Wake Forest Basball

Hey Everyone . Have taken most of the day to think about how I wanted to start this post because Shelby and I did not want anyones feelings hurt about what is going on with The Sandlot . One of our parents contacted The Wake Forest Baseball team and found out there are opportunities for our league . May 17th ( Tuesday ) there is going to be NO PRACTICE . We are ALL going to be meeting at the Wake Forest Baseball Stadium so our athletes can run through the blow up tunnel onto the field with the Deacon mens team . It is going to be an awesome event . There is no admission for games during the week and we will either eat at the stadium or families can eat before they come .

After talking with the Deacon rep we found out that no one had taken a slot for tonight's game ( only 15 athletes ). We have made the decision to use tonight as a dry run for the 17th . I and noone else have asked families from all three leagues ( tee ball, coach pitch and Machine pitch ) and we will be meeting at the field at 5:15 . There was no favoritism in my choosing and it is also something I am not wanting to do again since I love all of the sandlotters but wanted to post something so that everyone is on the same page and no feelings are hurt. I appreciate everyone's understanding and if there is a problem please see me as soon as possible .

Making a decision like this was kind of like being on an island and a boat comes by that can only hold 15 kids - this is how deep i feel about this issue .

SO - back to the 17th . please let me know as soon as possible if yall can attend - all families , extended families, grandparents etc are invited - THERE is NO ADMISSION FEE so please all come and show our SANDLOT DEACON Pride on the 17th. If i can show Sandlot deacon pride as a State fan yall can to lol.

With deepest thought and love for you all,

COACH MIKE

Bal games Tomorrow - April 23 rd

Hey Sandloters - ALL games will be moved up one hour due to all the rain today and field conditions . Please check your schedules and add an hour to them for correct times . Play ball and look forward to seeing all of you in at The Sandlot . Coach Mike

Make up games

Hey Sandloters, what an intense storm this weekend . First off I want to request we all keep all of those who were affected by this storm in our prayers . Three people who lost their lives were connected by family within our league and the flag will be flown at half mast this week in respect to those and the rest who passed this weekend . Also be in prayer for those first responders and volunteers headed over to assist . Stacy Rymer (mom of Tillman - tee baller and wife of Coach Eric ) has her father ( Don Hall ) who headed down to Sanford on an assesment team for several chain saw crews . Don has a heart as large as his son in law and will need our prayers once he sees the disaster and they families it has affected. There have been several newspaper article in the past two weeks that have been very well written and thanks to those reporters and photographers . The reason I am mentioning this is because Shelby and I have been getting wonderful comments from friends and strangers and we wanted to stress to all that this is a FAMILY LEAGUE and it belongs to everyone not just us . Please take the time to talk with your athletes about how they can influence others by being a vital part of The Sandlot and to shine thier individual light even when they are not on the field . Everyone of our athletes has such wonderful gifts that have already been shown during the last three weeks and I am so proud of each and everyone of them . The Make up games from Saturday will be this week during some of the regular practices . The first game will be the Machine / Kid pitch tommorow Monday at 5:45 . Please try to be at The Sandlot no later than 5:30 to warm up and stretch . Team A will play Team B - After tomorrow we are hoping to return to our normal practice hours and I wanted to mention something about team practice . It is fine if there is a conflict every now and then and it is to be expected for all families but please try to stick to your athletes practice schedule if at all possible . Also in saying this, Shelby and I will have definate teams ( Machine / Kid Pitch - teams are SET ) by Wednesday . Tee Ball teams being briken up to four teams and the Coach Pitch will have three teams and each team will play twice every other week . I know it might sound confusing but is is AWESOME having all these kids . Tuesday : Tee Ball A vs . Tee Ball B @ 5:45 Coach Pitch A vs . Coach Pitch B @ 6:45 This weeks coach pitch teams will be two teams / Saturday will start the three team schedule Thursday : Tee Ball C vs . Tee Ball D @ 5:45 Intial reports say thursday will be rain - if so this game will be Friday @ 5:45. We have a bunch of athletes involved with Awanas at thier designated churches on Wednesdays . I am going to have an optional practice for both Tee ball and Coach Pitch / Machine pitch kids who do not have meetings at 5:45 until parents need to take kids . Coaches - please let me know which practice you can assist in so that I can plan stations for the athletes. Thanks again to all families for their awesome support during this innagural season . Play Ball, Coach Mike

Games cancelled for today !!!!

