Mondells in Minneapolis: Connor 1st Travel Baseball Tourney & Fully in the Soccer Swing for Maci!

Weekdays:

Monday - Back to the office and in the swing of things or me. Connor had a baseball game vs Bloomington and I was able to see some on Game Changer before running Maci to practice at 615p. I then joined in on the fun and watched most of the game until I had to leave early and get Maci again. Another nice W for our boys!!
Tuesday - Connor’s team had to face the other Minnetonka team which had them in their heads since Minnetonka has been their only loss. Unfortunately Connor was put in to pitch and Inning 1 was a great 2 run only and then we got that back when hitting. However, inning 2 happened and our fielding had like some odd 8+ errors. Connor only walked 1 so he was throwing great but the fielding did not help him - unfortunately this seems to be a theme of our team and something they have to work on. Connor was super defeated after pitching but did well in the field and hitting but they took their 2nd loss on the season and need to learn from this. We went with the Cody’s for Honey Mackie ice cream after and some hang time with his buddy Cal Cody (also basketball friend) helped to shake off the loss. I was probably more irritated than anyone else b/c we are at that age where you can tell some kids really try and want to get better and others are still in dandelion picking phase even if they did try out for travel. Oh well, onward!
Wednesday - Clint had a conference in town but that meant I worked from home to be there when Connor gets off the bus. I had a busy work day and then Maci had a later soccer practice that night.
Thursday - Busy day!! I started the morning with taking Connor to get 4 teeth extracted. Ugh that was a bit of a dramatic experience for him, poor guy. Then the school secretary gave me some judgemental eyes when I brought him in for the day but he wanted to do the book fair and the dentist said he is fine. Clint had another day of conferences so I hustled home to get my work day rolling. Clint got home a little earlier this day and then I was off to pick up Maci from school and get her to her 6p game out in St Paul. It was a crazy windy game vs Manitou - Maci was playing aggressive and had a collision with the goalie. This was the first “real injury” moment I have had in her career, she walked of but wasn’t putting much weight on the ankle. However, she is tough and her coach worked with her on it before letting her back in come the 2nd half. We had a nice 4-0 victory! While we were out at this, Connor had baseball practice with Clint.

Long day at school!

Dad’s Ice Routine

Friday:

Started my day with an annual mammogram. All clear!
Then I got a few things done around the house before heading out in the rain to meet up with my former leader Judy and my peers for a belated retirement luncheon!
Once home, Connor got off the bus and headed to his buddy from basketball, Oscar’s house, where they went to the local community center to play some basketball.
I picked him up shortly around dinner time, ran home for our own pizza dinner and Clint was up at Medina Ballroom for a “safety meeting” with the baseball coaches ahead of their first weekend tournament.

Saturday:

What a day for the Mondell Kids!!!
Game 1 for Connor was against Chisago Lakes at 8a - it was a cold icky not nice spring weekend in general. We should easily beat this team but let them back in. We were up 1 run and had to get them out to win the game. Connor was sent in to pitch. I was pacing for my buddy but he has ice veins!!! Strike out!!!! Then a great rip to 3rd base but that is another weapon Brooks who scooped it up and wiped it to our stud 1st baseman Oliver. Out 2!!! Come on C Man!!! The next batter hit a dribbler to Connor who took a deep breathe, scooped it up and softly lobed it to Oliver - OUT 3!!!! The entire team was chanting Connor’s name and the coach gave him the game ball. . . It was adorable!!!
Maci and I then went to Target to warm up and pick up some coffees for parents.
We were back in time for game 2 vs the Milers who are a strong team and ended up going on to win it all. . . We served them only their 2nd loss of the season and won by 1 again!!!
Maci and I had to leave a little before the end of the game to hustle to her own game back in Minnetonka.
Miss M ticked me off b/c we got in the car and she says “ohhhhh where is my white jersey?!” UGH MACI!!!! So we had to rush home, then fly to the field. I got her there only 15 mins late into warm ups. Well she made up for it! That girl scored 2 of our teams’s 3 goals. She was on fire!!! She also got the game ball for her 3rd time - go M!
While we were playing our soccer game, Connor and his team had their 3rd game of the tourney - another close W against Maple Grove. Great day kiddos!!
We met up with the Cody’s for dinner at Sunshine Factory which was a perfect end to the day!

Super Proud Sister with the Game’s MVP!!

2 Studs

Connor & Brooks

Connor’s Pitching Stats for Relief!!

The Bros

Kid loves to Pitch

Sunday:

Connor had the semi finals in the morning but Maci and I couldn’t make it b/c it conflicted with her own soccer game.
Connor’s team completely forgot to show up and got their but beat by Zimmerman - dang it! They then went on to the 3rd place game at 4p.
Maci’s team was in a dog fight at 1p against a team from WI and fortunately tied it 2-2.
We then hustled up to Connor’s final game and got there about an inning late. We ended up SMOKING this team and got 3rd place which really means nothing - no trophy, no ticket punched for state but they see what it’s like in the tournaments and the coaches learned how to think about our pitching limits for the upcoming tourneys.
We did a super quick team pizza and beer stop to celebrate the strong finish before hustling home to drop off Maci and change for 3v3 basketball.
Connor and team beat some 4th graders in game 1 but then got taken by some other 4th graders in game 2. We were all ready to crash after a fun but long weekend!!

3rd Place Finish