Day Eight - Tuesday, May 28
Day eight here in Lewiston was not too eventful. We wandered around the hotel most of the day because we had the night game once again. We left for the field around 4:30. We did our usual routine of batting practice and sitting around watching the game before ours while we waited for our chance to play. Once again we got the third base dugout like we had the previous two games.
The game started off a good game. We were the away team so we had a chance to score first. We took full advantage of that opportunity and took a quick 1 to 0 lead. Faulkner answered back with one run of their own in the bottom of the second. We had a ton of momentum in the fourth with three straight hits and big Mike Gragilla added a fourth hit, but the Faulkner coaches had a problem with the bat he was using so they had the umpires meet up and check out the bat. Apparently the bat is illegal so that meant Mike was out and the run he drove in would have to go back to third. We ended up scoring two runs that inning. All the momentum shifted in the fifth when Faulkner scored four runs, but that still only gave them a 5 to 3 lead. The game stayed pretty close until the eighth. Faulkner scored 5 runs to give them a 10 to 3 lead. In the top of the ninth we got the bases loaded, but didn’t score any runs.
Now we play Lewis-Clark at 3 tomorrow. This will be another good game because we played them close in all four games we played in Daytona. We just have to regroup and win every out. Tomorrow many of us, like myself, play for our careers. I have faith that my teammates will leave it all out on the field tomorrow for us seniors and also for everyone who has ever worn this blue and gold. Hopefully tomorrow’s edition brings good news. Tressler out.
Day Seven - Monday, May 27
Well, today started off as it usually does. Everyone was up and out of bed around nine and playing video games as usual. Sticking to my routine, I went to the gym across the parking lot for a little morning lift. When I got back I was sick and tired of sitting around the hotel watching everyone play video games so I called up my parents. I asked them if they wanted to go to see one of the games over at Harris Field. They picked me up and we made our way to the field. After a few hours, they drove me back to the hotel so I could get ready for the biggest game of the season.
When I got back to the hotel, we still had about an hour and a half left so everyone was still in their usual spots playing video games. Finally four o’clock rolled around and the caravan of cars rolled out to the field. When arrived at the field just in time for the start of the Faulkner game. After a few innings we went to take batting practice in the indoor cage. Once batting practice was over, I went to the concession stand to get something to drink when I was surprised by two girls who were probably no older than twelve. They caught me by surprise when they knew my name, told me I’m awesome, and then ran away. I thought for sure one of the players put the girls up to that, but nobody admitted to it. The entire time before we played those two girls and a group of other kids followed the team around everywhere we went. We signed a bunch of autographs while we waited to take the field.
Once on the field, we were being our typical goofball selves. We were making fun of each other as usual which helped to keep the mood light before the big game. Since it was Memorial Day, we had a pretty cool experience before the game. The colors were presented on the field and the National Anthem was sung by a local group. Once the colors left the field it was time to get to work.
As usual we started off slow. Lee took the lead in the top of the first, but we answered back in the bottom of the first with a run of our own. The game went on pretty uneventful until Lee took a 3 to 1 lead. We then got a run back to make the score 3 to 2. Not going to lie, this game was pretty stressful. We had plenty of opportunities to score, but we couldn’t get anything going. The starting pitcher, Stetson Nelson, did everything he could to keep us in the game, but we couldn’t find a way to help him out. Finally Lee took a 4 to 2 lead as our chances started dwindling down. In the bottom half of the eighth we started to get a little rally brewing. Before we knew it we had the bases loaded and no outs. The next two batters pooped out so it was down to Adam Cellini with the bases loaded and two outs. Adam hit a fly ball to right and we all thought that was it for us. Suddenly, the right fielder for Lee misplayed the fly ball allowing three runs to score while our bench went crazy. This was the craziest I’ve seen the bench since we walked off against Concordia. The final out of our half of the eighth was finally recorded and Jon Rapose went back out to take the mound in the away half of the ninth. We now had the momentum on our side. After those three runs we now had a 5 to 4 lead heading into the top of the ninth. However, in true cardiac kid fashion, the top of the ninth didn’t go as easily as we would have hoped. Jon Rapose walked the first batter, but after a fly out and a ground out Lee had a runner on second with two outs. The last out always seems like it’s the toughest. Finally Jon won the battle as the batter grounded out to second to end the game.
David had beaten Goliath. Nobody had given us a chance against Lee. Heck, we’re not even supposed to be here at the World Series. We won the game with only two hits. How? I have no idea. As usual, we didn’t out slug our opponent we out lasted them. We have beaten Lee for the first time since Coach Stegall has been here. That’s pretty huge.
