Golf numbers are coming down! 55!

Golf

The High School girls played Scripps Ranch and lost, 'A' shot a 63.






Softball

Over the weekend, 'A' Played a double header in Softball, winning both games. she played catcher most of the time. and hit two long shots off the center field fence!




Back to Golf

She returned on Monday to play at Easlake, against Eastlake High School. The team score was 293-310. MMGS lost by 17, their closest so far. Two of the girls shot 76,75. so we can get those scores down.


'A' shot here best 9 hole score ever with w 55. She finally broke out of the 60's.

They have a meet tonight, at Torrey, and Thursday at Torrey.

Softball for the little one

"s" also played a double header on Sunday splitting those games against Rancho Bernardo. 'S' got up to bat 5 times never struck out, and got a triple 2 singles, grounded out, and a walk.
She made a great catch that was hit very hard, right at her head at 2nd base.

Stay tuned.

links for highschool golf

Here is a link for the MMHS golf team:

http://web.me.com/rvangrove/MM_Girls_08_/Welcome.html

Here also is a link to the CIF golf site, this is the site that is for the school district (East and West).
This tracks the other Schools in the district. We are in the Eastern League:

http://web.mac.com/rvangrove/Girls_City/Welcome_.html

Two matches Coronado and CCHS

"A" played as a Varsity against Coronado, and shot a 63. Which might not appear to be great, she is making strides every time out.
Of the 12 girls in the match Amber had the farthest drive off the number 1 tee, and she was the first to tee off.
Which meant everyone was watching.... no pressure.
















I could only see the number 1, 2, and 9 holes. Number 2 she par'd the 450yd par 5. she was on the green in 3, and two putted.















She bogied the 9th.

"A" was fortunate enough to play Fairbanks ranch which is an elite country club that is beautiful, and tough. She shot a 66. for her first time on the course. The team they played is a private school, in a well off neighborhood. The girls from that school have been playing since a young age, and have the best of everything from coaches to time on the course, to equipment. One kid was even seen getting satelite feeds, and a scientist was taking soil samples for her. I 've seen it a thousand times.
Thier number 1 golfer was teamed up in "A"'s foursome, and she shot a 37 on a par 36. WOW!
"A" is having a good time
The scores will start coming down. so stay tuned

Transition from Softball to Golf

Can you believe it, Amber is in High School? She is playing golf as a H.S. sport. She as already made the team, and is already Varsity!
She has practiced with the girls for about 4 weeks now. She had 2 practice rounds at Mission Bay, and one at Torrey pines South. ( The same course that the Us Open, and The Buik invitational were played on...PGA. )




















They only play 9 holes at a time, and her goal is to get as low as a 50. Right now she is around the low 60's.
I know there are many of you asking "hey, is there anything we can do to help?"
Well yes there is. Golf can challange your patience, and your wallet. So if you want to donate a bag, or a set of clubs, feel free. You can reply to : eratza@sbcglobal.net.


"A" is getting her drives to about 210-225 yards when she is hitting good.

















Her little sister hits the ball pretty well, and is getting into it as well.

Triple Crown Qualifier. We did it! (runner up)

Saturday consisted of a good day of play that saw Magic going 2-1, in pool play.
11-0 over Rebels
5-0 over the Ladyhawks
7-3 under the Utah Devastaion.
Sunday Magic Beat Ladyhawks 11-0.
Magic won a very close and hard fought battle with the Rowdies in a last inning win with time expired. Magic went into the last inning down 4-3. Ashley, Hali, Cassandra, and Amanda all got on base, but it was Amanda's hit with 2 outs, and the winning run on 3rd that synched the game.
Magic made it to the finals and lost to a very good team Whom hosted the tournament. The Mystic.
Congratulations Mystic.
We took second overall, qualifying us for the Triple Crown World series in Utah.
Way to go Magic!
















From top row left: Coach Eric, Amber R, Hali, Beth, Lauren, Ashley, Coach Dave
From middle row left: Amber U, Alexis, Cassandra
From bottom rom left: Mollie, Amanda and the plaque, and Marissa
Not pictured: Gabby and Laurel

2nd place in Western Nationals (AFA)

The travel team that Amber and I are on made a final appearance for the season.
We went to Barstow California for the "AFA WEstern Nationals 14 B" we advanced through pool play, by going 0-1-1. Which didn't look very good. In bracket play, we won our first and second game. We came back ther next day to loose a very close game with the Desert Blaze team. It was an international tie breaker, and that sent us to the losers bracket. We promptly beat the next team 17-5 and were sent to the finals against.... the Desert Blaze. We were on a roll and momentum was on our side. Then... A freak monsoonal rainstorm hit, postponing play, and flooding the fields. We were not allowed to play the final game, but by virtue of previous meeting, the advantage went to Desert Blaze, and the were given the championship, and we were relagated to 2nd.

4th of July parade

Sydneys Team decorated a few trucks, and rode in the parade, representing the Girls softball league. It was hot, and the girls were very patient.

