2007 County Champions!!!

2008 Whitfield County Early Bird Champions

Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos

Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net

2010 Game Schedule Now Available

Cubs Batting Leaders:Logan Hilton .532, Jackson Bell .500, Drew Guffey .486, TRey Hasty .412

Cubs Pitching Leaders: Logan Hilton 34 Innings -71 K's, Jackson Bell -29 innings 44 K's, Drew Guffey 21 Innings -37 K's,

Westside Cubs vs. Dug Gap Red Hots

Cubs 8 - Red Hots 3

The Red Hot game was our second "fun" game in a row and while our pitching wasn't up to its' usual superlative standard, the Cubs bats came alive. We made very few mistakes and made several outstanding plays in the field.

Drew Guffey made several outstanding plays at second base. Ethan Hayes knocked down a hard grounder at third base, which kept runners from advancing. Drew Guffey caught a hard grounder to second, and had the presence of mind to make the throw to second base to Blake Ownbey, who was in the right place, to get an out on the lead runner. This is unusual in 9 year old ball, since most players at this age would instinctively make the throw to first base. Logan Hilton make a good play on a come-backer to the mound and made a great throw to first base, where Jackson Bell made a great catch. Drew Guffey also made a great catch on a line drive to second base.

When the boys begin doing the things during games that we teach in practice, it is very rewarding for the kids, parents, and coaches. We must remember, these 9 year old boys are one step removed from coach pitch ball, but they played more like 12 year olds. While our practices may seem like a disorganized Chinese fire drill, at times, we begin each practice with two teaching objectives. The practice time on the Edwards Park field this week really helped, and the good things we saw in this game were a result of the practice on Thursday evening.

We had a lot of fathers involved in this practice this week, which was great, and the extra attention these boys got is beginning to show results during games. As these boys have matured during this season, they are beginning to understand that baseball is a team sport. If every player is in the proper position on each play, good things happen. The Thursday practice separated our infielders and outfields into two squads.

Outfielders spent the entire practice working on fly balls. I wish more parents had been there to see how each boy improved from the beginning of practice to the end. It looks as if Dakota Ware will be our "Ethan Neal" of next year. At the start of the fly ball session, Dakota ware could not catch fly balls, at all. At the end, he looked like Willie Mays Hayes catching every ball that came his way. We had a little fun with Ethan Neal (jokingly) telling him we may have found a replacement in centerfield. This gave Dakota a little confidence and inspired Ethan to work harder on his technique. Garrett Kelly and Chip Brown also showed remarkable improvement, as each boy went from struggling with fly balls to catching every fly ball that went in the air. We worked on having each outfielder catch the ball with two hands. Parents should work on this at home. Based on their improvement, I would expect every fly ball to the outfield to be caught by next year.

The infielders worked on game-type situations with two runners on the bases (conscripts, who were Garrett's cousins). The drills we worked on during infield practice were each used during the game. It may be hard for our parents to look back and remember their days in 9 year old baseball, but baseball is a game that is "learned" and these boys do not instinctively know what to do with the ball when it comes to them. It is important that each player be at each practice, since we always have a preplanned objective. Missing a practice affects the entire team.

One area where we sill need work is in sliding. If any of our parents, who work in the carpet industry, can get us a small piece of action-bac, we can use this for sliding practice.

Game Summary

As home team, it was Jackson Bell's turn in the rotation, and he led off the game as pitcher. We had obvious issues with the pitchers mound, and it affected both Jackson and Logan. Initially, I thought the pitchers plate was at 50 feet rather than 46 feet, but our pitchers were probably pitching out of a hole. It would be nice if our team could afford a portable pitchers mound (like Tunnel Hill uses). This gets the boys comfortable with pitching from a mound and places less stress on their young arms.

In looking at the scorecard, our pitching wasn't really as "off" as it seemed while we were watching the game.

Jackson Bell walked the first batter, and he scored on wild pitches, but Jackson actually faced only four batters in the first inning. Jackson walked 2 of four batters, but our infield play helped Jackson out of a jam. Drew Guffey caught a line drive out at second base and almost doubled the third base runner, when the runner left the base too early. We missed the throw to third and the runner scored on the missed catch. However, Drew had the presence of mind to look for the runner leaving early and Ethan was on the bag and prepared to catch the throw. Both players performed what was supposed to occur. As our skills catch up with our knowledge, we will be a great team. I think I would prefer seeing the boys make the right play and miss a catch here and there than never attempting to make the right play. Their third batter walked and was caught stealing on a great play at third base by Ethan Hayes. The final batter grounded out to Drew Guffey, at second base, who made a great catch and throw to Logan at first base.

Red Hots 1 Cubs 0

The Cubs were held scoreless in the first and the coaches thought we were in for a tough afternoon. Drew Guffey singled and advanced to third, but the inning ended with a strikeout, stranding Drew at third base. Logan Hilton grounded out to lead off the game and we had two strikeouts in the inning.

Red Hots 1 Cubs 0

The Red Hots sent six hitters to the plate in the second inning, but Jackson bell did a masterful job of getting his third strikeout of the inning with the bases loaded to keep the Red Hots from scoring any runs. Their first batter singled to lead off the inning and was followed by a walk. With no outs, two players on base and the Cubs trailing, Vance, Jackson's father, was probably thinking "Oh my gosh Michael, go get Jackson", but Jackson fought back, struck-out the next two batters, walked the third batter to load the bases, then struck out the final batter on three pitches to end the inning. Jackson struck-out three batters in the inning, but all of the credit for holding the Red Hots scoreless should be credited to Clay Phillips at catcher. Clay made numerous great plays by blocking wild pitches with his body, making great diving stabs at wide pitches, and hustling to the backstop to prevent runners from advancing. Clay continues to improve at catcher. Catching a 9 year old pitcher is the toughest job on the field and Clay is doing a superb job.