As I’m writing this everyone is back doing their nightly routines. Baseball players are a little superstitious so we can’t stop what we’ve been doing. Tomorrow night our next opponent will be another challenge, but as long as we play our game and stay within ourselves we have a pretty good chance of winning. Tune in to see the cardiac kids for yourself, but you’ve been warned it’s not for the faint of heart. Tressler out.
Day Six - Sunday, May 26
Well, I didn’t get up this morning as planned. I figured since it was Sunday the gym would be closed or wouldn’t open until later like it does back home. I was wrong. Instead I slept in until about nine and by the looks of it, most of the team had the same idea. We all finally made our way out to the cars to head to the field for practice. Once again we went to a new field, but this time it was in Clarkston. As we rolled into the parking lot I saw an unwelcoming sight. Once again the dimensions of the field did not favor pull hitters like myself. It was pretty deep out to left field, shallow to center, and shallow to right. However, many of our guys who have power to the opposite fields put on a show. Even big Mike Gragilla got in on the action with a few bombs himself. Too bad the field was like 290 feet down the right field line. All in all, as a team our swings looked good and the infield got some good defensive work in before our big game tomorrow. Hopefully the work we’ve put in these past two days translates to the game tomorrow night.
Once practice ended we jumped back in the cars and headed back to the hotel. We had thirty minutes to unwind and get ready for our one team activity of the day which was a cookout at Hells Canyon. There was so much history in the welcome center at Hells Canyon that I got lost in. I love history especially American history so I was like a kid in a candy shop. After I read all of the quotes, looked at the ideas they had, and looked at what hardships they had to overcome to make the journey I made my way outside where the rest of the team was. When I got out there, I saw some of the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. The cliffs and the cuts in the mountains surrounding the Snake River were amazing. As I made my way around the path that took you throughout the site one of the freshman joined me. We walked along the water and looked at the canoes that would have been used during the Lewis and Clark journey. As we made it to the water’s edge, Matt asked me one of the funniest things I have ever heard. He asked if the river that ran alongside the camp was fresh or saltwater. I guess that’s what you get when you take an Orlando boy out here to Idaho. I told a few of the people about what he had said and we all had a good laugh. Finally after we made it around the site it was time to eat. We had pulled pork, baked beans, and potato salad. The barbeque sauce that we put on the pulled pork was nothing like we had ever had before. Ryan Mosher and I just couldn’t put our finger on it. Ryan finally made the best guess he could to describe the sauce. It may have been apple based, but we may never know. Since baseball players are hyperactive and since our team is a little childish, we made our way to the water after we ate. Kyle Chastain climbed down into the river and began to walk around on a sand bar. I guess that’s what they do in Polk County. Being baseball players we began to pick up rocks and trying to hit Kyle. To much avail, we didn’t actually hit Kyle. Once we finally got him back on land we began a rock skipping competition. The coaches eventually joined in, but it then turned into a competition to see who could throw the furthest with their non-throwing hands. After about thirty minutes we finally headed back to the hotel.
When I got back to the hotel I got ready to lift. After fifteen minutes I finally got someone to go to the gym with me. Liam Goodall and I headed to the gym for a short lift before we went back to the hotel to sit around for the rest of the day. Exhausted after my workout, I took about a three hour nap. When I woke up, I found the guys in their typical spots. Most of them were in room 112 playing Halo while others were out with their parents exploring Idaho. Since it was about six o’clock here when I woke up I ordered some pizza. It was only about half a mile down the road so I ordered carryout and walked by myself to get it. When I got back I watched a few games of Halo but got bored so I wandered the hotel. I ended up in Tyler Robbins and Jordan Johnson’s room. All three of us have known each other since before high school so we talked about old memories from high school, earlier in college, and about the days ahead. I wanted to go back to my room to put my pizza away, but I was locked out. I had to have Jordan Johnson go up to the front desk to get me a key because I was shirtless and thought it would be a little weird if I went up to the girls at the front desk not wearing a shirt.
Well, the day is winding down now. They guys are back doing their pregame rituals. They’re playing Monopoly in one of the rooms. I would join, but I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings seeing as how I would win. I should be writing a paper for one of my summer classes, but I saw how restless Adam Cellini was writing his earlier so I’ll put it off until later. We are all beginning to get restless because we just want to get back on the field tomorrow. We all won’t be able to sleep tonight like a little kid on Christmas Eve. Tomorrow is a big day for us. We can’t wait for the challenge.
