Ladera Pirates Update

Game 1 MVP: Garrison Thornton

2010-03-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Co-Captain and shortstop Garrison Thornton turned in a stellar performance as he lit up the Dodgers for three hits (a single, double and a triple). In addition, he scored three runs on offense and made two outs on defense. Great job Garrison...keep it up!

Pirates Suffer Heartbreaking Loss In Season Opener

2010-03-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

In our first game of the season, the Pirates got off to a slow start. Jeremiah Fountain was given the nod to start against the upstart Dodgers. Jeremiah showed command in the first inning for it to be his first start of the year. However, the defense let him down as we gave up 5 runs in the second inning. Ryan "A-1" Aubrey came on in relief in the third and showed great character. All in all, our pitching performances were adequate for this time of the season. On offense, after getting off to a slow start, the Pirates ended up with 10 hits. While we out hit the Dodgers, we gave up too many runs on walks to the Dodger and didn't come alive on offense until it was too late. It must be noted that there were several key performances: A-1 had 2 hits and was very aggressive on the base path; Brandon Chatman had a key double that sparked our offense; Garrison Thornton ended up with three hits and three runs scored; Jack Lockhart had two hits and scored a run; Dylan Kemp got his first hit in the season opener; and Justin Leone played well on defense at third base.

Final Score: Dodgers 14, Pirates 9

2010 Spring Training Begins for Pirates

2010-02-22T20:28:00.001-08:00

The Pirates are pleased to announce the start of spring training for the upcoming season. In addition to the returning players, we are excited to be joined by some new faces. Our new players include:

Jeremiah Fountain
Matthew Mayes
Chase Joyner
Dylan Kemp

Coaches for this season include:
Mike Thornton (Manager)
Larry Chatman (Assistant Coach)
Dia Fountain (Assistant Coach)
Ron Thornton (Assistant Coach)

We look forward to an fun-filled and competitive season as we welcome these new players to our family.

Game 15 MVP: Jack Lockhart

2009-05-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

Our catcher/utility player, Jack Lockhart, came up big in his assingment in game 15 as catcher. Even though he has had limited experience behind the plate this year, he performed like a seasoned veteran and we are all proud of his tenacity and skill displayed on Saturday. In addition to his consistent offense performance (2 hits and 1 run scored), Jack caught a file tip off one of the Cadinals bats recording an out at a crucial time in the game (first time this was done all year). Congrats Jack!

Game 15 Recap: Pirates fall to Cardinals in nail-biter

2009-05-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

Game 15 found the Pirates once again facing the first place Cardinals. After our last meeting, the Pirates discovered a quiet confidence that had them currently on a 4-game win streak. The beginning of the game did not dissapoint even the most diehard little league fan, as both teams were held scoreless in the first two innings behind solid pitching and good defense. After the Cardinals struck first blood by scoring one run in the 3rd inning, the Pirates followed by taking a 2-1 lead off an RBI triple by Garrison Thornton. The two teams traded runs over the next couple innings and the Pirates found themselves in the lead late into the fifth inning. However, a couple of untimely errors saw the Cardinals take a one run lead into the last inning. Even though our bats were lively throughout the game, once the Cardinals brought in their closer, we could not must another run and lost the game by one run. All in all, the Pirates must be commended for their effort and determination to compete.

Final Score: Cardinals 6, Pirates 5

Game 13 MVP: Brandon Chatman

2009-05-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

Our second baseman and co-captain, Brandon Chatman, had a career game against the Athletics as he turned in solid numbers that included 2 hits, a stolen base and a run scored. He was a key part of our offensive attack that included 7 hits. Congratulations, Brandon!

Game 13 Recap: Pirates become a legitimate threat

2009-05-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

Game 13 pitted our beloved Pirates againts our nemesis the Athletics. In a game that was supposed to be a lock for the Athletics, the Pirates remembered the sour taste left in their mouths after the last defeat. The first inning saw both team trade runs and the game was tied at 2-2. After the A's put up two more runs in the next two innings, the Pirates waited for their turn to strike. Going into the fourth inning, the A's had been held at bay and allowed only 4 runs behind solid pitching from Garrison Thornton. That's when the Pirates offense came alive and quickly began a 4-run rally that saw Jordan Lee and Ryan Mitchell get their first hits of the season. Timely hits by Ryan "A1" Aubrey and Miles Nosike were bookends for walks received by Cole McNeill, Jack Lockhart, Ryan "Row" Wimsatt and Justin Leone. The game ended with Matthew Hamilton coming in as the closer and retiring all six batters he faced. This was an especially sweet win since it marked our lowest run total we have allowed this season.

