Rangers Baseball

Ammon decided to give baseball another shot this year after taking last season off. He really enjoyed it. The season started at City Park, but with all the rain we've been having the river was rising fast and the park got closed, which canceled the rest of the season. We were so bummed when the season got canceled. It was just like 5 years ago when Simeon played here. Just a week later we got word that the softball park (where Corrine played) was going to let us use some of their fields so the boys could play again. Our schedule got changed to only playing on Monday's and Friday's, but we got to play!! Because this was also where Corrine's teamed played, we spent 4 nights a week at the softball park for ball games.

Ammon started off the season not being able to hit off the pitching machine, then got on fire hitting awesome hits and scoring every game. Then for some reason he started standing too folded over in the batters box and striking out every time. Once we got him to stand differently he was on fire again hitting awesome big hits and scoring multiple times a game. At 1st the kids in the outfield were kinda of a free for all, but then they got a rotation going that picked up from where you left off after the last game and things went a lot smoother. Ammon knew where he was playing, so he was always one of the 1st out of the dugout and into position. He liked to be the last one back into the dugout so he could slid into it. He also liked to be the 1st one in line to give the other team high fives.

Ammon seemed to play catcher a lot. He had his normal rotation into the position, but he was also the one who would volunteer to play it when someone else didn't want to. He looked so cute back there all geared up. When we were still at City Park he got hit hard in the shoulder with the ball. He got 1st base and scored a run, but was so sore.

Ammon really like playing 1st base. He made some great catches to get kids out. He had an awesome throw from right field to the 3rd base. He was also so funny to watch some times. He liked to be where the action was. One game we had to laugh when he was playing in right field and ended the play backing up the 3rd basemen! To end a play an infielder needed to hold the ball up. Since he would sometimes go to the action he would be playing outfield, but end up holding the ball up somewhere on the infield and getting the play ended. He also had his moments of playing in the dirt. One game he was working on making himself a box to stand in, and his coach needed to tell him a few times "don't worry about the box, watch the batter." 

At the end of the season they had a tournament. We were there for the 2 Saturday games. The 1st game the team did awesome, and had fun but still lost by 1 run. Ammon got a few really good hits and scored a few runs. The 2nd game didn't sound so good. I was at the playground with some friends that were just in town to see us for a little bit, so I missed most of the game. They ended up losing again and it didn't seem like it was a lot of fun. On Sunday they had 2 more games that we didn't play in and we thought we were done for the season. We got a call telling us that they won the 2nd Sunday game and we were playing in the championship game on Wednesday night.

Our team played their hearts out. Ammon got a few more hits and a run, but got stranded on base a lot. In the end we came in 2nd place in the Silver bracket. The boys had so much fun playing.

The coach had balls for all the boys to sign for each other and they got a medal from the league. Ammon was so excited about his ball and metal that he came right home and put them up and took pictures of them.

This was a really fun baseball season. We had good coaches that were positive and helped encourage the boys and keep them focused on the game. Ammon is even more excited to play again next year.

Ammon's 1st Taekwondo tournament

Today Ammon participated in his 1st ever Taekwondo Tournament. He'd been on the fence about doing it until a few days ago when Master Choe told him he should do it and get the experience. That sealed the deal for him.

Ammon participated in both the forms and sparring competition. His forms group had 5 boys in it ranging from green belt, to temporary red. Each boy got to pick what form they were doing. It didn't have to be their current form, just the one they felt they knew the best. They were judged on power, grace and technique. Ammon choose to do his red tip form. He was the 1st one to go. He was really quiet telling his form to the judges. He did a good job on his form and didn't seem nervous. Ammon placed 3rd out of the group and got a bronze metal.

For the sparring competition they had all the peewees go together, then broke them down into group. Ammon was in a group of 4 boys again ranging from green belt to temporary red. All the boys were 7 years old. Ammon went against the boy who won the forms competition in his group and he was good. They both got some good hits and a few kicks in, but in the end the other boy had more points (even with 2 warnings for kicking Ammon in the back). Ammon was excited to get a 2nd place trophy  in sparring.

I was so proud of him for being such a good participate. He was kind to the other competitors  polite to the judges and did his best on both his form and sparring. During his waiting time he was watching the others competiting and being very respectful. He walked out of the tournament very pleased with his accomplishments and he had a trophy and metal to show for it!

The other kids did such a wonderful job being good spectators and cheering Ammon on. They were quiet when they needed to be and were patient with sitting on the bleachers for the few hours we were there. We did have some fun things to do for when being patient got hard like the tablet, books, snacks and coloring. Grandma was able to be there for the entire time, and dad was able to make it for the forms competition, then needed to get back to work.

As we were leaving Master Choe came and talked to Ammon. He was very excited for him and his accomplishments at the tournament. Master Choe can be tough on Ammon when he needs it, but also be so gentle and proud of him. It's the perfect balance to get Ammon to put forth his full effort. Master Choe told him "you are young, this was your 1st tournament." He sees Ammon's potential, drive and effort, and knows that he can go far.

When we got home he put his trophy and metal with his kick-a-thon trophy he got last year and was so excited for us to come see them all together. He told me "Now I need a 1st place trophy, because I have a 4th place trophy from the kick-a-thon, a 3rd place metal from forms, and a 2nd place trophy for sparring."

We love you Ammon Eli and are so proud of all your hard work and dedication. You're going to go great places in your life!