High School Varsity Championship Baseball

[MJPhotos24]

Coaching in the semi-finals today we showed up early to watch the other two teams go at it as well. Team in green I used to coach basketball for, several of them had as 7th graders back in the day. Forgot my monopod so all of these are hand held with the IS turned on the 300 with the Mark IIn. Used AV as the exposure was all over the place, prefer to use manual usually.

#1 - We showed up to see him on the mound, not sure who it is but it is not there #1 pitcher. We thought for sure they'd throw there ace in the semi's...
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-01.jpg



#2 - Instead there ace was playing right field and knocking in a run with this single...great kid, great work ethic, or at least when I had him in 7th grade on my b-ball team it was. Judging from all his success it hasn't changed, which is great!
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-02.jpg



#3 - ...and now he runs to 3rd...yes I cut off his toes in the shot.
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-03.jpg



#4 - Thought this might be a great play for the team in red to get going and play a little better. Didn't turn out that way, they kind of got taken out of the game with a 5 run first against them and never got back into it.
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-04.jpg



#5 - So of course the team in green had to have a play at the plate too...
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-05.jpg



#6 - ...and with a good block of the plate, he's out. Interesting story behind the kid in red - I coached him in modified baseball, he moved last year and we heard he stopped playing baseball which was pretty bad because the kid could be a great player if he works hard, really good kid already. We get to the game and his uncle happens to be shooting and telling me the kids still playing and was brought up to start this year (sophomore). I didn't even recognize him at first...heard he's doing great, just very happy to see him playing!
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-06.jpg



#7 - ...so of course had to get a shot of him hitting...and no I didnt teach that bat toss thing.
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-07.jpg



#8 - This kid was just plain mean...he wouldn't let us get a hit until the 5th inning and only two all game. Opposing teams pitcher as I didn't shoot much during our game, maybe 10 shots as the light went away quick and that whole coaching thing gets in the way. This kid looked pretty good, only let up one run on two hits to end our season.
http://www.fourseamimages.com/Alex-08.jpg

[pigtailpat]

I really like #4. It's the kind of play I have been trying so hard to catch, but it totally eludes me. Where were you positioned to catch that particular shot? I also like the pitcher one that comes after that, #8, and the bat throw.

Very nice images.

Pat

[dmwierz]

Mike - Nice work. I enjoy your stories. Must be cool to see your former players in action.

Pat, I'm gonna guess Mike was somewhere in the 3B dugout for the "play at the plate" shots.

[gmen]

Great insight into the players Mike... and a nice set of images too!

Good to see the catcher doing his thing as well. I very much enjoy the images of baseball that show something other than the usual tight solo pitcher/batter stuff... so #4, #5 and #6 float my boat.

---- Gavin

[Sledhed]

I like #7 Mike, love the bat toss! I still want to get one of Fukudome and his big bat flip but he hasn't done it at any of the Cubs games I've shot this year.

[MJPhotos24]

I really like #4. It's the kind of play I have been trying so hard to catch, but it totally eludes me. Where were you positioned to catch that particular shot? I also like the pitcher one that comes after that, #8, and the bat throw.

Very nice images.

Pat


Pat, I'm gonna guess Mike was somewhere in the 3B dugout for the "play at the plate" shots.

I was in the stands technically. We were waiting for the first game (images 1-7) to get over with before ours started, there was a party deck area and I was just past that in this little dead space of an area. Not sure what it was used for but it was pretty at the end of the 3rd base dugout, just a little further down. For #8 you can see I was MUCH lower, that was taken from the dugout as it was down in the ground ala Wrigley Field. Pete Rose actually started his pro career in that stadium above I do believe. It now houses NCAA summer teams.

Dennis, definately good to see them carry on through there high school years. This is the first class I ever coached that is now graduating this year, sooner or later sure I'll be seeing them at the local pubs as adults. Startin to get old!

Great insight into the players Mike... and a nice set of images too!

Good to see the catcher doing his thing as well. I very much enjoy the images of baseball that show something other than the usual tight solo pitcher/batter stuff... so #4, #5 and #6 float my boat.

---- Gavin

Gavin - long time no talk! Thanks, funny thing was on the bus ride up I told myself I wanted to be on alert and try to get as much peak action as I could as stock isn't really needed for these guys. Was submitting to the paper who didn't run anything. Figures.

I like #7 Mike, love the bat toss! I still want to get one of Fukudome and his big bat flip but he hasn't done it at any of the Cubs games I've shot this year.

I've seen him do that, keep lookin for it. I didn't see it initially, but then again it's like IndyJeff always says "if you seen it happen you didn't get the image" or whatever (sorry if I butchered the quote Jeff).