Final Score: Pirates 6, Athletics 4

Game 12 Recap: Cellar-dwellers No More

2009-05-04T10:56:00.001-07:00

Game 12 pitted our beloved Pirates against the 3rd place Dodgers. In a game we were not supposed to win, we got out to an early 3-2 lead in the first inning. The Pirates brought their bats, as they reached a season high 8 hits in the game. A few key errors on defense in the 2nd and third innings resulted in us falling behind 10-4. Although Ryan "Ro" Wimsatt turned in a decent performance on the mound, reliever Brandon Chatman pitched 2 shut out innings which allowed the Pirates to resist falling further behind. In the bottom of the fifth, with the game on the line and down 10-4, the umpire notified me that due to time constraints it would be the last inning played. If we did not accumulate 7 runs, we would suffer a loss. I chose not to tell the players in fear that they may become tense and struggle to execute the plan. Thats when we began our methodical rally and ultimate comback. Justin Leone and Jack Lockhart led off the inning with singles. Ryan "A1" Aubrey followed that with his second hit of the game and drove in the first run of our 7 run inning. After walks to Ryan Mitchell, Perrin Williams and Kyle Cropper, Brandon Chatman delivered a 2 run single which put us down only 2 runs. The game ended as Jordan Lee was hit by a pitch, Garrison Thornton came through with an RBI single and Matthew Hamilton was walked to bring in the game-winning run. Although it may have not been pretty, the courage and determination displayed by our kids made it one of the best and most gratifying wins of the year. The surprising win over the 3rd place Dodgers catapulted us to 4th place in the standings and finds us in serious contention for the 4th seed in the tournament.

Final Score: Pirates 11, Dodgers 10

Game 11 Co-MVP: Justin Leone

2009-04-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Centerfielder, Justin Leone outdid himself with his terrific defensive play in Sunday's game against the Red Sox. At a time when we needed it most, Justin came up with a game-saving catch that secured the Pirates 10-9 vistory over the Red Sox. Thank you Justin for contributing to another win.

Game 11 Co-MVP: Matthew Hamilton

2009-04-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Our shortstop and co-captain comes up big again. In a game that ended up close, it was great to have Matthew put up big numbers. Matthew had 2 triples along with four RBI's. He led an offensive charge that saw the Pirates put up 10 runs on the Red Sox. Congratulations Matthew.

Game 11 Recap: Pirates get their swagger back

2009-04-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

In a game that could possible launch us back into the playoff hunt, the Pirates wasted no time getting on the board against the Red Sox. The Pirates jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Behind the "lights out" pitching of Garrison Thornton, the Pirates staved off the Red Sox for three innings until they finally got into the game. With a new batting lineup, the Pirates showed discipline at the plate and made the Red Sox use four pitchers as we dismantled their rotation behind the heavy hitting of slugger Matthew Hamilton who had 2 triples. Other key hits came from Brandon Chatman, Jack Lockhart and Ryan "A1" Aubrey. As the game wore on, the Pirates became somewhat complacent and let the Red Sox back in the game and even threatened to tie in the last inning. However, their rally was shut down when Justin Leone made a game-saving catch to end the game in the final inning. This was a total team effort that saw everyone make a contribution either on offense or defense.

Game 10 Recap: Pirates become own worst enemy

2009-04-26T11:33:00.001-07:00

In a game that was to test the teams consistency, the Pirates fumbled at an attempt to prove to the league we were serious contenders. Game 10 started with the Pirates holding the mighty first place Tigers in check, limiting them to only 3 runs in the first three innings. This was attributed to a solid debut start for pitcher Ryan "Row" Wimsatt. His performance was highlighted by 6 strikeouts, 4 runs allowed on 5 hits. The Pirates struggled on offense all day and only mustered 2 hits (singles by Garrison Thornton and Matthew Hamilton). In the fourth inning the Tigers blew the game wide open as Brandon Chatman struggled with his control in relief of "Row". However, picthing could not be to blame as the Pirates made several errors on routine plays in the field. Overall, it was a step back for the Pirates in the first game of the competitive second half.

