Lakeside Recovery: 2017 Washington State Runner-Ups

While not the outcome that was hoped for, Lakeside Recovery finished off a successful campaign with a long run in the State Tournament that ultimately ended in a loss in the final game to the Walla Walla Grizz.

Jack pitched six innings across two games, giving up no runs.

Lining up for the National Anthem

Video of Jack pitching the opening game of the State Tournament

Jack on the mound

Talking post-game

Joseph & Dad Go to Texas & New Mexico

For Joseph's High School graduation last year, we gave him a trip to any National Park site that he chose. He picked Guadalupe National Park & Carlsbad Cavern National Park, which are about 30 miles apart from one another. Guadalupe has great hiking, including a hike to the highest point in Texas and a canyon that's been called the most scenic spot in all of Texas. Carlsbad Caverns is the largest cave in the Western hemisphere, and has 300,000 bats which fly out of the cave every night (there's an amphitheater built for you to watch) in search of insects.

In July 2017, Joseph and Dad made the big trip. Coincidentally, we had to fly through Phoenix to go to the parks, and the Nationals were playing the Diamondbacks that weekend - so we were also able to fit in a baseball game as well!

On the way up Guadalupe Peak

On Guadalupe Peak

The view from the top

The summit of Guadalupe Peak

Close encounter with a rattlesnake on the way down!

Hike #2 - Rattlesnake Canyon

Rattlesnake Canyon. Despite the blue skies, we turned around when we heard an approaching thunderstorm

Inside Carlsbad Cavern

 

Carlsbad Cavern

Hike #3: McKittrick Canyon

McKittrick Canyon

At the Nationals-Diamondbacks Game

District Champs!

Lakeside breezed through the District 4 American Legion bracket, going undefeated in three games by a combined 33-5 score. Jack closed out the second game, an 8-1 victory over #2 seed Sedro Wooley.

Leaving the field at Sedro Wooley

District 4 Champs!

Hike to Colchuck Lake

In early July we had no baseball activities on Sunday, so Mom, Dad, and Henry decided to take a big hike to Colchuck Lake. It's near Leavenworth, and is the entry to the Enchantments. It was a long and steep hike, 8 miles round trip with 2300 feet of elevation gain. Once you arrive, however, you have a stunning view of sharp-topped mountains and a deep blue lake!

Colchuck Lake

Henry taking a photo

Henry on a log bridge on the way up

We saw lots of fearless chipmunks

The woods opened up a few times for beautiful views

Baseball, Camping, Hiking, and More

Jack had a baseball tournament in Vancouver, Washington (about 2.5 hours south of us, close to the Oregon border) during the first weekend of July. All five of us went down for it, with Dad, Joseph, and Henry camping at Paradise Point State Park while Mom and Jack stayed at the team hotel. Once again, Lakeside came away as champions, scoring 6 runs in their last at-bat to win the championship game 11-7.

While Joseph had baseball, the camping contingent found lots to keep themselves occupied. We hiked up Beacon Rock, a large monolith on the Columbia River on the border of Washington and Oregon, noted by Lewis and Clark in their journey (it's about 100 miles from where they reached the ocean). We also had a chance to play frisbee golf and hike along the Lewis River.

Some photos from the weekend:

Our campsite

Hiking Beacon Rock

The view from Beacon Rock

Looking East from Beacon Rock

Lots of switchbacks on the way up!

Today is Canada Day - Happy 150th Birthday!

Henry in front of Beacon Rock after our climb

Frisbee Golf at the campground

Wenatchee Champs !

Lakeside Recovery 15U took home the championship for the Wenatchee Tournament on a hot, steamy weekend June 24-25, 2017. They win all four games, including a 16-0 game in which Jack pitches a complete game.

Final out - Jack pitching vs. West Valley

Champs!