As I’m finishing up the adventures of this rag tag group I am trying to round up a few guys to watch one of my favorite movies, Troy. For those of you who don’t know, Troy is about the Greek hero Achilles and the battle of Troy. I could talk history and Greek Mythology for hours so I think I’m going to wrap today’s edition up. I hope you enjoyed this installment of Eagles Daily News. Until next time, make good choices and don’t talk to strangers. Tressler out.
P.S. Clint Whitman would like everyone back home in Daytona to know that contrary to popular belief, Lewis and Clark were not a boy band in the early 1800s.
Day Five - Saturday, May 25
Off days are probably some of the most boring days known to man. We’ve worked so hard to get to this point and we’re chomping at the bit to play, but that win last night earned us two days off. So this morning we all slept in seeing as how last night consisted of late night games of Monopoly and an almost all night Halo tournament. Once we finally all rolled out of bed and ate, it was time to get dressed and head to practice.
We went to a field we have never been to, but like everywhere else around here, it had a pretty amazing view. We drove up the side of the hill that the front door of our hotel opens up to. Once we got to the almost the top of the hill we were finally at the field. Like I said before, the field had a pretty amazing view. It pretty much looked like you were looking eye to eye with the mountain across the valley.
Practice went as usual. We started out with batting practice, then went on to defensive work, and we ran for the first time in a long time (I guess coach thought we needed it). Coach finally picked me to hit in the first group once again. About halfway through the year he figured out that I always hit in the first group so I led off practice every single day. Pretty soon he started making sure that I didn’t hit in the first group so he would count around me and put me in group four, touché coach touché. Batting practice had some unusual event happen.
One of the smallest guys on the team, Colt Hankamer, hit a homerun. This is odd especially since the dimensions were the same as Sliwa back home. It must be the thin air, don’t tell him I said that. Mike Gragilla the world’s largest singles hitter lined about five balls off the right field wall. Basically everyone put on a show during batting practice which was a nice surprise. Then it was on to defensive work.
The outfielders couldn’t take ground balls because the grass in the outfield was about 5 inches high and super thick. This caused balls to die as soon as they hit the ground. The outfield would basically swallow any ball you missed or overran. After that we had to go down the right field line as a team and run twelve three quarter poles. All in all it was a pretty decent practice.
Practice was the only mandatory thing we had today so we had the rest of the day off. Dillon Ennis and his family went to visit a dam about forty miles away with a few of the other families. Tyler Robbins, Jordan Johnson, and I had my parents pick us up and take us to Fazzari’s next to their hotel. Fazzari’s is one of the best Italian places I have ever been to and was a place our team used to frequent when we stayed at the Best Western. After lunch we walked over to my parent’s hotel and they drove us to the field so we could watch Faulkner’s first game. The game was basically a pitcher’s duel until Faulkner finally pushed two runs across. Towards the end of the game a few more players joined Jordan and me. Once the game ended we had to wait about an hour and a half before we could watch the main event, Lee against Lewis-Clark. We wasted the time by laying down in the grass behind the left field stands. Let me tell you, that was some of the most comfortable grass I have ever laid on. To keep from falling asleep we all got up and went to raid the food stands. They were so many options that I couldn’t make my mind up. I finally decided to get 3 slices of pizza for the same price as a few other menu items. Who could turn down more food for the same price? A crazy person, that’s who.
Finally the main event rolled around. By that time, most of the team showed up because they wanted to see the teams we could potentially be playing Monday night. At this time I finally got word that our SID had finished his fifth Effie burger in five straight years. That’s a pretty awesome feat if you ask me. My parents also came out to take the great atmosphere that was at the game tonight. I thought this game would be another pitcher’s duel, but was I wrong. It turned out to be a barn burner. Lee pulled off the win against the Warriors of
Lewis-Clark 14 to 11. This means we play Lee Monday night. This will be a battle. Like usual we won’t be the most talented team on the field, but baseball is not about that. All you have to do is be the best team on that night. I can tell you right now, we definitely won’t outslug Lee. We will have to do what we always do which is outlast our opponents. This challenge will be a good one for our team. If we want to reach the ultimate goal of going back to Daytona with that red banner we would have to eventually face Lee. After all, if you want to be the best you have to beat the best.