Final Scor: Tigers 19, Pirates 2

Midseason Leaders: Batting Average

2009-04-21T19:59:00.001-07:00

Matthew Hamilton .411

Ryan "A1" Aubrey .400

Justin Leone .333

Midseason Leaders: On Base Percentage

2009-04-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

Jordan Lee .615

Justin Leone .600

Cole McNeill .588

Midseason Leaders: Walks

2009-04-21T19:53:00.001-07:00

Brandon Chatman 10

Cole McNeill 10

Jordan Lee 8

Midseason Leaders: Stolen Bases

2009-04-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Brandon Chatman 11

Cole McNeill 7

Ryan "A1" Aubrey 6

Midseason Leaders: Total RBI's

2009-04-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

Matthew Hamilton 8

Garrison Thornton 5

Brandon Chatman 3

Justin Leone 3

Miles Nosike 3

Midseason Leaders: Total Hits

2009-04-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

Matthew Hamilton 7

Justin Leone 3

Miles Nosike 3

Garrison Thornton 3

2009 Midseason Leaders to be posted soon...

2009-04-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

We're all set to post the midseason leaders for vaious categories (hits, walks, stolen bases, etc.). Stay tuned...

Game 9 MVP: "GT" takes Top Honors

2009-04-18T22:26:00.000-07:00

First baseman and co-captain, Garrison Thornton, secured the MVP honors with an outstanding offensive performance highlighted by three hits (a single, double and a triple). He also pitched a solid game and had multiple put outs at first base.

Big Milestone for Cropper

2009-04-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Righfielder Kyle Cropper got his first hit today and reached base safely three times, while scoring one run. His aggressive base running and overall hustle was a key factor in our success as a team today. Kyle is a vital part of our lineup and we would life to recognize him for this achievement.

Game 9 Recap: Pirates Knock Cardinals from Perch

2009-04-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

With Game 9 marking the halfway point in the season, the Pirates wasted no time sending a message to the division leading Cardinals. The Pirates displayed an effort today we had not seen to this point. We jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Although the Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the first, the Pirates followed up with a "mercy" inning in the second. Every time the Cardinals threatened, the Pirates stumped their rally and responded at the plate. Sound pitching performances by Garrison Thornton and Matthew Hamilton limited the potent Cardinals to 5 hits. In the final inning with the game tied, Jordan Lee's aggressive base running puit the Pirates up by 1. However, the Cardinals escaped a loss by tying the game in the bottom of the last inning. The Pirates ultimately play spoiler, because the tie knocks the Cardinals from their first place tie with the Tigers.

Final Score: Pirates 8, Cardinals 8

Show Me The Money!!!

2009-04-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

Our shortstop, Martthew Hamilton, won the challenge and the MVP honors in Game 8. I offered $5 to any player who got the first hit in the game. Not only did Matthew get the first hit, he played a brilliant game which included 2 hits along with 4 strikeouts in his game saving pitching performance. This was a total team effort, but we would like to honor Matthew for his standout performance. Congratulations!

Game 8 Recap: Pirates win a thriller!

2009-04-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

Game 8 against the Giants started like any other, but ended with our heads held high in victory. Brandon Chatman started on the mound and after giving up 5 runs in the first, he settled down and found his groove in the 2nd and 3rd innings. The Pirates approached the plate in this game with an agressive discipline seen only in one other game. We made the opposing pitchers work hard and when they threw strikes, we jumped on the pitches. Many batters reached base as we tied our season high run total with 10. On defense, even though we made a couple of errors, we shut the Giants when we needed to. With the game on the line, relief pitcher Matthew Hamilton shut down 6 of the 7 batters he faced. All in all , it was once again a team effort and every player deserved credit in this win.

Final score: Pirates 10, giants 9

Player Profile (4 of 13): Jack Lockhart

2009-04-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Name: Jack Lockhart

Nickname: Jake

Age: 8

D.O.B: April 1, 2000

Place of Birth: Montrose, Colorado

Uniform #: 7

Position: 2nd Base

Height: 4 ft. 5in.

Weight: 70 lbs.

