Las Vegas with the Family for Halloween!

Actually, we did head to Sin City for Halloween, as a family.  But not to partake of the bizarro-world of the Strip on All-Hallow's Eve.  No, we went down for our first form of family entertain:  a youth baseball tournament!

Tres_arbolito's Brewers descended on Vegas for the Las Vegas Fall Classic Baseball Tournament where they enjoyed a two and two showing.  Failing to make the Championship bracket mattered little as family and friends enjoyed some sunshine a some surprisingly good competition at a time of year when most sports-minded folks are turning to football for entertainment.

"That's the sign for 'I want a two-out double'."

Family_arboles had a particularly nice time as tres_arbolitos played very well, batting over .500 including three doubles and a bunch of stolen bases.  He also finally got a shot at middle-infield, playing a solid 2B in our last game racking up four assists including a cool diving catch in short right field.

Perhaps the most fun moment for our family occurred when tres_arbolitos came to the plate with two on and two out.  He got a sign from his head coach and promptly stepped out of the box with palms up.  Calling time, he walked toward his coach up the third base line.  Approaching tres_arbolitos, and within earshot of the opponents' dugout (and parents), Coach barked, "that's the sign for 'I want a two out double.'"  Folks laughed out loud and tres_arbolitos took a smile back to the plate.  He promply bashed the next pitch to the warning track in right center, knocking in two runs and arriving safely at 2B.

Moments like that made the trip.  These moments included the myriad other great performances such as the fearless hitting of the kid two years younger than his mates but playing up like a fricken' tiger; the spotless and cagey pitching performance by the quiet kid wearing the insulin pump who played on the "B" team last year; and the other guys picking up where they left off at the end of last season when tres_arbolitos was benched with an injury.  The kids had so much fun, it was a pleasure just to be near them.

Now as they are playing at increasingly older and more competitive levels, the outlines are drawn for the team they will compete on as 18 year olds looking for collegiate or even professional recruitment.  This is a group of boys developing by participating in a process in which they have to work extremely hard.  Not all are cut out for it. Those that are, who commit, are very likely to achieve really great things.