MSI
The South Jersey Young Guns Navy team has been playing very well! We beat NJ Pride 8-1. Nolan Lister dominated for 4.2 innings with 7k's allowing 1 hit and 0 runs. Nolan also helped the offense with 2RBI's and a double.
Brady Williams blew it open with a bases loaded triple! Huge win over a well respected NJ team and rival. The next game was a blowout to go 2-0 and draw the 2 seed. The SJYG Navy team started the year 3-3 first half of the year and improved to 9-4 after Saturday (2nd half of the year).
Ryne Locke
I ran into one of my old players. He is now on the NJ Pride team. He said to me "Hey Coach Ryback! I remember when you had nothing. Doing lessons at the park and that facility in Moorestown we used to practice at. Now your business is booming!"
How cool is that? 14 year old kid remembers where I started and where I am now? Very very cool moment. I couldn't cry. That wouldn't be viewed as cool. Ryne made my whole weekend. It's amazing how the baseball world is connected. NJ Pride's 3B 1B and middle reliever CJ Lovelidge mentioned that I train his good friend! CJ is a heck of a player. Smart kid too. He was stealing my bunt sign! CJ did it all for his team to keep them in the game.
Psycho Coach
We were upset by a Delco team that strcitly plays MSI tourneys. Apparently their head coach is a part owner of MSI and assistant coach at Arcadia. He would scream out what pitch was coming the whole game trying to tip my signs. Sometimes right sometimes wrong. But really? It felt good when he guessed wrong and his player swung at missed. He gave up after my 3rd different sign system. The game was chippy. Their team talked smack, our team talked smacked. Close game, 1 - 2 run game the whole game. As we approach the time limit he tried to milk to clock. As soon as the inning was about to start, he then looks at his watch and calls time. That's is about as obvious as it gets which is supposed to be viewed as unsportsmanlike conduct. I disagree with that. I think it is great strategy especially as an underdog. I called him out on it, and here's where it gets funny…
"I would try to milk the clock too."
"I'm not wasting time. I have more ways of wasting time, do you want me to?"
"I mean it's obvious man I'm not dumb."
"How about you get your f****** a** back in your box!"
"Woah buddy, that escalated quickly. What supplements are you taking? Creatine? (he's clearly in great shape…maybe a little too great…)
"No I'm taking steroids. Left cheek Tuesday and right cheek on Thursday!"
"That's healthy."
That was it. Didn't look me in the eye end of the game hand shake. Classic. His assistant coaches were 24 year olds that played with him at Arcadia. Nice guys. Hunter and Hunter. We talked and enjoyed conversations about baseball in college and players we knew. They proceeded to tell me that the head coach was insane. Veins popping and in tears before some college games. I hope he's okay.