way he had it set up there were 5 older and bigger kids against 5 littler kids. The older kids would pressure the younger kids and make it near impossible for them to pass the ball. Notice that you can't see any of the kids on Brooklyn's team. They are behind the wall of taller defenders. I just think they should have split the teams up a little. The final score was 14 - 0. I don't even think Brooklyn's team got a shot off.