This weekend was a great weekend! The boys had their Modified Softball tournament. This is Jason’s 3rd year playing with most of these guys, but
they have been officially the Merchants for 2 years. They have NEVER won a tournament game for modified softball ever! It has always been 2 lost and out. It’s actually something to be expected. Always hoping for the best but realistically they prepare for the worst. I have never missed a tournament until this past summer. They had their fast pitch tournament out of town this year and we weren’t able to go. I have missed maybe a hand full of games in the last 3 years and have became great friends with most of the guys. I feel what they feel when they lose. Their worst enemy most the time is themselves.
This year was different. They won their FIRST ever modified tournament game Saturday morning!! I had to miss it due to Bailey having Football Saturday morning. I knew if they lost they’d have to play right away but if they won they didn’t have to play until 4 in the afternoon. So when I pulled into the drive way and saw Jason’s car I was very excited!! That meant that they had won and they were there to pick me up so I could go watch the rest!! MERCHANT HISTORY!!! And I missed it:( So we load up and head out. Game starts at 4pm. Bottom of the 1st inning we’re down by 7!! Poor Donavon!! The pitcher was pulled and they made a miraculous come back to win the game!! Great huh?? Not only did they win their 1st tournament game but they were now 2-0. Needless to say we were all happy and looking forward to spending the rest of the night celebrating VICTORY!!!
Sunday comes, first game is against the best team in the league!! 15 year winning streak, these guys have been the same team for 20 years!! Everyone gets 10 runned against these guys. If you have 10 or more runs after the 5th inning…that’s game. These guys destroy teams. Not the Merchants, not this time!! In the regular season this team beat us 17-0!! It was a great game…we lost but still the Merchants put up a fight! They were the only team to score off of them all weekend and the only team to take “Hollywood” 7 innings!! So on to the next (double elimination) game. They lost that one too, but it was okay. Those guys played their best I have ever seen and even though they didn’t win the whole thing I am so incredibly proud of all of them. They did so much better than ANYONE thought they would. I told the guys if they keep this up, in a few years they will be as good as Hollywood. It takes time, you need the same players year in and year out to accomplish what they do. So a little tribute to all my favorite guys whom I have come to adore and will miss t
his winter. Thanks for another great season and like any true Minnesota sports fan…next year is our year!!!!
Us Girls..Our Views 
WooHoo…Way to go Merchants. This is so fun when this happens!
Wow, do you have one of those short little skirts and a blouse with a big “M” on it? ‘Cause you have that cheerleading thing going on here. Heck, I wasn’t at the game and I feel like standing up and cheering!
Isn’t that exciting? I will say though… I’m very surprised they let you attend the second game. I mean just look at it – – – the very first (local) tournament game you miss and they win… I’m just saying, those guys really must love you. lol 🙂
LOL thanks!! They do love me, I’m the ONLY one willing to sit in 30 degree weather to watch their first games. And I’m the only one that cheers out loud for them. I like to think they need me:)
I love my guys, I have come really close to most of them, what would I do without my BEST friends. We all hung out today at my grandpa’s, well a few of us, it was the best. I have missed a few games, this year, I was the only girl that went to state, and camped. It was the best weekend ever, thanks guys. We all made nick names for our bean bag tourment. Fun game. This pasr funraiser was a fun time, a few to many beers for jared, butchie, jamie, and derrcik, it was fun, the guys that missed it miss a fun time. We made some cash, but not a ton. Me and jamie are already talkin today about the next event to were we need to make money for the team, i cant wait. This winter most of us, decided that we are not going to spend time apart, they are a team in the summer and will remain a team in the winter, that is the way it should go. So we will be hangin out still. Good Luck to you guys, and the merchant name may be changed next year. So go MERCHANTS, I love ya, exspecailly, my chistopher day, derrick, jamie, andy, bobbie, joe. Love ya guys.
The most important ones, I never go long with out seeing. I have a blast with those guys and until this year I was the only girl, the only fan! Now it’s football time and I don’t miss those games either…rain or shine. I’m glad everyone had fun, I wish I could have been there but I guess I just couldn’t fit it all in to my weekend! That’s okay Chris came over yesterday for dinner and I’ll see the others soon.
I love Chris. The seasons change and things change and next ball season, you’ll be right back in it (maybe). I’m going to try and talk Jason into golfing instead of ball. Not that trying to talk to him will do any good but I’m going to try and when I brought it up, he did listen and told me he‘s thought about it. He loves to golf and I think it’s good for him to spend time with his brother, dad and son. Golf isn’t all about drinking and getting drunk and I get the impression that ball is. Sad thing is he doesn’t even drink and I think he feels disgusted by all the drunks. Looking forward to the tourney this weekend.
Way to go Jason. You wrote about this a while back. Way to go Nikki you are the #1 fan. I like the way you stick with your husband through losses. It’s not just anyone that can sit through loss after loss and still be at every game. You had to be with Bailey for the first one. Now you can enjoy the fun of winning a few and getting some hits. mssc54’s comment really made me laugh. They really must love you.
Nicole is crazy, lol. There is more than just one girl and one fan, in the past years, We just didnt come as much last year. I am already looking forward to next year. GO what ever the team name is going to be.
How come you weren’t there much this year Candi?
I was there alot this year, i have been more involed this year then ever. The past years, just cuz too hard with 3 kids, but we will be out there alot more, jared has been playing ball since before i meet him, I have been with this team for the last 9 years, given that they have changed and drafted and get new guys, but i have been there.