As tonight winds down the guys are doing their usual nightly routine of Monopoly and random video games. I’m wandering from room to room hanging out with the team since this week is the last week all of us will be together. Tomorrow is another practice day, but after practice our honorary coach has a cookout set up for us and coach may take us for an opposite handed bowling tournament. We will try not to go crazy up here in Idaho on our last day off probably ever. Well, I think I’m going to hit the hay. I’m trying to have time to lift before we leave for practice at 9:45. See you same time tomorrow world wide web. Tressler out.
Day Four - Friday, May 24
Before I get into what happened today, I forgot to mention that yesterday it was Jon’s “birthday” once again. The kindergarten class at Heights Elementary school sang him happy birthday and Coach Stegall announced it in front of the entire audience at the banquet later that night.
Today was game day. Most of us were up around eight o’clock since our bodies our still on east coast time. Jeff Lemon and Connor Williams left the hotel around 7:50 to go check out the first game of the day, but the weather wasn’t cooperating. For some odd reason the weather likes to act weird when we are in town. Personally I wanted to lay in bed longer because it was cold and rainy out. Finally I rolled out of bed around nine o’clock. I was upset because I missed the van to Waffles n’ More for breakfast but instead I walked across the parking lot to the gym to get a lift in before I got my day started. When I got back to the hotel I walked into room 112 where Ronnie Lozada and today’s starting pitcher Kevin Maloney were beginning a game of FIFA. Normally those games go by pretty fast, but this one was different. It took a full 270 minutes of video game time, roughly an hour of real time, until Ronnie finally scored the game winning goal.
Once that game finished I began to get antsy so I started getting dressed for the game, but I wasn’t the only one. We had been here for two days and today was finally the day we could get on the field and get those first game jitters out of our system. As I walked out of my room Jeff Lemon had the same idea as me. This is his fourth time here so he was ready to show everyone at the World Series this year’s Embry-Riddle team is not like the ones in the past.
Finally one o’clock rolled around and we left for the field. When we pulled up to the field the butterflies started flying around in my stomach. You could hear the ballpark buzzing with the cheering of fans, yelling of little kids, and the announcer’s voice over the loud speakers. We finally made our way through the campus and put all of our bags down outside the fence. We had to wait a few minutes before we could take batting practice. Luckily York, our opponent today, had finished up with batting practice when it started raining so we could go into the indoor cage and get our work done out of the rain. However, once we were done getting our work in, we still had a few innings to wait until we could get our opportunity to play. This time was spent under cover of the surrounding buildings so we didn’t get rained on. In the bottom of the ninth we headed over to the third base dugout, which was our dugout for the game. Northwood came up in the bottom of the ninth and put up a little fight before they were finally beaten.
Once both teams had gotten off the field, we walked out to the left field line and got prepared to play. We went through our usual routines and before we knew it we were being announced to take the field. As usual, we started off slow. Kevin Maloney did what he always does which is pound the strike zone and get outs but he did give up a first inning run. We struggled to put anything together through the next few innings when we finally broke through with some runs. That was all Kevin needed. Later in the game we let York back into it, but we ended up scoring five and pretty much putting the game away. However, we like to make things interesting. It feels good to get that first win under the belt, but we still have a lot of work to do.
Before we could relax and enjoy the win we had the opening ceremony. We had to wait for what seemed like an eternity to go out on the field so all ten teams could be introduced. The rain clouds decided to come back as we were escorted on the field. When we finally made it on the field the rain went away and the sun came back out. As the sun came out so did a few rainbows. We all looked like a bunch of five year olds as we saw how awesome this rainbow was. As crazy as it sounds, it was a rainbow inside another rainbow with another rainbow about five feet above it. Pretty awesome right? That’s what I thought. Each team was introduced with highlights from their season and their journey to the World Series. Much to my surprise, we had a large group of fans cheering for us as we were introduced. Once we were all situated, they brought the American flag onto the field and the National Anthem was sung. All in all, it was a pretty cool experience. The crowd was electric because the host team Lewis-Clark was about to take the field. Hopefully we have a crowd that size when we’re back in action Monday night. The victory tonight earned us two days off.
Since we have a few days off, a bunch of us went to Effie Burger. Not many of you know what an Effie Burger is so here you go; think of how big your head is. Alright, now think of a hamburger the size of your head. Yes, we went and ate a burger the size of our heads to celebrate the win. I met up with my parents and they shared a burger while I ate my entire burger. Now, I’m pretty much slipping into a food coma after eating that entire thing. I’ll be back tomorrow to tell you of our adventures on our first day off. Until then, you stay classy planet Earth.