Interest/Hobbies: Jack's favorite baseball positions are pitcher and catcher. Jack is a black diamond skier and has been skiing since he was 3. He also loves to snowboard and since moving to California, is now a great surfer, too.

Favorite Book/Movie: Jack's favorite book and movie is Treasure Island.

Favorite Baseball Player: Babe Ruth, Ryan Howard, Manny Ramirez and Matt Holliday

Special Talent: Jack has been playing baseball since age 2.

Game 7 Recap: Pirates shoot themselves in foot

2009-04-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Oneca again the Pirates faced their greatest opponent...themselves. Game 7 against the A's proved to be another heartbreaker. However, this game started different with the Pirates drawing first blood as they showed discipline at the plate in the first inning. We took the pitcher out of his comfort zone and forced him to walk the bases loaded and susequently walk in the only 2 runs we scored. After our initial at bat it was downhill from there. The Pirates couldn't do anything right on defense. We let a masterful pitching performance by Garrison Thornton go wasted as we made error after error (of the 14 runs allowed, 8 were due to error on our part). It was also a disapointing day at the plate. While several Pirates batters did manage to reach base, no one could muster a single hit. At this point in the season the Pirates need to get something going if they plan to contend for the 4th place slot and enter tournament play.

Final Score: A's 14, Pirates 2

Mini Camp Update

2009-04-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

I want to personally thank all of the players and parents who have been attending our mini camp this week. We have had a lot of fun and will continue to do so. For those of you that haven't attended, it's not too late. Camp will continue through this Friday from 2-5 up at the field. The intention of this camp is to create more confidence in our players by working on individual drills and breaking into scrimmages. This allows each player to get more reps in a game-like setting. Most of the players are getting more comfortable hitting live pitching and some players are getting some work at pitching.

Camp Attendees:
Ryan "A1" Aubrey
Kyle Cropper
Brandon Chatman
Matthew Hamilton
Jack Lockhart
Cole McNeill
Jordan Lee
Garrison Thornton
Mile Nosike
Ryan Mitchell

Game 6 Recap: Pirates fail to follow up on big win

2009-04-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

As with most youg athletes, the hardest thing to do is play consistently. Game 6 started with a reminder that you can't hold onto the past. While many Pirates players were still reeling from the win over the Red Sox, we didn't realize that the game at hand must be played. The Pirates were flat from the beginning. After giving up 5 runs to the Dodgers in the first inning, the second inning followed as more of the same. In fact, we only recorded four outs in the game on defense. The Dodgers are a veteran team with agressive play and it was just too much for our young team. However, we learned a valuable lesson in that every game must be played with ferocity and the desire to win. The Pirates are a proud bunch and will no doubt bounce back from this dissapointing loss.

Fianl Score: Dodgers 13, Pirates 0

Pirates Conduct Mini Camp

2009-04-03T13:05:00.001-07:00

Since most of our players will be out of school for Spring Break the week of April 6-10, the Pirates will be conducting mini camp every day next week to help our players specifically improve on weak areas they may have. I will personally be at the field every day next week from 2-5. Any player who desires to get one-on-one instruction is encouraged to attend. If enough players attend, we will do team drills. However, this camp will be designed to address individual development in the following areas:

Hitting & Bunting
Fielding
Baserunning
Throwing
Catching
Pitching

Game 5 MVP: The Entire Pirates Team

2009-04-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Pirates first win took a total team effort and in rcognition of everyone's contribution, the entire team was named MVP!

Game 5 Recap: Pirates Capture First Win!!!

2009-04-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

For the first time this season, the Pirates displayed confidence in their victory over the Red Sox. Even though they got down early in the game, their resilience and determination helped them pull out a close game in the end. The difference for the Pirates in this game was their aggressiveness and discipline at the plate coupled with minimal errors in the field. Every Pirates player reached base safely at least once. This allowed us to advance runners on the base path and ultimately score our highest run total this season (10). In the field, the Pirates were ready for everything the Red Sox threw at them. Several outs were recorded in the field and relieved the burden on our pitchers. It must also be noted that Brandon Chatman and Ryan "Row" Wimsatt pitched an outstanding game and were instrumental in helping us put the Red Sox away. Other notable highlights were multiple put outs by Matthew Hamilton at shortstop; aggressive play by our catcher Ryan Mitchell; a 2 RBI double by Justin Leone; and gutsy baserunning by Jack Lockhart. All in all, it was a team effort that decided the game.

