Just a game....

Written by Bryan Green:

It's just little league baseball...or is it? I was fortunate enough to witness a truly inspirational performance by a bunch of 7 or 8 year olds this weekend as our Carlisle "B" All-stars challenged Middletown's "A" team; the team that sent them to the consolation bracket the morning before. And if you think it doesn't matter to the kids, I think you're wrong.

One look into the face of Carson Bowling when he accidentally ran into a tag, or Drew Green when he ran down a runner from his short-stop cutoff position only to fall just inches short of foiling a home run, or Brandon Saylor when he barely got caught trying to stretch a double into a triple; Each look at these boys trying desperately to hold back the tears despite 7 coaches and countless parents telling them what a great job they are doing tells a story of a young man who knows what it means to want something fiercely and to know how it feels to fall short. To want something so badly he can actually taste it...feel it...hold it. To feel the pain of failure. The sting of knowing that this mistake may just have cost his team the game. And what about Jeremy Melton? Down three with two outs in the top of the sixth and he slides...two feet short of second base...if you watched Jeremy crawl and scratch his way to fingertip safety...you didn't doubt that this wasn't just a game to him.

It wasn't just a little league game to Ryan Neal or Nick Smith. Not to Jordan Sweeney or Jon Shepherd either. Nope...to Kaleb Carl, Austin Terry, Logan Gross, Michael Couch, and the others it was much more than that. It was an opportunity to face an obstacle and overcome it. And, down seven runs in the first inning, it was an opportunity to realize when the Giant is just too big. It was a chance to quit. These boys had a choice...and to the last one...they faced that Giant and resounded...WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT.

If you think this was "just a game" to those twelve boys, then you are missing something. Something very big. And what about the parents? Are you one of those who believes that the parents who sit on the sidelines and yell are trying somehow to live vicariously through their child? That they are pushing young boys into forced competition thus depriving them of precious opportunities to have fun in a healthy learning enriched environment? If that's you, then you weren't watching our game. These parents are the greatest. Always positive, always encouraging, and always supportive. Oh there's the occasional outburst from a parent who wants his or her son to do better...but until you've been there...until you've seen enough to know how that interaction works...cast no aspersions. No. These are not your typical overzealous, overeager, loud-mouthed hard cases. These are parents who make it a pure joy to share this memory with. Did I mention we won the game...would it have mattered?

I said it Sunday, and I'll say it again...I know it's just a game...and little league at that...but if I could do, in my day to day affairs, what these little men did that day, there is nothing I couldn't accomplish. What I witnessed was heart. It was teamwork personified. It was unbridled desire. It was everything that is good about little league sports. What I witnessed, however seemingly insignificant, will forever be etched into the fabric that makes me who I am...and I am better for having been a part of it.

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Varsity Girls Soccer Team holds SAY Soccer Camp

The girls high school soccer team held their annual camp this week, under the direction of the Varsity girls soccer Coach Jenny Henry. With the Assistance of Heather Allison. Jessica Boy, 24 Members of the girls high school soccer team, and out of retirement for only this event, former boys and girls Varsity Coach Tim Middleton.

There were 37 campers from the SAY boys and girls soccer that ranged from Candy league on up to Kickers .

While the younger campers began learning the fundamentals of soccer with Coach Allison, the Middle group worked with Tim Middleton on the proper techniques for throw ins, offense and defense. Coach Henry along with Jessica Boy worked with the order more experienced campers brushing up on their skills and learning a few new strategies. There were lots of relays and games with all three groups helping with the skills of dribbling, passing, cuts, lunges and scissors.

The girls soccer team was of course spread out among the groups helping and having as much fun as the campers. These girls never cease to amaze me with the patience they have with the younger campers. They are indeed good roll models for these kids.

This years soccer camp was a success. The SAY soccer season begins on August 22. Players should be hearing from their coaches in the next couple of weeks to begin conditioning and practices. The High School Girls first game is August 24 at Xenia Christian.

Photo and article submitted by Tangie Taylor

If you would like to purchase any of the photos please contact us carlisledaily@gmail.com

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Spring Season Awards

Dave Lamb of the Dayton Daily News just released his 2009 Lamber Awards and Carlisle earned two of his end of the season awards.

The first award mentioned in the article was given to Shortstop of the Carlisle Varsity Baseball Team, Alex Leach for "Best Future" Award. Lamb mentions Leach, "as one having a good baseball IQ and that is only going to get better as he gets stronger."

Alex led the Indians this past Spring in six offensive categories as their lead off hitter and was a phenomenal shortstop all season long.

The second award mentioned in the article was to the Carlisle Varsity Tennis team for the "Biggest Surprise" Award. This is a very deserveable award for the Tennis team. They are the only team that has not won a league championship in the past. They were so close the past few years with some tremendous tennis squads. And this year they set out their season with graduating six seniors off their fantastic squad of last year. This year was a remarkable year for the Tennis team and they truly earned their right for this award!! Simply amazing!!

To read all of the Lamber Awards visit Dave Lamb's article by clicking here.

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Carlisle All Stars winning all over Miami Valley

The Carlisle All Stars are winning all over Miami Valley. The Carlisle Coach Pitch Red Team won the Springboro 4th of July tourney a few weeks ago. This past weekend the Carlisle Coach Pitch Red and Gray won the Monroe tournament in their divisions.

