Game Two: First Away Game, First Start, First Victory for #1

Emi gets his first U-12 start at right forward, and we get to wear our new jerseys for the first time. Emi is #1.

Eleven minutes in, Emi gets by one, then two, then three defenders, before the keeper applies pressure and Emi's centering pass is intercepted by defender #5. There are seven on a side at this level.

After this play, the Ardmore coach consoles the defender playing against Emilio: "Stay with it; if you get burned once, it probably won't happen a second time." Fortunately for Ardmore, Emi's pass to Sam comes up short.
At half-time, we're leading 3-2.

Early in the second half, Emi sneaks this lead pass to Angel past two defenders.

Three minutes later, Emi and Sam almost manage the give-and-go.
Final score: 9-3? That's what the refs had, but we thought 7-4 sounded right. All agreed that the Ada Energy won their first .

Meeting Mr. Potter

The complete Harry Potter series just arrived at our house.

Moving up from U-10 to U-12 at Age Nine: Game One

The schedule of games for Emilio's fall, U-10 soccer season was released two days before his first game, and when I compared it with Nina's and Pablo's schedule, I realized with dismay that all of Emi's games conflicted with all of Nina and Pablo's games. Emi's U-10 team plays six on a side, and though the plan was for them to have 8 players on two rosters, they only had 15 players total sign up, so instead of having a roster of 7 on one team and 8 on another, they put all fifteen players on the same team. Knowing that taking Emi off the team wouldn't hurt his team's viability, I asked for and was given the schedule for Ada's two U-12 teams. When I saw that the conflicts between their games and Nina's and Pablo's games were considerably reduced, I asked the league director if Emi could move up. He agreed. So this season, Emi will be playing on a bigger field, with 8 on a side, and some kids who are two years older than he is. Our new coach--who also coaches Nina's and Pablo's team--thinks he's ready for it. I agree.

Emi subbed in early at right forward.

Emi did a masterful job of fielding a forwarded ball with foot and chest before pushing it forward to his teammates on the left side of the field. He took what looks like a strong high elbow from the chasing defender, and the referee stopped game play momentarily because of the rough-play infraction.


Playing right mid in the second half, Emi hustles after the ball and delivers a perfectly-placed lead pass to his teammate, Angel.

Two minutes later, Emi gets past two defenders, hears Sam--our striker--calling for a pass, lifts his head to find him, and delivers a perfect crosser.Impressive!

Emi had a lot of throw-in opportunities. I didn't know he had the running pass in his arsenal, but he unleashed it with a vengeance when he needed to. This perfectly-placed throw-in to Sam almost produces a goal.

For a moment, I thought this left-footed, tight-quarters delivery of Sam's corner got into the net, but it bounced off the wrong side of the post. So close!

"Pass it, Emilio!" And he does--through traffic--very well.

This highlight starts with the roar of the hometown crowd, cheering Emilio for a defensive play not captured in this video. He then manages the slip the ball forward through two defenders to Sam, who delivers the equalizer. After the play, Emi's coach (Sam's dad), calls out to Emilio for making the play possible and gives him an enthusiastic "GOOD JOB!" and a thumbs up. You can also see Mari celebrating in the distance.

Though this play didn't lead to a shot-on-goal, it was one of my favorites of the game. Watch Emi's clever footwork send a defender wandering off in the wrong direction as Emi matriculates the ball up the right sideline.
I'm really excited about this season. Emi will practice with his team for the first time on Monday.

Enter: The Panama Witchhat

This was the first Champeens Fantasy Football draft hosted by Three Girls Can and the first in which Emi participated as an independent owner. The joint was tricked out.

Owners present: Melissa, Lisa (owner of the newly renamed "Mossy Stones"), Brian, Olivia (the returning champ), Scott (who experienced a flat tire on his hour drive up), and Me. Present via video live feed: Dusty. Drafting by proxy: Ada David and Cousin Dustin.

Emi and I brought crownies. I ate nausage balls and a tremendous amount of dip and talked to Scott about his daughter's first weeks in the Honors Program at Mississippi State (there was an active shooter on campus). 'Liv wore an OU shirt but denied that it was intended as a signal of the college she intends to enroll in two years from now. Dusty (in his 11th season in the league) complained that he didn't understand the off-season keeper rules which have been in place since at least 2007). Brian tolerated these complaints calmly, and I drafted Antonio Brown.

The Panama Witchhat's first draft:
Rookie #1: Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego.
Trade: #1 pick and #4 pick to World Workers United for their #2 and Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, New York Giants.
#2A: Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego.
#2B (acquired from World Workers United): Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland.
#3: Golden Tate, WR, Seattle.
#5: Eric Weddle, S, San Diego.
#6: Steve Smith, Sr., WR, Baltimore. Melissa gave him a mini-dinosaur for this one.
#7: Everson Griffin, DE, Minnesota.

The Witchhat came to the draft with these keepers: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh; Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinatti; Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina; James Laurinaitis, LB, St. Louis (drafted as rookie); Jelani Jenkins, LB, Miami; D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Indianapolis; Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets.

ECU Football Begins

Tonight's Thursday night special features a Tiger Showdown. Ouchita Baptist was an undefeated Great American Conference champion last year, and they start this year ranked 14th in the national polls.


ECU's English major quarterback Rocky Moore passes for 405 yards and almost leads our boys to a tie in the final minute of the game. We thought this pass was completed, but the ref disagreed.

Crackin' up

Click here for the video version with soundtrack.

Flying Swings

Before.

After.