Alpena 11 - East Jordan 8 9 & 10 baseball semi-final

A really good baseball game played in Lewiston tonight in the 9&10 year old division, this Semi-Final game between Alpena and East Jordan, won by Alpena 11-8. It was really a back-n-forth game with plenty of emotion, and with a couple of runs scored by Alpena in the top of the 6th, made the spread 3-runs, which was to much for EJ to gain in the bottom of the 6th. Alpena will now advance to the final on Saturday at 1PM in Lewiston again, as they will take on Gaylord, who beat West Branch, 6-4, in the earlier game. I believe this is the first time Gaylord has had a baseball team in a district final since 1998, according to the head umpire, Dave Kuznicki, when Gaylord had a 11-12 year old team in the district final. Alpena and Gaylord will face each other for the right to move on to the state tourney in Cheboygan next week. If all goes well, I will be at this district final, plus the 10-11 year old final in Lewiston as well on Saturday.

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This Alpena runner is out at the plate.


#7 of EJ is congratulated after hitting a 2-run home-run in the second inning.


Alpena player scoops up this ground ball.


EJ 3rd baseman with a strong throw to first base.

RD Sports Photo will be gone this weekend

This weekend has a planned camping trip to the Up on the schedule, so I will be missing some big key games for District 8 over the weekend, including the 11-12 baseball, and Junior baseball championship games that will take place in Gaylord on Sunday. Shoot, I wish I was camping closer so I could attend and photograph those games, plus the 9-10 baseball Quarters from Lewiston.

I will capture the 11-2 baseball semi's from Gaylord on Wednesday the 8th, for sure the Grayling vs TC West game at 6:30, and with any luck if I can make it on time, the Alpena vs Charlevoix contest. After that, I will have to pick it up again next week.

Recent games posted on RD Sports Photo from the past couple of days are the Gaylord vs Charlevoix 9&10 baseball game; Grayling vs Boyne City 9&10 and TC West vs TC East 9&10 that were played in Grayling Monday night; Gaylord vs Hillman 9&10 baseball and Hillman vs Alpena Junior softball which were played in Gaylord on Tuesday night.

I will be covering the Junior girls state softball tournament that will be hosted by District 8, in Grayling, starting the 24th of July, so tons of softball games in the future. Come August, I will be ready for a break, then will come my favorite sport....football.

Robbie Hansen hits two home runs for Gaylord

The Gaylord 9&10 baseball team, won their pool play with their 3rd straight victory tonight, over Hillman 12-2 in 4 or 5 innings I believe. The highlight of the game was provided by Robbie Hansen, who hit 2 homeruns over the left field fence to propel the Gaylord offense, along with a 2-RBI double, so he gets to dominate the blog tonight :) You will not find a nicer kid who takes such an accomplishment in stride. The Gaylord team will now move onto the Quarterfinals on Saturday, which I think will be played in Lewiston. RD Sports will not be there, as a camping trip to the UP is on the schedule.....and I hate camping. I wish my son Lucas would have made the team, then I could have had an excuse not to go camping LOL, but I am sad I will not be able to see the game. Hopefully if they can pull out a win, I can catch them again in the semi's, a place Gaylord has not been in the districts in awhile.

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The two home run balls.


The players greet Robbie after the 2nd home run.


The second home run ended up high on the bank behind the left field fence.


Robbie sends the baseball away for his second home run of the game.

Gaylord vs Charlevoix 9-10 year old baseball

The 9-10 year old baseball pool play in Gaylord opened up, with the first game between East Jordan & Hillman, which I believe EJ won 1-0, and the late game, which I photographed, between Gaylord and Charlevoix, won by Gaylord 10-4. In the second or 3rd inning, Gaylord was able to score in the area of 8 runs to take control of this game. Really a great crowd for these 9 & 10 year old players. I hated the sun being out though, which may sound crazy after our week of Fall like weather, but with a later game, the sun creates to many shawdows at this field in Gaylord, and limits the areas I can photograph from. No games tomorrow, so the sun can shine all day LOL.

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Check out that bubble gum!!


Catching the 3rd out.


Nice form on the groundball.


A nice backhanded play by this Charlevoix 3rd baseman.

Roscommon vs Gaylord 11-12 year old baseball

Gaylord took on Roscommon today in the 11-12 year old bracket of pool play, with the winner advancing to Alpena for the Quarterfinals, and the loser done for the season. It was Roscommon who moved on with a 8-5 win over Gaylord, as they scored 3 run's in the first inning to take control of the game, and punch their ticket to the Quarters. Tomorrow will start the 9-10 year old bracket of pool play in Gaylord, and I will be at the late game for sure with Gaylord and Charlevoix, and if I am lucky to get their early, to photograph Hillman vs East Jordan as well.

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A nice game pitching from this Roscommon player.


The Roscommon 3rd baseman gobbles up this ground ball.


Casey Gilling of Gaylord is ready at shortstop.

Traverse City vs Gaylord 11-12 year old District 8 baseball

Another night in Gaylord, for the 11-12 year old baseball group, this time a game between Travese City and Gaylord, with TC coming out on top in 4-innings by a 13-2 score. The win gives TC 2 wins in the 4-team round-robin, and will send them into the upcoming quarterfinals, while Gaylord with a 1-1 record, will face Roscommon with a 1-1 record this Thursday for the right to move on as well. Traverse City has a very impressive team, and should be considered one of the favorites to win District 8 and move onto the State Finals for Major League baseball.


Nice form from this TC player as he rockets the ball off of the bat.


Taylor Swanson, the Gaylord catcher, is ready to throw to first after capturing this bunt attempt by Traverse City.


Gaylord's Dominic LaJoie gets the force out on the sliding TC player at second base.

Gaylord vs Houghton Lake 11-12 year old baseball

More District 8 11-12 year old baseball action, this time from the Gaylord area, with this game between Gaylord and Houghton Lake, won by Gaylord, 10-7. Really, a well played game by both teams, as they both hit and showed some nice glove work in this tournament game. It also included a huge, 3-run home run, from a Houghton Lake player who sent the baseball well beyond the outfield wall, giving HL their only lead of the game at 4-2. Surprised at the number of photos I took at this game, but may be because my son is an alternate on the Gaylord team, so I was just clicking away a bunch at Gaylord players. More action from Gaylord tomorrow, if the weather holds, with I believe Gaylord and Traverse City as the laste game, and HL and Roscommon in the early game, but I do not have my schedule in fromt of me as I type this.

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A close play at first as Dominac LaJoie of Gaylord just makes it back to the bag.


Great hustle from this Houghton Lake player on his way to 3rd base.


This Gaylord player is ready in left field.