So after a couple months of rest and relaxation, it's just about time to get at it.  Megan's team, MPulse, starts practice Tuesday. It's a new team this year, but several members from Rampage joined this team, so several of the girls already know each other.

I'll carve out a section on this site for MPulse once things get moving. And hopefully, I'm able to continue taking photos of the kids. Last year I started coaching for my son's JCBI team and that was pretty much the end of taking photos for the season, at least for JCBI anyway.  This year, when in the dugout, I'll try to get some shots as long as it doesn't become a distraction.  We'll just have to play it by ear.

Anyway we're definately ready to get back into the swing of things.  The kids and the adults have been hitting the home gym for a few months now and are eager to get out the bats, balls and gloves.  After an early start last year, JCBI has decided to wait until late January to practice.  I think that's the right decision for a team that already has a lot of experience --don't want to peak too early in the season.

JCBI 14U is having a garage sale and bake sale this Friday, October 31st at the Masonic Lodge, off West Truman (behind the urology care) from 7am - 3pm. There's twelve families participating, so there ought to be lots of good stuff to pick through.  And every nickle of the money raised goes to the boys. Particularly your money goes directly to funding their tournaments entry fees, so every dollar you spend keeps them playing baseball.

Drop by, spend a few minutes looking around.  There's something for everyone and as a last result there's cookies and other bake goods.  No one should leave empty handed.

Update: 10/31/2008
Thank you Jefferson City - you helped us raise $1100 for the upcoming 2009 baseball season.  That's three weekends of baseball we didn't have yesterday. So from the bottom of hearts we thank you!

I received an interesting comment from Willie yesterday.  For those who don't know, Willie managed the umpires for the BC League at Twin Oaks in Columbia, Missouri for the past couple years.  Personally, I thought he was great, his son played some with Sam on the Mud Dawgs back in 2007. Willie was always pleasant, running busily from field to field and generally had a smile on his face, even in the midst of heated discussions, which happen all to frequently in youth sports.

Well, it looks like Willie is leaving (has left?) BC Baseball. We'll miss you Willie. Good luck!

 

Just wanted to say that for the past three years at the BC ( Of which I have been UIC for two of them) I have had the joy of watching our youth grow and play in the game of baseball, I wish all of the teams and coaches the best of luck in the 2009 season and I hope for the best for all of them. In the two years that I WAS the UIC I did my best to bring the standard of the umpires to the highest level of the game that I could, I admit that there were times and games that could have gone better but we are all human and we make mistakes but all in all I think the level of umpireing at the BC was at the highest that it has ever been and I hope that it will continue to do so for I will not be a part of the BC Baseball family in 2009 and it is of no fault of mine or the BC There were just some things that I thought should have been handled different and we did not see eye to eye. But as for the umpires and the rest of the people that I had the pleasure of working with I enjoyed my time there and who knows maybe someday we will meet again at a different field and a different place. So this is where I say good bye and God Bless.

 

Submitted by willie (not verified) on September 24, 2008 - 4:03pm

Tonight is the JCBI parents meeting at JCHS; 7:00 pm in the cafeteria. See you there.

Next years baseball team has been selected.  The "official" roster will be posted at http://www.jcbi.org within a couple of days.  If you made the team, congratulations.  If not, keep working at it and give it another try next August.

2009 JCBI 14U Roster:
Dylan Brauner
Cameron Carroll
Dan Haynes
Sam Atkinson
Trevor Rucker
Alex Johnson
Steven Coots
Joesph Limbach
Corey Beard
Erick Standlee
Scott Stegeman
Austin Kneskern

Both the 12U and 13U teams for the upcoming 2009 baseball season have been posted at http://www.jcbi.org.  If you made one of the teams, congratulations!  If not, keep working on your baseball skills and give it another try in 2010.  Tryouts are typically held every August, so you have an entire year to improve.

Again, congratulations to those kids who made the 2009 JCBI roster.

Jefferson City Baseball, Inc. (JCBI) is holding a makeup tryout on Saturday September 6th at 1:00 pm on Lions field.

This tryout is for the 2009 14U baseball season.  You must be 14 years of age or younger on April 30, 2009 to be eligible. So, if you're looking for a competitive baseball team or just thinking about it, why not show up and give it a try. JCBI has a proven track recorded of developing kids for the Jefferson City High School Baseball Program.  If you already have a good understanding of the fundamentals of baseball, JCBI and it's coaching staff can help you take your game to the next level.

