7-on-7 (@ Monmouth College)
Monmouth-Roseville, United, B-PC/A
7/20/10
After moving in a new refridgerator (tougher than expected), I headed back up north to Monmouth College for a 7-on-7. In talking with B-PC/A Spartans head coach John McCormick earlier in the day, I learned of the small gathering of three teams.
As I drove into Monmouth, Sunnylane Field was completely empty. Either the morning rains washed it out, or it was at another field. Since United is just outside of Monmouth, I thought maybe they were the host. The other thought was Monmouth College. I texted coach McCormick as I drove into town, and he replied that it was at the college.
There were quite a few fans in attendance, and I parked behind the press box at April Zorn Memorial Stadium, and walked down to the field. With my notepad in hand, Monmouth-Roseville assistant coach Bob Reedy approached me. When I wear a hat, many people don't recognize me, so I made sure he knew who I was. He did recognize me. He mentioned that they had a lot more people at a different event last week, and there were many people that made there way in and out tonight.
A lot of coaches are not too fond of 7-on-7's, and use them sparingly, if at all. They are really not that benficial for many reasons, especially if you don't pass the ball. The three teams tonight are not typical passing teams, though that could change.
Monmouth-Roseville may be opening up the passing game more often in 2010, and second-year starting quarterback Drew Cole has an arm. He can lay loose a deep ball every now and then. Even more rare, is to hear a United Red Storm team coached by Tim Engebretson to throw the ball. They did just that last year with QB Zach Steele. He graduated, but United has some targets that can catch. At 6'6" (approx.), Josh Winston towers over his defenders.
Titans head coach Curt Crum was running the event, and was giving the teams situations after every play (2 & 10, or 3rd & 5, or 4th & 1, etc.). His Titans were facing United when I arrived. The next game featured B-PC/A against United. While the Spartans were on defense, I talked with coach McCormick, and he showed me his playbook. When he pulled it out of his bag he says, "Check out my girly-looking playbook." It was a blue (with different designs) photo album. He had his plays on notecards inside, and said he has it in case of rain.
I took some video (available on the home page at www.ihssn.net), and stayed for most of the night. I left midway through the final game (Monmouth-Roseville vs. B-PC/A).
American Legion Baseball 3rd Division Tournament (@ Black Hawk College)
Galesburg vs. Eldred
(7/21/10)
One of my weaknesses in life is the inability to navigate places. The more I travel to different fields, gyms, and cities, I learn where I am going. Armed with a Garmin, my traveling is made much easier. Then, there are the times in my trips where Garmin fails me, or I fail Garmin.
Case in point: My stubborness led me to believe I could find the baseball diamond at Black Hawk College in Moline. Growing up just a half hour from the Quad Cities, I knew the area really well, and came so close to enrolling at the Black Hawk Quad Cities campus out of high school. Of course I could find the baseball diamond.
I talked with Galesburg American Legion coach Steve Cheesman in the days leading up to the 3rd division tournament, and asked where the field was. He said it was right on the campus, so I thought, no problem.
Fortunately, I left work a little early to give me ample time to get situated, talk with the coaches, and all of the normal pre-broadcast stuff. As I drove onto the Black Hawk College campus, I saw no lights, and nothing that resembled a baseball diamond. I looked, looked, and looked again.
Before GPS, gas stations were my Garmin. Get lost? There's a gas station, and if the cashier doesn't know where to direct you, there always seems to be a customer that will go out of their way to help.
Let me digress. A few years ago I bought a collection of Sporting News magazines from the 1970s and 1980s. There were over 500 back issues in all, and I only paid $20 for all of them. The catch...I had to drive six hours to Mt. Carmel, Illinois to pick them up. It was a fun day trip, and my girlfriend at the time was none too pleased. Not sure if it was driving 12 hours round trip, or bringing home an SUV full of "sports magazines". The Ebay seller that I bought them from lived just south of town, and I had trouble locating the road he directed me to. I stopped at a gas station in the town, and the cashier had no idea. There was a fireman in the gas station that wanted to help out, and at first seemed a little bewildered on the address I gave him. He headed out to his truck and grabbed a phone book. After some detective work, he found where I needed to go. By the way, I did get the magazines, and still have around 300 of them if anyone is interested, LOL.
Anyway, where was I? Ahh yes, Moline. I drove up to the Avenue of the Cities (23rd Avenue for traditionalists, like me), and stopped at the Git 'n Go. There was an East Moline police officer in the parking lot, getting ready to walk inside the gas station. I stopped her and asked if she could tell me where the Black Hawk baseball diamond was. She gave me some directions, but also advised that there was some construction in that area, so there may be some detours. As she was talking, I couldn't help but notice her name badge on her uniform. It was Officer Tackabury, and the whole time she was talking I was thinking about the Police Academy movies (Officer Tacklebury).
Now, I was on my way, and knew exactly where to go...maybe. I drove back to the college campus, and drove down the road that I thought was closed (construction). Hey, there is the diamond....and there is nobody on it! Uh oh!
I took a quick cruise, and had no idea where I was going now. I pulled into one of the parking lots and called coach Cheesman. He gave me some directions, and I must not have been listening very well. I went back to the spot I had driven by three previous times. I took a left, and it didn't take me to a diamond. I then drove down some windy roads through parking lots, and still found nothing. As I pulled near one of the buildings, a security officer was outside on a break. I asked him, and he said, "It might be that diamond right there." The diamond he spoke of was a few hundred feet away, but completely obstructed by a large hill. Finally!
As I walked up, I met up with coach Cheesman, and Eldred coach Jeff Krumwiede walked over and the teams did the coin toss. The toss was done in some tall grass, and the coin landed tails. Galesburg won the toss, and would be the home team for the game. Krumwiede was not too happy about the coin toss being held in the grass.
Eldred was hosting their first Legion team in at least 50 years, but in talking with Krumwiede, he mentioned that they really aren't sure, it might be the first Legion team EVER. Eldred is located eight miles from Carrollton, where Krumwiede is the head boy's basketball coach, and the team draws most of its players from that school. In years past, Carrollton players have suited up for Greenfield or Calhoun Legion teams. The Coonrod's played for the Jerseyville Jr. Legion last year.
Eldred jumped out early, to a 7-0 lead. Galesburg rallied from being down late in two different games in the District tournament last week, including trailing Quincy 6-0 in their semifinal game. I always said with this Galesburg team, it's not if...it's when. Today, if reared it's ugly head, and when never showed up. It was almost a rally for Galesburg, chipping back to make it 8-4 in the bottom of the 9th inning. In fact, Galesburg had the bases loaded with one out, but failed to score.
It was a hot and humid day, and you could tell from the players on the field. It really hit both Eldred pitchers, as you could tell at times how fatigued they were, by hunching over at times, and taking as much time as possible in later innings. In the press box, there was no sun, but the heat and lack of breeze made it very uncomfortable. The flies were also bad, and bit.
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