Final Score: Pirates 10, Red Sox 9

Picture Day Set for Saturday!

2009-04-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

The Pirates are scheduled to take our team & individual photos this Saturday, April 4th at 1:20 p.m. Please arrive promptly at 1:00 p.m. in order to prepare for the shoot. Late arrivals are subject to not be included in the team photo.

Player Profile (3 of 13): Kyle Cropper

2009-04-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

Name: Kyle Cropper

Age: 9

Date of Birth: 12/16/99

Place of Birth: Los Angeles

Uniform #: 12

Position: Right Field

Height: 4ft. 8in.

Weight: 69 lbs.

Interests/Hobbies: Building Legos, Chess, drawing, great math student and enjoys playing outside with friends.

Favorite Book/Movie: Star Wars: Clone Wars Movie, Star Wars Movie

Favorite Baseball Player: Jackie Robinson

Utility player turns 9!

2009-04-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Pirates want to send a Happy Birthday shoutout to Jack Lockhart. Jack plays many positions with our team and allows us great flexibility in our roster. Thanks Jack!

Game 4 Recap: It looks all too familiar

2009-03-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

The Pirates faced another to notch team in game four when they met the Tigers. It started like the previous two games with multiple runners reaching base and scoring early in the game. The Pirates showed heart, but still had problems making routine plays and hitting the ball. Although some players were asked to play positions they weren't comfortable with, some of the errors were preventable if we had kept our heads in the game and were ready to make a play when called on. All in all, this continues to be a learning experience for a young team that shows a lot of potential.

Shortstop turns 10!

2009-03-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to our fearless shortstop and co-captain, Matthew Hamilton.

Game 4 MVP: Matthew Hamilton

2009-03-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

With 2 hits (single, triple) Matthew ignited a late inning rally that inspired the Pirates and gave them encouragement in knowing they are never out of a game.

Game 3 MVP: Ryan Mitchell

2009-03-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

In game 3 against the heavily favored Cardinals, we witnessed the birth of a catcher in Ryan Mitchell. After getting off to a slow start behind the plate, Ryan went on to turn in a terrific defensive performance. Anyone wha has played the catcher position knows its not easy. Ryan has taken on the challenge and answered our question as to who will be our catcher. The defensive highlight of the game was when Ryan threw out a baserunner trying to steal second. The toughness he is developing behind the plate is sure to pay dividends in our future games. Congrats Ryan!

Gaem 3 Recap: Pirates starting to compete

2009-03-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

In our first evening game, the Pirates showed great improvement as they challenged the first place Cardinals in a 5 inning game that tested their mental toughness and physical ability. The game started with Brandon Chatman making his first start on the mound. Although he gave up 5 runs in the first inning, he showed composure and poise throughout the game. The fact that the Cardinals were hitting the ball indicates the Brandon was consistently hitting the strike zone. Ryan "Ro" Wimsatt followed Brandon in relief and claimed his spot as a permanent fixture in the starting rotation by posting 5 strikeouts. The Pirates once again dug themselves an early hole by getting off to a slow start both offensively and defensively. A total of 11 strikeouts for the Pirates batters proved that we still need work at the plate. However, with solid hits from Matthew Hamilton, Miles Nosike and Jack Lockhart the Pirates are proving every game that they will be a competitive force. In addition, the Pirates displayed an aggressiveness on the base path we have not seen before. Justin Leone was a terror on the base bath, stealing 3 bases and scoring one run. On defense, the Pirates committed 8 errors, but showed flashes of greatness as evidenced by a successful rundown, multiple put outs, and terrific play behind the plate by Ryan Mitchell. Overall, the Pirates took another step in the right direction. Although the game will still go down in the books as a loss, I hardly think anyone on this team is holding their head down after the effort turned in last night.

Final Score: Cardinals 12, Pirates 2

Number 3 Turns 9!

2009-03-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Our third baseman and co-captain, Brandon Chatman, just turned 9. The team wishes you a Happy Birthday, Brandon!