Tryouts are for all positions, but pitching and catching experience is a plus.  Hope to see you there.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

Do you eat, sleep and breathe baseball?  Do you long to be on a competitive baseball team?  Are you driven to be the best you can be?  If so, Jefferson City Baseball, Inc. (JCBI) may be for you.  JCBI will be holding open tryouts on Saturday, August 23rd for the upcoming 2009 baseball season.  All teams have openings -- 12U, 13U and 14U.

JCBI operates three developmental competitive baseball teams in which the Jays Baseball Coaching staff helps prepare you for high school baseball.  This program is open to all baseball players whether or not you attend Jefferson City Public Schools and isn't apart of the schools system whatsoever.  So grab your gear and we'll see you on the field.

Tryouts for the 12U and 13U teams will be held at 9:00 am at Vivion field.

Tryouts for the 14U team will be held at 1:00 pm at Vivion field.

Whatever your childs age on April 30th determines the youngest team your child can play for.  Example; if your son is 13 years of age on April 30th, he could play for either the 13U or 14U teams, but not 12U.

For more information, please email Coach Mike Shipp at michael.shipp@jcps.k12.mo.us

UPDATE 8/25/2008
The 2009 JCBI 14U team will be holding a second tryout on September 6th at 1:00 pm on Lions field.  If you missed the August 23rd tryout, here's your opportunity. Hope to see you there!

UPDATE 9/6/2008
Tryouts wrapped up today. And rosters have been set for the 2009 12U, 13U adn 14U baseball teams.  Congradulations if you made one of the teams. "Official roaters are posted at http://www.jcbi.org.

Hats off to this team.  Those young men fought hard in the Show-Me State games, going 3-0 in pool play only to loose the two bracket games.  That's hard on kids, but it's a part of baseball and I'm sure they understand that.  But that's not why I'm writing about them.

First, a little history. We first ran into these young men back in June and something about them caught our eye.  They're a smaller team, size wise anyway, but we're full of life, spunk really, and we got a kick out of watching those youngsters play in Florrisant, MO. as they faced off against some pretty big boys.  They put up a fight, but in the end fell to the Illinois Pride.  And I think we were as disappointed as the boys; I thought that'd be the of the story.  It wasn't.

We ran into the Rugrats again this weekend at the Show-Me State Games in Columbia, MO.  Once again we we're struck by the boys and coaches on this team.  They played hard and fast and we quietly cheered them on, even though they beat us in pool play. "Honor the game", that's rule one folks.

We ran back into the Rugrats again playing for third and that's when one of the parents noticed a child, an outfielder, who was left handed, playing with a right handed glove. Curiosity got the better of the parent so they asked why that was.  The answer hit me pretty hard.

For those who don't know, Wellston, MO. is a fairly poor inner city community in St. Louis, Missouri.  None of they boys own their own equiptment, it's provided by a community center there.  And before each game each child pulls a glove out of that bag and goes play baseball --there just aren't any "lefty" gloves.  Now that young man standing in the outfield would chase down and catch balls, take off his glove, then throw the ball.  They even share two bats --which stands in stark contrast to most teams, inculding ours, where almost every kid has at least or more $300 bats.

So here's the deal...  we're working with the community center in Wellston, Missouri to donate as much baseball gear as we can get our hands on for these kids.  If you have any used gear, please contact me here or drop me a comment with you're email and I'll get intouch with you.  If you dont have any gear, but would like to make a donation, just let me know --we'll find out what they need and purchase or pass it along accordinly.

I'll post updates to this as things progress.

UPDATE 8/18/2008
Unfortunately, despite repeated efforts, we just weren't able to get connected with the coaches or this program.  It's a same as several parents had donations for the origination.  It just goes to show how important it is to have someone on the inside who's enthusiastic and driven to make a difference.  It's a shame that in the end we just couldn't make something happen.

UPDATE, UPDATE 8/24/2008
Good News! Everybody finally managed to get connected and the donations were made.  Huge thanks goes out to the Johnsons' for making this happen.  Folks, these kids could really use a hand.  Most of the boys have no father in their life.  These kids do most everything together, playing baseball and basketball and their teams have pretty much become family.  Everyday these kids encounter difficulties in their lives that the majority of us can't even imagine.  They really could use your help.  If you know of an organization who'd be willing to donate funds or equipment for these kids, please contact me and we'll put you in touch with the organization.  FYI: they also have a cheerleading program for the girls.

That sound you hear in the back of you head is ole Porky the Pig; "That's all Folks!"