Day Three - Thursday, May 23
Our second full day here in Lewiston was a busy one. We all got to sleep in again this morning, but around nine o’clock a few of us went to the gym to get a lift in before we started our day. After we got back from the gym I walked into room 112 to see what Ronnie Lozada was up to. He was in the middle of an eighteen inning pitcher’s duel in MLB 2K11 against Antwan Brown. After they finished their game it was time to get dressed and head to the field for practice.
Going along with the theme of things changing, we didn’t get a chance to take batting practice on Harris Field today due to the weather yesterday. The grounds crew was working feverishly to get the field prepared for the game at nine Friday morning. Instead we took batting practice in the indoor cage for a second day in a row. Today’s practice was only forty minutes because all ten teams needed to get their practice in before the camp for kids later in the day. After practice we were escorted to a different part of Lewis-Clark’s campus to get team and individual pictures taken. We got to pick a pose we wanted to do for our individual pictures and once we were done with that I was asked to take extra pictures for marketing so the photographer took about five extra pictures of me. Once that was finished, they brought the entire team in and we took the team photo. Then the fun part of the day started.
We drove a few miles up the rode to Heights Elementary School to hang out with some of the kids before they got out from school. We got there just in time for recess. We were split into groups and made our way outside. I got paired up with a sixth grade team and we played kickball. Once we finished our kickball game they took us inside their classroom so they could ask us questions. At this point, Adam Cellini joined me. The kids came up with some interesting questions, but the one that stumped Adam and I was if we could meet anyone who would it be. Honestly, I have no idea. After being grilled with questions they wanted our autographs so we signed books or whatever they had. Once we signed everything they wished us luck sent us along so we could get ready for the banquet tonight.
Before the banquet, a few of us lucky players got to help run the camp that the World Series holds for the kids in the area. This was my favorite part of the day. You get to interact with kids. You get to see their eyes light up when you lean down and talk to them or just because they’re on the same field with big baseball players. To them we’re major leaguers. Our group of players had the bunting station.
This station was actually challenging because many of the kids were younger so they did not have much of the hand-eye coordination needed to bunt. However, we didn’t let that stop us. After all ten stations we had to jump in the car and hurry back to the hotel and get ready for the banquet.
The banquet here is a pretty big deal. This is the first time all ten teams are in the same place and probably the last. The thing most of our players were excited about was the food. For the second night in a row we had bite size steak and they had a new addition this year, pulled pork. Once every team was fed, they introduced the coaches and teams, interviewed the coaches and handed out awards. Our own Adam Cellini won the Champions of Character Award out of all the players at the banquet. Once that finished they dismissed us seeing as how two teams would be playing in less than twelve hours.
Well, time to get some rest. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.
Day Two - Wednesday, May 22
6:30 came too soon this morning. We didn’t have a specific time to be up, but since our bodies are still wired for east coast time many of us couldn’t sleep in. waking up at 6:30 here is like waking up at 9:30 in Daytona and usually by that time I am up and getting my day started. The first mission of this morning was to find food. Luckily I had woken up just in time to catch up with Antwan Brown, Chad Modomo, and a few of the other guys while they walked to Albertson’s to load up on food for our time here in Lewiston.
However, we had a little surprise when we woke up. It was raining and about 45 degrees so the walk to Albertson’s was a cold one. Once we braved the cold and made the trek back down the hill we still had a few hours to sit around and wait for practice. This time was spent wandering the hotel moving from room to room to see what everyone was doing. Ronnie Lozada spent most of that time beating everyone in a FIFA tournament, but I went on an adventure with our SID Ryan Mosher. He took the van with himself, Jeff Lemon, Kevin Lindheim and me back to where we stayed during the past visits here in Lewiston. Our old hotel had some of the best food in town surrounding it. Jeff went to 410 drive-in while the rest of us went to Sharp’s. For some reason the food tastes better here in Idaho. Maybe it’s better quality food , the way it’s prepared, or maybe it’s knowing all of the hard work you had put in to make it here had paid off and for two days you can enjoy your trip before it was time to get back at it.
We made it back just in time to change and jump back on the vans to go to practice. However, we didn’t get to practice at the usual field with one of the most amazing back drops you will ever see. Out behind centerfield and past the road is a mountain range that I can’t even describe. It’s that amazing. Due to the rain, we couldn’t practice at that field. We headed up to Harris Field, the home of Lewis-Clark State and the World Series, to take batting practice in their indoor cages.