Pirates Release New Pratice Schedule

2009-03-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

In order to accomodate the season schedule and still allow every team field time, the league has reassigned field availabilty. Our new practice times will be as follows:

Mondays & Wednesdays 5:00 - 7:00
On Mondays we will only have the infield from 5:00 - 6:00 so please be prompt
On Wednesdays we will pratice on the grassy knoll or in the outfield

Please mark your schedules.

Game 2 MVP: Ryan "A1" Aubrey

2009-03-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

"A1" started today's game by being notified at the last minute that he would be playing shortstop. He immediately jumped in and owned the position. With his confidence beaming, he quickly ignited the Pirates stat book by scoring the first "HIT" of the season. This spark subsequently led to a mild offensive explosion by the Pirates late in the game. Let's hope this is the spark that ignites our season. Thanks "A1" for lighting a spark and getting us going!

Game 2 Recap: Pirates make a game of it

2009-03-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

The game started as a close competition between two of the youngest and least experienced teams in the division. The Giants got on the board first as Garrison walked in the first run of the game. From there, the Giants took advantage of the Pirates inability to make routine plays. The more they put the ball in play, the more errors we committed. Although some questioned the calls of the umpire, we dug ourselves a huge hole by not being agressive at the plate. In the fourth inning, the Pirates were able to start a rally thanks to Cole McNeill reaching base after being hit by a pitch. His aggressive baserunning led to a four run rally that was sustained by hits from Matthew Hamilton, Miles Nosike and Ryan "Row" Wimsatt. In the end, we kept the game close but loss by 3.

Final Score: Giants 11, Pirates 8

Game on!

2009-03-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

I just received confirmation that the field is dry and the game is on. However, it is expected to be cold and windy, so dress appropriately. See you at 1:15!

Game 1 Stats

2009-03-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Game 1 MVP: Garrison Thornton

2009-03-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

Game 1 MVP is awarded to Garrison Thornton. A masterfull outing on the mound coupled with solid defensive play secures the nod. In a game where few things went right, we witnessed the possible birth of a pitcher as Garrison pitched his first game and put up some impressive stat lines.

Innings Pitched: 2

Batters Faced: 12

Balls: 13

Strikes:26

Strikeouts: 6

Game 1 Recap: It wasn't pretty, but we learned who we are

2009-03-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

In the season opener, the Pirates showed great poise early on behind the solid pitching of Garrison Thornton. However, as the game went on, experience won out as the Althletics were able to capitalize on a series of hits that gave them baserunners. With runners in scoring position, the A's methodically put the ball in play and the Pirates were not able to muster any type of offense. There were bright spots in the game for the Pirates. Justin Leone proved why he will be a force in centerfield this year with his physical prowess and mental awareness. Matthew Hamilton displayed a veteran cunning behind the plate and kept baserunners honest. A respectable outing by Ryan "Row" Wimsatt showed mental toughness for a first-time pitcher. All in all, we learned a lot as a team and realize the steps we must take to advance to the next level of competition.

Final Score: Athletics 12, Pirates 0

Game Time Posted

2009-03-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

Date: March 21, 2009
Opponent: Althletics
Location: Minor Field (first field)
Player Arrival: 2:45 pm
First Pitch: 3:30 pm

We are the tome team (3rd base side)

GO PIRATES!!!

Game time Decision for Brandon Chatman

2009-03-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

One of our captains, Brandon Chatman, fell ill yesterday as he claimed of flu-like symptoms. He will likely be out for today's game. While we would enjoy Brandon's contributions to the game, we wish him a speedy recovery so he main join us in our future battles.

Pirates Release Lineup for Season Opener

2009-03-21T08:56:00.001-07:00

With the season opener just hours away, I have been working tirelessly on a lineup that will be beneficial to both our team and each player respectively. Well, here it is. I hope everyone enjoys the game.

Jordan Lee 1B/OF

Cole McNeill 2B/P

Garrison Thornton P/1B

Matthew Hamilton SS/C

Miles Nosike OF

"Row" Wimsatt OF/P

"Ai" Aubrey 3B/2B/OF

Justin Leone OF/3B

Ryan Mitchell C/ss/2B

Jack Lockhart 2B/SS/C

Perrin Williams OF

Kyle Cropper OF

SCHEDULED PITCHERS:

Garrison Thornton

"Row" Wimsatt

Matthew Hamilton

"A1" Aubrey

Cole McNeill

David McNeill Infield/First Base Coach

Larry Chatman Outfield/Third Base Coach

Omar Wimsatt Pitchers/Bench Coach

Mike Thornton Manager/Scorekeeper

Scouting Report: Red Sox vs Giants

2009-03-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to catch the Red Sox/Giants game last night and was surprised to see that both teams played a competitive game. The Red Sox are a veteran team with agressive play while the Giants are a start up team like us. Here's a breakdown of what I saw.

