Summer Solstice

The longest night of the year - the sun sets after 9pm far up the horizon. A very large deer also stopped by to nibble on bushes; the cats were entranced by this creature!

Fathers Day and Coast-to-Coast Baseball

John took advantage of some business trips to catch some baseball games and a visit with Joseph during his summer in Michigan!

The trip started out in Phoenix where the Mets were playing. It was 109 degrees when I landed, but the ballpark has a retractable roof which is closed so it can be air conditioned. I was able to get great tickets for two games, right behind home plate and then right behind the Mets dugout. Of course the Mets lost both games.

This was a homerun that Michael Conforto hit !

Pitching staff hanging out watching the game

Astrubal Cabrera returning to the dugout

Jake - still looks different without his long hair!

Then it was on to Detroit, with a side trip to Toronto for the weekend to see the Nats play the Blue Jays. The Nats also dropped both games. We got to see Max Scherzer pitch in the first game. The sun was shining brightly and we explored the stadium for the second game, including a trek up to the last row in the outfield!

The CN tower is right next to the stadium

The view from afar!

In addition to the games, Joseph and I also got a bit of a chance to explore around Toronto. We walked along the waterfront, went to the top of the CN Tower, and rented bikes. 

More Lakeside Games

Jack's Lakeside season has continued, with the team 11-14 through their first twenty-five games. Jack has pitched in several of them, but also has become the regular CF on the team and has been hitting in the 5 spot in the order, making good contact and driving in 8 runs while hitting an even .200. On the mound, he's pitched 23 innings, giving up 18 ER while walking 10 and striking out 21.

Sunday in Port Angeles

Jack had a double header on the Olympic Peninsula, and Henry decided to make a day of it as well to do a neat mountain bike trail nearby. So we drove out (MJ got to stay home!) early Sunday morning, deciding to take the land route through Tacoma rather than the ferry route. It was raining hard, but by the time we got there the rain had nearly stopped and they were able to get both games in.

Jack didn't pitch, however, he played CF for both games. He got two hits in the first game, including a key RBI single in the last inning to pull Lakeside within one run. He went 0-5 in the second game (though he did walk, steal a couple of bases, and score in the first inning) though he started two double-plays from the outfield - one on a runner trying to tag up who he threw out at third base, the other on a runner who was running on the pitch and caught off first when Jack caught the fly out.

Henry and Dad did the first three miles of the Olympic Adventure Trail, which involved some steep climbing, but was a nice ride through the forest. It would have had some very nice views but the mountains were socked in with clouds.

Lakeside split the doubleheader, losing the first game 9-8 but winning the second 14-11.

Resting at the clearing on the Olympic Adventure Trail

Henry with cloud-encased mountains

Resting after a long climb

#12 in Center Field

RBI Single in the 7th

Flyout in Game 2

"Quick, Turn the Camera to Video!" - fly ball to Jack while

I happened to be out there taking a picture