For many of the guys, this was their first time taking in this beautiful field. The look on their faces was priceless. They were in awe of the surroundings and were filled with excitement to think that when we play Friday the stands will be filled with fans. We stood around for a few minutes taking in everything, but then it was time to get to work. We hit in the indoor cages then had to walk to the gym where we could play catch. That was quite an experience. For many of us it was our first time throwing inside a gym. We got a little taste of what it was like to play up north. After practice many of us headed to the gym to either play racquetball or get a lift in before dinner.
This year we’ve had a few changes. We are not staying at the usual hotel with three beds and a loft, but we are staying across the parking lot from where we stayed during spring break last year, the Red Lion. We now have a new area to get to explore with our free time. We didn’t get to practice at the field we normally do, and we couldn’t do our twenty minute run through the hills and valleys like normal. We didn’t even run at all. We’ve been a little out of our element this year, but after all change is good right?
One thing that remained the same was where we ate as a team tonight. We went to Main Street Grill to eat some of the best food this area has to offer. Many of us got the Bite Size Steak, but Dillon Ennis didn’t follow everyone else. He Google reviewed the restaurant and got what was the best reviewed, the New York Grinder. Dinner took a while to make it to our tables, but we didn’t mind. We are just enjoying our last few days together as one group. Pretty soon the seniors will move on while the returners will be preparing for their next season. Alright, back to dinner. Once we finished we told our waitress it was Jon Rapose’s birthday. I’ll let you in on a little secret, it really wasn’t. A few minutes later she brought out chocolate cake and we sang Jon happy birthday. This was the third time in the past two weeks that it was Jon’s birthday when we went out to eat. We just like to embarrass him.
Now we’re back in the hotel watching Happy Gilmore and playing Monopoly before we have our long day tomorrow. Tomorrow is one of the best days here, other than when the games start. We head to the local elementary schools to hang out and sign autographs for the kids. After that we head to the field for practice and take pictures. Then there is a camp where all the teams run drills for the kids as they move station to station. After that, the night is finished with the banquet and everyone prepares for the games that start on Friday.
Well, time to get some rest for tomorrow. Good night from Lewiston.
Day One - Tuesday, May 21
Today was travel day. Travel day is one of the longest days known to man. Normally the trip would begin with a bus ride to the Orlando airport around 3:30 in the morning, but this time around we did things a little bit different. We were scheduled to leave Daytona around noon, but as the tradition goes, the bus was late again to take us to Orlando.
The bus was buzzing with excitement as it usually is even though we knew the long day we had ahead of us. Once we made it to the airport, the real adventure began. We got our bags checked in and made our way through the winding lines of security. Once we made it through security, most of the players made their way to find food because we did not know the next time we would be able to eat. Due to weather around Orlando, our flight was delayed and we sat on the taxiway for about forty minutes before we finally began our departure. However I was hooked up with a window seat so I didn’t mind.
This leg of the flight was the longest. We experienced turbulence through the flight because of weather around Oklahoma. The bumpy flight was almost a little too much to handle for a few of the guys and a few of the younger passengers on the plane. Most of the flight I spent looking out the window at the different colors of the farmland and rivers as they snake their way through the land. We finally landed in Denver forty minutes late and had to run from one gate to another so we could catch our connecting flight to Spokane. Hungry and grumpy from the delays we had experienced, many guys, myself included, were upset we couldn’t get food before we got on the flight. We would have to wait until we landed in Washington. Once we had all gotten situated on the flight, the flight attendants informed us that we had to wait for Rogers State. They were flying in from Oklahoma so they had been delayed due to weather in the area. After what seemed like an hour we were finally ready to takeoff.
Delirious from lack of food and sleep, I was staring out my window at the Rocky Mountains as we flew over them. To help from getting more aggravated from the lack of leg room and the anticipation of being in Lewiston already I looked over the seat in front of me to our trainer Kelley’s seat. She had purchased the in-flight entertainment and one of the greatest movies of all time was on, Pocahontas. This helped to make the flight travel quicker.
After two hours, we finally landed in Spokane. Part of our tradition is for each player to put a dollar in a hat and whoevers bag comes out first wins the pot of money. Unfortunately I didn’t win. This year’s winner was Coach Therneau. As if the guys weren’t already antsy and tired enough, we finally only had two hours to go before we were finally in Lewiston. That was a quiet ride because many guys decided to catch up on their sleep rather than watch Anchorman. After about an hour and forty five minutes we had finally reached the valley. As we came over the top of the hill looking down at Lewistion and Clarkston the bus began buzzing with excitement. Even though it was the middle of the night, the view was amazing.
We had finally made it to Lewsiton.
