Monday began with an exciting day out at Frank White park. It was opening day and the girls were trading pins and having fun. There was a 'Fastest Catcher', 'Homerun Hitting', 'Fastest Girls' and 'Accurate Throwing' competitions going on all around.
Our homerun hitters were Shelby and Lindsey....Lindsey got 2 and was tied for the top until another team hit 4. Wow...great job girls for getting up there early and starting us off - we know it wasn't easy with the machine not adjusted yet. 
Then it was on to the catchers competition.....Alex - wild and crazy as she is...did a great job and hustled down the line and back with all that gear! 
The throwing competition proved to be harder than it looked with Justine and Sammie both out there throwing 3 balls positioned from 2nd base to the pitching mound. 
Scott, Alyvia and Matt all stood behind the plate trying to judge the wind. Justine ended with 1 through the target. 
Lastly it was the fastest girls competition for base running. Alyvia, Rochelle, Lexi and Jenna all ran hard, but came up a few seconds off pace for the team win! Way to hustle around the bases and NO ONE FELL!!! 
We marched in the opening ceremony along with the other 108 teams entered in this USSSA World Series, what a rush for the girls. There were thousands of girls and spectators there all watching them and cheering them on for victory this week. 
After the festivities, there was a beach party with pizza and swimming...
TUESDAY started pool play against the Mt. Zion NOIZ from just outside Chicago, IL. They came a long way and wanted to play ball. We jumped out to a lead and never looked back. The girls played well and were looking forward to the next game. 
Next up was an evening game against the Mac Attack...we faced them and beat them before, but they were a little more prepared and up for this game than we expected. This was a hard fought battle and we almost came back, only to give up runs in the final inning to lose the game. It was a tough loss. 
WEDNESDAY'S game was against the Heartland RAGE from Kentucky....another team that didn't come here to lose. Our girls were not on top of their game and needed to do some adjusting - it didn't get done and we lost that game.... 
THURSDAY was the 1st bracket game against the Nebraska Blue Diamonds from Lincoln, Nebraska. They were state champs up there and really were difficult to beat. We teeter tottered back and for with the lead and ended up winning by the score of 5-4. Way to hang in there Firebirds. 
FRIDAY was a game against the T-N-T Bronze. They were a top rated team and we hung with them. There were some errors on the field that cost us runs - and we left lots of runners on base. When you do that, it's tough to win. The T-N-T Bronze gave us the 1st loss in bracket play.
Down to the losers bracket we went.....but, we came up swinging against the Oklahoma Edge and won that game. Everyone wanted to play another one right away. When the Firebirds get on a roll.....it's hard to stop. We play better as time goes on - but it would have to wait until Saturday.
SATURDAY was an early game with some mixed up times due to rain. The girls were set to play the Central Iowa Sizzle....a smaller, but fundamentally sound team. Their pitcher was great at placing the ball on the outside of the plate. We had another couple of errors in both the outfield and infield. The girls made some fantastic plays and very smart running....but the effort came up short. Our 2007 World Series was over. 
The KS Firebirds had a great year and should have no regrets over their play....many time during the season we have felt like we were the 'little team that could'! While other teams may - at times - have better pitching, better hitting or better fielding.......WE HAVE THE BEST SPIRIT ALL OF THE TIME!!!!! Our girls come to play and play hard!
Thanks to our GREAT COACHES - Scott, Debby and Matt for a 2007 season well done! We wish all of the girls, fans, families and coaches some well-deserved happy time off and we will be out there next season hitting it hard - - - - LOOK OUT THE MYSTIX ARE COMING!!!
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