Giants

Defense: Solid play. They made the plays they should have. Vulnerable to stealing. Weak at the catcher position as far as awareness.

Offense: Disciplined at the plate, however not very agressive. They rely mostly on walks. I cant remember any hits by this team.

Pitching: Consistent, yet threw too many balls for an experienced team like the Red Sox.

Strength: 3rd baseman

Overall Grade: C

Red Sox

Defense: This is one of the better fielding and throwing teams in the division. Experienced and they know what to do with the ball. They can break down if runners get on and cause distractions.

Offense: Aggressive at the plate. First six hitters swing bat very well and will put it in play. After the sixth hitter, they will try to bunt because these hitters are not disciplined att he plate.

Pitching: Solid pitching. Accurate with velocity.

Strength: Great at the catcher position.

Overall Grade: B+

Player Profile (1 of 13): Ryan Mitchell

2009-03-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

Name: Ryan Mitchell

Nickname: Ryan the Lion

Age: 8

D.O.B: August 6, 2000

Height: 4 ft. 6 in.

Weight: 74 lbs.

Uniform #: 4

Ryan is a California native and was born in our state's capitol, Sacramento. He loves to read (current favs are comic books by Captain Underpants), bike ride at the beach and travel (especially by airplane). He collects model airplanes and hates to clean his room.

After Game Snack Rotation Released

2009-03-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

This post will serve as follow up to the email sent on Tuesday regarding the after game snack rotation. Each parent will be required to bring snacks for the players after the game on their respective date. While I recommend that snacks should not be extravagant or expensive, the following is a list of items that are frequently provided for snacks: drinks, chips/crackers, Subway sandwiches/hot dogs, cookies, energy bars, pizza, etc.

Ryan Aubrey Saturday, March 21
Brandon Chatman Sunday, March 22
Kyle Cropper Thursday, March, 26
Matthew Hamilton Sunday, March 29
Jordan Lee Thursday, April 2
Justin Leone Sunday, April 5
Jack Lockhart Saturday, April 11
Cole McNeill Thursday, April 16
Ryan Mitchell Saturday, April 18
Miles Nosike Friday, April 24
Garrison Thornton Sunday, April 26
Perrin Williams Saturday, May 2
Ryan Wimsatt Saturday, May 9
Ryan Aubrey Thursday, May 14
Brandon Chatman Saturday, May 16
Kyle Cropper Tuesday, May 26
Matthew Hamilton Friday, May 29
Garrison Thornton Saturday, May 30

Player Profiles Coming...

2009-03-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

In an effort to get to know one another, we will be posting player profiles with a brief bio one at a time. Look for the first one coming later today. Enjoy...

Pirates Name Team Captains

2009-03-18T09:59:00.001-07:00

As the season opener draws near, the Pirates announce their team captains. Please join me in recognizing (inset picture left to right) Garrison Thornton, Matthew Hamilton & Brandon Chatman. We will look to them for leadership on and off the field. Their responsibilities include leading the team in the Little League Pledge before the game and leading by example. When you see them, please congratulate them.

Opening Day 2009

2009-03-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

Opening day was a blast! It was great to see all our players in uniform for the first time. I'm really excited about the upcoming season. We have a lot of talented players who are eager to learn how to play the game of baseball. Thanks to Dick's Sporting Goods for supplying the managers with an equipment bag full of useful items. For those who stayed to watch the minor division games (escpecially the Cardinals vs Red Sox), you know what level of competition we will be facing this year. However, I am confident our boys will compete for a playoff spot.

Ladera Pirates Go Live!

2009-03-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Ladera Pirates have officially launched their very own blog! With all that's going on in the league this year, I feel this is a great tool for us to rally around our kids and keep everyone informed of the latest news and updates on our team. Please feel free to add your comments whenever you feel by going to laderapirates.blogspot.com.