JCBI 13U wrapped up their season today in Columbia, MO at the Show-Me State Games.  To be honest and for the most part is was another in a long line of struggles for the team. But in the end the boys managed a third place finish.

There's just not a lot that can be said about this season.  It was, bar none, the toughest year of baseball I can remember and I can remember a lot of them.  We all had high hopes for this 13U team back in January and by the time they hit the fields in March and April, they had folks attention --maybe too much so.

Then rains came, tournaments were canceled and the boys feet hardly touched a field for almost two months.  And as if to add insult to injury the boys we're bumped from AA to AAA; at the time, 0-1 against Majors and 2-3 against AAA, if I remember correctly.  Maybe they just needed more AAA teams.  O.K.  I'm whining a bit, but certainly in retrospect you'd have to admit we had a really strong AA team, not AAA.  Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes.

End the end, I know the boys were frustrated and tired, they just couldn't catch a break all year.  But they kept pluggin' away at it and because of that I'm proud of them.  Sometimes it's enough to just survive.  2009 will be a new year, a new team, and new opportunities.  And the survivors of the 2008 season will live on to play again.

Until 2009 -- be safe, have fun, unwind, and clear your minds of baseball for awhile.  But for those of you who just can't get enough --we'll see you in a few weeks for fall ball.

Show-Me State Photos:  sorry folks, did the best I could.  They handed out the medals too fast and the boys didn't cooperate all that much... caught more backs than I did faces. 

John Haynes provides the game by game details:

JCBI 13U Wraps Up Season and Wins Bronze at Show-Me State Games

The JCBI 13U baseball team won two and lost three in the Missouri Show-Me State Games held July 19-21.   JCBI went 1-2 in pool play and were 1-1 in bracket play to take the Bronze medal (3rd place) in the 4 team tournament for Competitive level teams.

JC opened with a 6-2 loss on Friday to the Wellston Rugrats.  Joey Smith was the starter and picked up the loss with a pair of strikeouts and three walks.  Joseph Limbach pitched in relief.  Alex Johnson led the hitting with a pair of RBI driving in Smith and Dylan Brauner.  Smith also knocked out a double.

In the second pool game JC pulled out a 6-5 extra inning win over Washington Post 218.  The game went into two extra innings and JC won in the bottom of the seventh with Dan Haynes’ bases loaded infield hit to drive in Jake Laughlin.  Corey Beard picked up the win in relief with a key strikeout third out to end the sixth.  Laughlin was the starting pitcher, Johnson and Sam Atkinson also pitched.  Rylie Klosterman picked up 2 RBI, Joseph Limbach and Brauner each had an RBI.  Brauner scored twice, and Trevor Rucker, Atkinson, Smith, and Laughlin also scored for JC. The game had controversy in the top of the sixth when Post 218 had a go-ahead run called out due to batter interference. 

In the final pool game JC lost to the Farmington Gappers 11-6 after jumping out to a 6-1 lead in the first.  Smith was the starting pitcher, with Limbach and Johnson pitching in relief, and Johnson getting the loss.  Johnson led the hitting going 2-3 with a double, a RBI and a run scored.  Atkinson, Klosterman, Limbach and Rucker also had RBI’s for JC.  Atkinson, Stegemen, Klosterman, Brauner and Laughlin also scored for JC.

JC opened bracket play with a 12-6 loss to the Gappers on Sunday.  The Gappers went on to win the Gold medal for the tournament.  Again, JC jumped out a 3-0 lead after the first, but couldn’t hold the Gappers.  Stegeman was the starter for JC and took the loss with Johnson and Atkinson pitching relief.  Johnson and Brauner led JC hitting, with Johnson picking up a double and 2 RBI, one run scored.  Brauner was 2-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.  Limbach and Stegeman also picked up RBI’s, and Beard, Limbach and Smith also scored for JC.

JC won the 3rd place game to claim the Bronze medal, winning 11-6 over the Rugrats.  Brauner was the starting pitcher but Klosterman pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief and picked up the win.  Johnson  and Stegeman led JC hitting with Johnson going 4-4 with 1 RBI and 3 runs scored and Stegeman going 3-3 with 4 RBI’s.  Brauner had 2 RBI and 3 runs scored, Beard had 2 RBI, and Klostermen and Rucker also had an RBI for JC.  Rucker, Laughlin, Limbach and Smith also scored for JC.

JCBI 13U finished a rain interrupted and injury plagued AAA season with a 20-28 record, but should feel good about the improvements they made at this very competitive level.