Red Hots 1 Cubs 0

In the Cubs second inning, we had three more strikeouts, but we scored on a double by Ethan Hayes (too bad Keith had other coaching responsibilities and was unable to see the game because Ethan is beginning to find his hitting stroke). Jackson Bell drove Ethan home and got an RBI on a hard hit single. Jackson was stranded on third base by two consecutive strike outs.

Ethan Hayes scored in the inning.

Cubs 1 Red Hots 1

The Red Hots scored one run in the third inning to take the lead. Jackson led off the inning by striking out the first batter and then walked the second batter. Drew and Blake combined to get the lead runner on a force out at second base with ground ball to Drew at second base. Both players were where they should have been and it was a beautiful play. The runner at first was caught stealing at second base to end the inning.

Red Hots 2 Cubs 1

With Jackson Bell trailing and due to come out of the game, as pitcher, at the top of the next inning, Jackson was on the hook for a loss, but the Cubs bats began to wake up and helped Jackson get the win. Logan Hilton led off the inning with a single, and was followed with a single by Blake Ownbey. These two base hits were followed by strike-outs, but Ethan Neal again came through in the clutch with a single to score both Logan and Blake. Ethan Hayes (who went 2 for 2) lined the ball to the outfield, but Ethan Neal was thrown out at the plate by a great throw and catch. The third base coach sent Ethan, but it was the right choice. Nine times out of ten, a 9 year old team does not make this play. While Ethan Neal was very upset to be tagged out, a player that follows the coaches instruction should be praised (which he was.) We explained to Ethan that getting tagged out out was our fault not his. Ethan is a great player and does everything we ask.

Both Logan Hilton and Blake Ownbey each scored in the inning.

Cubs 3 Red Hots 2

Logan Hilton came in to pitch in the 4th inning and after a shaky start, in walking the first batter and allowing him to advance to third on wild pitches, Logan struck out the next three batters to retire the side, hold the Red Hots scoreless, and maintain Jackson's lead.

Cubs 3 Red Hots 2

The fourth inning is always the deciding inning for the Cubs. The opposing team's top pitcher is usually taken out and the Cubs usually make mincemeat out of the #2 pitcher. Our players and parents must realize that even though the Cubs have two losses, the Cubs will see the opponents teams best pitcher in every game we play. If the Valley Point Team, the Dug Gap Rangers, and the Cubs each played the other two teams in the same week, both the Valley Point and and Dug Gap would probably throw their best pitcher at the Cubs and their second pitcher at the other team they play. No other team has a three pitcher (now four) pitcher rotation like the Cubs. The other teams know this. We probably get more respect from these teams than other teams with fewer losses. Our boys are playing great baseball. The high number of strikeouts that our boys have is because we are facing the best pitchers in the county. Once these teams run out of innings with their top pitcher, the Cubs usually "shell" the 2nd pitcher. This is what happened in the Cubs fourth. This is why it is always important for the game to last 4 innings.

Jackson Bell lead off the inning with a walk. Dakota Ware was hit by a pitch. Logan Hilton hit into an easy tag out of Dakota Ware on a ground ball to second base. Dakota had missed the steal sign on an earlier pitch and did not try to avoid the tag. Blake Ownbey doubled to score Logan and then Drew Guffey followed with his second Home run of the year. Drew Drove in Blake on the homer. Clay stepped up to the plate and slammed his second home run of the year on a two strike pitch. We thought Clay might connect tonight, because he lost both game balls on long foul balls in the game. He "just" missed both of these foul balls, but hit them out of sight. (By the way, Clay owes us for the two game balls that he hit out of sight and were lost). Clay's home run ended the inning with the home run because of the five-run rule.

Jackson Bell, Logan Hilton, Blake Ownbey, Drew Guffey, and Clay Phillips each scored in the inning.

Cubs 8 red Hots 2

Logan pitched the final inning, but I wish we had sent Ethan Hayes out for a little work. We were watching the time limit and with a six-run lead we were comfortably out in front. We started to pull Logan in the inning and send in Ethan but the coaches suggested we allow Logan to finish. Logan walked the first batter, who advanced to second on wild pitches. The second batter was retired on a come-backer to the mound and Jackson made a great catch at first base to get the out. The base-runner advanced to third on the play and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Logan walked the third batter and then struck out the final two batters to end the game.

Final Score Cubs 8 Red Hots 3

The boys hit well. It is always more fun to watch a game when the boys are hitting the ball. If we hit this well in each game and limit opponents runs to keep us close to the fourth inning, we will have the opportunity to win every game we play.

Cubs Batting

Logan Hilton 1 for 3 two runs scored

Blake Ownbey 2 for 3 two runs scored

Drew Guffey 2 for 3 with a Home Run and 1 run scored

Clay Phillips 1 for three with a home run and 1 run scored

Ethan Neal 1 for 2

Ethan Hayes 2 for 2 with a double, 1 run scored

Jackson Bell 1 for 1 with 1 run scored

Cubs Pitching

Jackson Bell Winning Pitcher

3 Innings

3 hits