Softball (30Apr06)

We finally got to avenge our last lost on Friday night. The last team to beat us was off the Essex and after blowing a 9 run lead we were anxious to get this gaem underway. They came out hot but we were hotter posting 8 in the first inning and not looking back. They made a run at the end but we were able to nip it in the bud. Our final inning our plethra of base hits racked up enough runs to go ahead 10 and end it on account of the mercy rule.





Season Record 20-3

Softball (19Apr06)

Walking to the softball fields the weather changed drastically in a matter of minutes. What was a nice sunny, fairly breezy day, briskly changed to a dark and windy over cast. Fearing rain, the umps got the first game under way and watched as rain clouds moved in. An inning before the first game was over the rain started, but sporadically for the time being. As ours started We were getting on and off showers. The first inning we got some runs, then they went three up, three down. The next inning ended in the same way. We seemed to be able to keep the ball down and out of the wind just enough to find the gaps and acquire a decent lead. By the time the fifth came around the wind and rain had picked up enough to the point where we were looking to end this one short and that's just what we did, keeping them scoreless and amassing 14 runs. With the 10 point mercy rule, and the fact that they didnt have too many base runners this one ended fairly quickly 14-0.



Season Record 14-3

Softball (17Apr06)

After a dissapointing weekend where rain ruined a scheduled tournament, a beautiful spring day set the stage for a nice doubleheader tonight. The first game was against on of the three USS Essex teams. The last team to beat us was their 'A' team and I guess this was their 'B' team. The first two innings were tied but we opened up in the third and scored 6 more runs. We basically won each inning after that only giving up 5 more runs in 4 innings and adding 8 more our self. I caught the rightfielder playing too far off the line and put one past him for a nice triple, after a throwing error I scored and capped off a 3 for 3 game. We won 14-7.

The second game was against the Essex's 'C' team. A nice grand slam from our shortstop opened the scoring in the first. We were held until the 4th where we opened up and scored 7 runs. They followed with 2 in the bottom and then we scored 5 in the 5th. Strong defense prevented another run and we ended this one early under the mercy rule. Total Force 16, Essex Snipes 2.


Season Record:13-3

General Update (17APR06)

Well a full year has come and gone and I still got two more..this first one has gone pretty fast and I got to see and do alot, but there is alot more that I need to accomplish while I'm here..

The Vet Clinic is thriving right now due to the abundance of surgical procedures (they usually bring in more money without alot of cost). So much so that we were able to hire a receptionist to cover for when I have errands to run on base or when my military requirements take precedence over the clinic.

This quarter I got back to school taking Fundamentals of Criminal Justice and Business Management. Both as electives but you never know I might like what I learn. These will help for the promotion that I am so close to getting....I missed the cutoff this month by one point, so hopefully next month they need one more sgt and I'll get picked up.

I was talking to one of the unpires after a softball game and he said they were short for umps and asked if I wanted to help out on the nights when I didnt play. It sounded interesting and they get paid pretty well, so I said I'd look into it. I gotta study this week and hopefully take the ASA certification next week.

Softball (12APR06)

A break in the rain gave us the chance to finally get on to the field Wednesday night. However a day of sun and wind wasnt enough to dry the fields out completely, so the outfield was extra squishy. And sure enough leave it to me to find out just HOW squishy. The first team we were supposed to play had to forfeit so theres an automatic win., the team that played before us stuck around and got to play us for the next one. A ball was launched my way and my first step was forward and I immediately regretted it as I realized it was going over my head. My left foot slipped forward as I tried to turn around and I pulled my hamstring, worse yet I fell on my fifth point of contact and the ball dropped behind me and three runs scored. Several other balls could of been made if it werent for the sloppy field. We gave up a 8 run lead and blew an important game. 13-9.

In the night cap our captain held me out of play due to the previous games injuries and had me bat as the extra hitter (League rules say you can play 10 and bat 11) I think this rule is for the older guys who cant track much down in the outfield, but anyways. We always play really well after a loss and tonight was no exception. We came out scoring 7 in the first, 10 in the third and 8 in the fourth to win a decisive battle 22-3.






Season Record 11-3

99 Islands Tour

Figuring we would hate ourselves if we didn't get out and enjoy the beautiful day, my friend Kim and I went to tour one of the more popular local attractions. Anybody who has seen 'The Last Samurai' with Tom Cruise has already seen these. In the opening scenes of the movie they have a fly-by at sunset showing several of the tiny islands. 99 Islands is just a name as there are many more than 99. I dont really know which ones they actually counted but there are several more. From Kashimae Pier we took the Pearl Queen around the area on the 50 minute tour. The boat weaved in and out of the sporadically placed islands. Last year I took a kayaking class and this area was where we learned how to maneuver in the kayak. Since we were forced to flip oursleves over I wasnt able to bring a camera, but on this tour I took several pictures of the beautiful landscape. As always you can find pictures on my WEBSITE . The day had originally been meant to get out and take pictures of the cherry blossoms before they fell off. For some reason there were about two trees way off in the distance on the whole tour. Bummer. Maybe next year though.

Cherry Blossoms

Its that time again. The most beautiful two-three weeks in Japan are among us and I cant find a single good day to go take pictures. The Cherry Blossom festival was last weekend but a combination of rain, wind and cold kept alot of people inside. And thats about the way its been since the flowers have been popping up on the trees. I'll try to go to Kashimae pier tommorow if the weather is nice and get some down there, but we'll see......

Softball (7APR06)

Another unseasonally cold night, against security and the team who gave us our first loss, the USS Patriot. Due to the security team being plagued with several injuries to their key players and the cold night disallowed them to even get a bse runner until the third inning but by that time we had plated 14 runs, one shy of the mercy rule. In the fourth we put four more and our defense held strong as we ended up shutting them out 18-0.

The next game we started out they way we left the other one, hot. We put up 7 in the first, 3 in the second and five in the third. The patriot, like security couldnt get a baserunner until the last inning when their catcher sent one up the middle, ruining our pitchers perfect game, oh well we were done in 20 minutes with a 15-0 mercy.


Season Record 9-2