Hardball Heaven,
               I am very excited to enjoy this upcoming season. I have taken my baseball for granted but now I want to enjoy each and everyday.  So sorry if my negligence has in any way made me a bad owner, I seem to have my health issues under control. I appreciate the Heaven and all my friends here so let me work to make this experience the best it can be.
                                                                                                 Juan *BLIND SQUIRRELS*

Hardball Heaven Reunion II in St. Louis

Here are some pics from this summer's trip to St. Louis.  We stepped it up a notch this year by getting more time to visit and taking in a couple of games from arguably the best baseball town in the majors, St. Louis. 

Anyone recognize these faces?

 

This pic was during Friday night's game, which was excessively hot, but watching baseball with a Budweiser in hand couldn't have been better! 

 

 

 

 

Juan (Blind Squirrels) and Ed (Champs)

 

 

What a treat to have these two together on the same trip!  These guys are fun and have A LOT to say!
I do mean that in a good way fellas!

 

 

 

Ok, same type of picture as above, BUT from a different angle and includes Yours Truly.... Baseman!

 

 

 



 

Our view from Friday Night's game from the cathedral, Busch Stadium

 

 

I know, I know, where are the pics of the entire group?  Well, I wasn't able to get a pic of all of us at once, but we did do a group photo.  I believe Ed did and once he gets up and around to feeling better, I am sure he will share it with you all. 

 

 

Let's just say, this was a fantastic baseball weekend and St. Louis is a great town period.  Some of the events that happened......ahem Juan.......will live on in infamy during future trips for certain.  Let's just say that Juan and his crew experienced some nightmarish, but funnier than you can imagine  experiences on this trip.  We laughed our asses off!  Plus, getting to know Tommy (Hitters), Mike (Ageless), Randy (HH) and Ed (Champs, 1st meeting) even better than before was a great experience.  Others liked hearing our story that we were in the same fantasy league for quite some time and meeting up like we did. 

 

 

So, that leaves us for future meetings.  We all discussed trying to get together in Denver next year for a Rockies weekend.  Let me tell you that Coors Field is an excellent place to take in a game, but also the beauty of the state of Colorado is a cut above anywhere else we could meet up!  Hopefully, by meeting more on the western side of the country more could make it like maybe Timmy?  Chad is already here.  Plus, if you need a free B&B, there is the Porcher Palace!  Can't speak for Chad, but would have room here.  So, save, save, save to try and make a HH Reunion III happen.  You wouldn't regret it!

 

BASEMAN





Different Places Different Faces

It is no secret to the members of this league that one of my passions is watching my girls grow in life. Raissa, my youngest, has been a particular point of pride as she has provided me with countless "proud Dad" moments on the softball field. She just completed her junior year of college and this past Saturday, May 5th, she along with the rest of the Berea Mountaineer girls softball team finished runner-up in the conference tournament. A rare achievement for their program. Raissa is their lead-off hitter and had a good weekend with several hits, rbi's, and runs scored. Over the course of 6 games she played Catcher, 1B and RF. She is the primary catcher for the team but has established herself as a "plug and play" type player that can be slotted in several positions depending on the situation.

Raissa doing chemistry in the sand
between games

Raissa is also an honor student having made the Presidents list every semester she has been in college. She has learned time management and knows the value of using softball as a release from the study grind and vice-versa. She is active on campus and was invited to join Mortar Board (some type of honor society) as a Soph even though you must be a Junior to be selected. You see she had enough credits to be classified a Junior the last half of her Sophomore year.

Her goal in life is to work with animals in some capacity and is majoring in Biology. This summer she is doing an internship at Wildlife Images, a wildlife rehabilitation center,  in Grant Pass, Oregon. To say she is loving it would be an understatement.

Her are 2 recent pictures of her taken 48 hrs apart.


The first one was taken Saturday during the tournament in Danville, Ky.




The 2nd was taken Monday in Grant Pass, Or. at Wildlife Images. Feeding "Rascal" the racoon.


The "tough as nails" girl on the left morphs into the"kindhearted caregiver" on the right. Who wouldn't be a proud Dad of an individual such as this.

You guys on the left coast take care of her this next 8 weeks. You're a hell of lot closer to her than I am ... lol

Randy

Harball Heaven Reunion II

Meet Me in St. Louis

 

No, I am not talking about Judy Garland's 1944 theatrical production of "Meet Me in St. Louis", but am actually sending a precursor to what is hopefully our 2nd Hardball Heaven Reunion!  Just looking at the image of Busch Stadium above with the skyline and the Gateway Arch in the background has me rearing to go to St. Louis this summer! 

We need to make this happen again fellas and if you "Save the Date" now, WE CAN make this a reality!  I am proposing that we try to meet on the weekend of June 21-23.  Now this is just a proposal, but now is the time to start thinking about possibilities to get the most of us going.  I know summer schedules can get filled up, but if we commit now to a date, then the more likely people are to make it.  If this date is not possible, then let me know soon, so I can throw other dates out there.  Plus, it would be nice if we are able to spend a little more time having conversation then just at the game like we did in Cincinnati, two summers ago. 

I'm all in and ready to roll!  How about you!  I will also be trying to contact as many of you as I can personally to check your status if nothing is heard.  The Cincinnati trip was excellent, but this one can be even better!  I hope to hear from as many of you as possible!

So, Meet Me in St. Louis!!!

Mark

Ageless...... Priceless....

Many of us have commented from time to time that Hardball Heaven is special. Many times it is difficult to rationally define why that is.

Sometimes it is undeniably obvious.

Today I get a knock on the door and Mike (Ageless) is standing there with a box in his hand. By nature, Mike is a very reserved individual. He would much rather leave an anonymous package on your doorstep than to accept the accolades for a good deed.

He will not appreciate this post. 

Mike walks in the house with this box and hands it over to me and says "Here, you need to deal with this. You might want to check it first and make sure it is right"

At that he was ready to leave. I glanced in the package and couldn't believe my eyes! " Mike! What have you done?!"

He couldn't resist hesitating long enough to capture my reaction. His stoic expression was belied by the gleam in his eye and the glow of satisfaction that encompassed him. Then just as quickly as he came he was ready to go but not before he made sure there was no evidence of what he invested in this little project.

"Gotta go take care of a couple of projects" and off he went acting as though he was dropping off something he found abandoned at the side of the road.

This picture isn't great but I think you can get the jest of what he delivered today. 

Personalized trophies for the League Champions for 2003 to 2012 including Rick Hill awards for 2011 and 2012

Now my job is to get some addresses and do a little shipping and see that these get to their rightful owners. Be prepared to cooperate. I will not rest till all are delivered including Reds.

Why is Hardball Heaven so special?

People like Mike Jones............. that's why!!