The fair

Kim took the girls to the Fair at Del Mar.
















They ate lots of fried food, saw some livestock, and rode some poorly built, infrequently maintained rides.

Trip to Indiana

Well, "A" took her first solo flight across country from San Diego, to Chicago. Her Aunt and Uncle picked her up at O'Hare airport. She was only a little nervous about traveling alone. but she handled it great.
One of the first things she did was visit this big lake. "Dad, you can't even see the other side" "that would be lake Michigan"





















"A" expieranced many weather changes.
Hot, humid, cool. Luckily My sister has a pool, and they stayed cool and entertained:

















"A" really enjoyed her visit, and loved seeing her grandparents and cousins again.
Here she is with the Grandparents.














She also got very close to Olivia:














Look at all that Metal!

Fathers day in the hood

It was a little confusing for the kids, but "S" finally concieded that I was her father, and decided that her friends would have a sleepover, and Make me breakfast in the morning. They went through a dozen eggs, and a twelve stack of pancakes, and some watermelon.
It was very good, and I was very proud of them. Her friends "K" and "A" seated with Me. Guess who got to clean it up.....?

8th grade Dance

"A" is finishing up her last year of middle school. The 8th grade dance seems to be a pretty big deal. Her and her friends bought dresses, cleaned up and went to a dance on Saturday night. "A" looked very nice, and Dad was proud but scared. She will be a lovely young lady, but to me, right now, she is still a little girl. Here she is with Mom:












By herself,


















with her friends:









Her softball buddy:

Ramona: Made it to the Semi finals

The 10u Allstars went undefeated until the semi-finals where they lost to Imperial Beach. Sydney tried a great catch and tag play, and the runner hit her finger, and may have broken it. We are taking her to the doctor for x-rays. She did have a good hit or two on Saturday, but not on Sunday.






Amber is giving us updates from the East coast. She has already been to Boston, and is going to New York.

Sydneys first All-Star tournament

The girls had a very good weekend. They won there pool on Saturday going 2-0. and on Sunday, they won there first game in bracket play, sending them to the Championship game. Which they lost 2-1.
The girls did real well only giving up 4 runs in 4 games!

Sydney went 4 for 6 on Saturday, and went 2 for 5 on Sunday. Her Sacrifice Bunt in the final game brought in the only run of the game.


She was sad at first, and needed some consoling, but when she got the trophy, She brightened up.

Birthday for the older one

Our little girl ( 5'6") has been busy with softball, but is ready to go to the East coast, and turn 14. She almmost didn't make it to 14.












She may be skinny as a rail (sz 1)





But she has got some guns for arms:















She got a few things in preperation for her trip to the East coast. She got a handbag, some clothes, and some $$dough$$

Thank you for those who helped the cause. She is very happy to have some scratch ( for those of you who are urban vernacular challanged, that means money)
Here are some shots of the 14yr old.

Happy Birthday 'A' we love you.

Gas $ is getting bad

I filled up the other day for the first time in a while from an empty to full tank.
$84. Good lord!!!
I am wondering why I am one of the only ones on the freeway doing 65mph or less? People are still flying by me. I have also been taking the motorcycle a lot more. the bike gets about 45mpg. But I still run my errands in the truck because I have to pick up the kids, and haul gear. I would like to get an older Toyota truck, or an older Honda Civic crx, or maybe even one of those Mini Coopers. Have you seen those things? They are fast, good gas mileage, and there is just something attractive about them.
Here is a picture of a black one that I have had my eye on. I really need to take one for a test ride.

intoduced daughter to the Mountain

Starting back in 1989 I was introduced to another aspect of motorcycle racing. Canyon riding. The nearest Mountain was Palomar MTn. which produced some of the windiest rodes in Southern Cal. we used to go to the top riding single, with a bunch of friends, and sometimes double with Kim on the back.
It is also what got me aggressive enough to jump to the next stage which was roadracing on a closed circuit track.
I continued to ride up Palomar Mtn. but in the last 10 years I had only made about 4-5 trips. I decided it was time to show my youngest daughter what had inspired me. We loaded the bike in the back of the trunk, and took the freeway about 38 miles, and unloaded the bike, and hit the twisties. We rode up the tight side of the MTn. stopped at Mothers kitchin at the top and hung out with the boys.














We jumped back on the bike and drove to the observatory at anopther peak of the Mtn.
We took a quik tour, and a few pictures, and headed back down the back side of the Mountain. We made one or two stops along the way back to the trunk for a total of 80miles of riding. She was a great passanger, and I look forward to doing it again soon. Maybe her sister will go.















The 200-inch (5.1 m) Hale Telescope (f/3.3) was the world's largest effective telescope for 45 years (1948 - 1993). It is still a workhorse of modern astronomy. It is used nightly for a wide range of astronomical studies. On average the weather allows for at least some data collection about 290 nights a year.