Homerun KING!

This weekend the Kotzebue Softball Association is hosting the Annual Youth tournament here in Kotzebue. There are 18 teams from the villages, yes, EIGHTEEN teams from the surrounding villages who have been flown in to participate this year.



The softball association partnered with Maniilaq Association's Diabetes Prevention, Tobacco Control and Healthy Lifestyles Departments to host this year. In order to be eligible to play, you must be at least 8 years old by June 1st and not older than 15 years old by June 1st. The ages are grouped into Minors (8 -11) and Majors (12-15).



Today will host the skills competition at 10:30 am. Skills including running the bases, pitching into a bucket, and throwing home from the outfield will be tested. Keep in mind, our "field" happens to be an old dump site filled in with gravel of varying sizes, this is the Arctic, we don't have grass!



So far, I've seen teams with different colored shirts wandering the town, buying pop and candy at AC and enjoying the "big city" feel of Kotzebue. All the visitors are shacking up at the school and Boys and Girls Club throughout the weekend.



Last night, Koy's team played the Buckland Majors. By far, the best play of the game was my SON's homerun!



He stood there, with grace and determination, and swung. Me, of course, I was snapping photos, embarassing him. I had laughed to my sisters that if he struck out, he'd be on restriction. No such demise for Koy Boy.



His hit flew, and flew and flew well over the head of the left fielder, who saw it coming, turned around and started booking it to the fence.

Koy continued running, rounded third, and the throw came in from the shortstop, who was cut-off for the outfield. He threw it home.

The pitcher caught it, Koy turned around and ran back to third. He threw it to the 3rd baseman. She caught it.

Koy turned around and started back home. She threw it. He caught it. Koy turned around.



He was stuck in a pickle. Very fitting, because up until he was about 9 or 10, he thought his middle name was Pickle. Koy Pickle was what he was called. Koy Pickle was caught in a pickle.

Finally, the catcher caught the ball, and threw it to the thirdbaseman, who dropped it. That was enough time for my lightening fast boy to run home and hurl himself toward the bag, head first!

Safe!



Homerun.



Just like his momma!