Hey Sandlot Crew - It pains me to do this but I am going to cancel all games for today due to the weather and also field conditions. I will be posting make up schedule by Sunday afternoon and am almost sure we will have make ups during scheduled practices as to NOT mess up and family scheduling . Hope you all have an absolute awesome weekend and see everyone back at the Sandlot on Monday. Also, I wanted to write and thank my family on Shelby's side - for their donation to sponsor a player . It really means alot and we all apprecite your caring for these athletes. McKenneys sewing in Greensboro - thanks to the owner Mike McKenney for his donation of $80.00 to sponsor an athlete . Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Tugman - ( My best firends parents and both are like second parents to me ) they sponsored an athlete last week with a donation of $80.00 . Thank you so much Nana and Pop and we hope to see you out at the Sandlot Soon. IF any of you know someone who would be interested in sponsoring an athlete please have them contact Shelby or myself at either our emils or cell phones. We are currently sponsoring 15 and it is AWESOME . Have a great and blessed weekend and I'll post make ups as soon as I can . Play Ball, Coach Mike

Opening Day !!!!!

Hey everyone, I wanted to put up a new post yesterday after opening day but by the time we got home, got something to eat and cleaned up we all hit the rack for the night .

I have to say that Opening Day was wonderful to us and I hope for all of yall . The weather was a little on the chilly side but the athletes were ready to Play Ball . Big shout out to Dr. Bill Coleman for his awesome prayer !!!!!! Bill , your words were perfect for the setting and it meant alot for you to open up with those words .

For those who could not attend but are keeping up with us through this blog . After Bill prayed we presented Tony Kirkman ( the land owner ) and his son Dylan ( named the field after him ) with a certificate of appreciation . We also mentioned several people such as Adam Logan , Adams boss and his company ( Powerscreen ) for the donation of a skid steer and materials ; David Chapell for the use of his tractor ; Brian and Tina Knights Parents for coming out with his tractor and dump truck on this first work day and helping us with cutting and hauling off 9 pine trees ; and all of the other families that took valuble time to come out and make The Sandlot what it has become today.

My daughter wanted to sing the Star Spangled Banner so we all faced the flag out in center field and sang . Thanks to all for doing that since my daughter is still talking about it .

Then it was time to Play Ball - Tee Ball was the first game and I am still smiling at those lil wonderful athletes and their parents running around while in the field and the others batting. A photographer from the Kernersville News came out before opening ceremonies and mentioned the " Cute Factor " - Tee Ball is the definition of " Cute Factor ". Our number one goal in Tee Ball is to make sure the athletes have FUN . Hopefully we will have alot of the pictures downloaded and put on a blog real soon . Also everyone can friend either Shelby or myself on Facebook and see pictures there . If you are a Facebook follower please also friend us at THE ONE PROJECT.
If you have any pictures you dont mind sharing please email or place on a disk and Shelby and I will make sure we get as many on our blog as possible .
An article came out in the Winston Salem Journal this past Thursday and it can be seen on the newspapers web site . Thanks to Lisa ( author ) and Bruce ( photographer ) for a very nice article . We are hoping that pictures will also come out in this Tuesdays edition of The Kernersville News and thanks to them for taking the time to come out and cover Opening Day.
Since the article was published we have had 13 more athletes sign up - AWESOME.
After Tee Ball we moved up to the Big Field and played the Coach Pitch Game and the Machine . Kid Pitch Game. All four teams played their hearts out on both sides of the ball and it is going to be great seeing them improve over the year . We actually moved four athletes up from Coach Pitch to Machine Kid Pitch after their games when we noticed their abilities and spoke to each athletes parents individually.

I have had several people email or call me and ask about sponsorship and scholarship opportunities for The Sandlot .

We do have opportunities for both and let me start with the scholarship program. This program basically covers the entry fee for a player which is $80.00 and is being used to its fullest currently . If you or anyone you know would like to scholarship a player please contact myself or Shelby and it is as simple as writing a check for whatever amount you feel lead to The One Project .

Corporate Sponsorship is also available and all inquiries need to contact me at either my email, cell phone or stop by The Sandlot . NO CHILD WILL EVER BE TURNED AWAY due to financial hardships .

It has been an awesome journey so far and I cannot wait to see where we all go from here - Thanks to everyone for making this vision possible,

Coach Mike .