The Red Team breezed through Forest Park in the finals and the Gray team won a nailbiter against Middletown. The Gray team had to come from the losers bracket and beat Middletown twice on Sunday. They beat Middletown in the first game very easily but Middletown would not go down without a fight. Middletown jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning but the Gray team with a ton of heart rallied back and it was a back and forth battle to the very end.

Great job to both teams for their big wins this weekend.

In Valley View, the 9-10 year old Kid Pitch All Star Team earned 1st place in Valley View, as well. More details of their weekend coming tomorrow.

The T-Ball All Star Team battled in three games this past weekend but was ousted from the tourney early.

Carlisle Daily will post pictures of all this past weekends teams as early as tomorrow!!

GREAT JOB TEAMS!!

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Trash talk intensifying on Yappi.com about Carlisle Football

Image via Wikipedia

Yappi.com is a blog for High School sports and it seems that things are getting heated up with chats and discussion back and forth about the upcoming football season for the Carlisle Indians.

The Indians are hopeful returning many players from last year to make a solid run to the playoffs. The offensive line is back and is sure to stabilize the offense for the Indians.

Here is some of the talk on Yappi.com

Carlisle should have a blow out season, meaning they will blow out every team they will play. It should be an exciting year

You just opened a whole can of worms LOL, I hope the indians blow every one out. But do not make outragous predictions because I do not want to be eating my words at the end of the season if it does not go as well as I hope. All in all it looks like a great team Carlisle Indians PLAYOFF BOUND.

You will not be disappointed, and you wont be eating your words. The Indians will go far, many people underestimate just how good they really are. For a Div lV High School football team.. they are huge.

just because they are huge doesnt mean they will win games!

As you can see things are heating up for the upcoming season. We will begin our coverage next week as the Indians have been training in the offseason very hard to accomplish some incredible goals!!

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Carlisle High School Boys Soccer Team is now recruiting !!!

Image via Wikipedia

The CHS Boys Soccer Team is now looking to add members to its squad! If you or someone you know is interested, contact head coach Brian Ruzzo at (937) 855-1132 or through email at brianruzzo@gmail.com.

GOOD LUCK INDIANS in your 2009 season!

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Carlisle Coach Pitch All Stars

The Carlisle Coach Pitch All Stars have been in action all summer. The Red team has placed second in our home tournament in Carlisle, Ohio losing to Miamisburg's squad. The Gray team lost two games to two very strong "A" teams from Franklin and Kettering.

The Red team went on the road to Springboro, July 4th weekend, and earned 1st place in the holiday tournament.

Both Red and Gray teams were in action this past weekend on the road at the Madison All Star tournament. The Gray team run ruled two area "B" teams Middletown and Monroe last Friday night. On Saturday, the Gray team lost a heartbreaker to Monroe "A" team 9-4. On Sunday, they lost to Franklin in their final game going 2-2 in the tourney.

The Red team again went to new heights and won their second straight tourney barely being challenged by beating a Hunter All Star team from Franklin, Ohio 11-0 in the final game.

Both teams have been improving and reaching new goals each and every game. Congratulations to the boys for great efforts this summer. The Gray team will be in Monroe this weekend for a double elimination tourney.

Carlisle Daily is looking for any parent of the All Star teams from the T-Ball team to the Kid Pitch teams to submit news and photos for posting in the Kid's Sports section.

If you would like to purchase any pictures seen in slideshow contact us at carlisledaily@gmail.com

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2009 Carlisle Boys Basketball Camp Slideshow

Here is a look at the three day camp put on by the Carlisle Varsity Boys Basketball Coaches in June. The camp had about 30 campers and was a fun and exciting three days for the players. Pictures taken by Tangie Taylor. If you would like to purchase any pictures please contact us at carlisledaily@gmail.com

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Carlisle's Katie Taylor enjoys AAU play

Katie Taylor is a soon to be JH student, going into the sixth grade this year at Carlisle Middle School. Katie is an excellent student and has an absolute love for the game of basketball.

For the past three years Katie has worked hard perfecting her talent on the hardwood. And that talent is BASKETBALL. She has played with Carlisle girls traveling basketball team for the last three years and will be playing with the Carlisle sixth grade traveling team this year.

But outside of the walls of Carlisle she has taken on a different challenge. Katie tried out for the Dayton Viper AAU 6th grade girls traveling basketball team. Katie made the team with a knack for defense, relentless hustle and passion for the game. She has worked hard trying to improve her overall game. But Katie, truly excels at the defensive side of the floor helping the Viper Club be very successful in many tournaments by usually guarding the best player on the opponent's team.

The Dayton Vipers played a total of 10 tournaments this past year at various colleges and high schools around the state. The took 1st place in the championship game at the Adidas/Wendy's Nationals in Franklin,Ohio.

They placed 2nd in the GBA Falcon Classic at Bowling Green University in Bowling Green, Ohio and GBA Capital Classic at Capital University.

The team took 3rd place at the GBA Lady Hornet Classic at Monroe H.S. and OYB Kings Island Memorial Madness.

The team has gone on to qualify for the GBA Nationals in Cincinnati. Ohio.

We wish Katie and the Vipers much luck at Nationals!

Pictures taken by Dennis Cox of Madison.

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