(Ironically) Part of the Team

shaving cream.jpgI don’t want to sound whiny or cliche, but as a woman in sports you often feel like an outsider–especially so if, like me, you have to enter the clubhouse on a regular basis.  I have never run into a problem, but I have also never felt like I’ve been included or accepted–until now.

A couple of days ago, I wrote a post on the recent shaving cream shenanigans taking place during the post-game interviews.  I should’ve known to keep my big mouth shut. 


Check out the video of last night’s interview.

I knew Brett Jackson had it coming, but ME?!  Never even saw it coming.  In fact, I turned and saw Logan Watkins, made eye contact with him and thought to myself: “Yes, Logan’s going to get Brett too!  This is awe–” SPLAT!  In my face…my mouth, my nose, my eye.  Morning after, and I can still taste men’s Barbasol in my mouth.

Eh, with all of the young guys in the clubhouse I guess that had to find some kind of use for the shaving cream–because they sure as heck can’t grow any facial hair.  (Sorry, cheap shot, but I had to get it in).

Droppings from the Nest, July 19th-21st

Playing some catch up.  Since my last post, we’ve opened our homestand against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes winning two of the three games.  I’ve got a lot of droppings to collect.

Phew!  I hope I got everything!

Be on the lookout for video from the Hawks Baseball Camp…and a lovely surprise I got after the game last night.

Droppings from the Nest, July 18th

Brett celebration.jpgThree in a row–the guys notched their third win, sweeping Yakima–the first time there has been three wins in a row or a sweep for the Hawks all season!  Greg Rohan also hit a homer last night, making it two in a row for the Hawks on the long-awaited long ball.  I really think this team is picking up momentum and is coming into their own.  And I think it has a lot to do with attitude–the guys are having fun together, on the field and off,  and when you are having fun you perform much much better.

I joked in my post yesterday about the player of the game getting a shaving cream pie for the past two games (and poor Greg Rohan got one last night as well), but it really shows the camaraderie of the team.  Another example is the group of about five guys who came out and lay on the grass to watch the fireworks after the game.  They are having fun with each other–and only good things can come of that.

Now to the droppings:

Don’t forget to check out the post-game party at Applebee’s tonight after the game.  Players will be there to mingle with fans!  Check it out–Applebee’s at the corner of Glenwood and Chinden.  I’ll see you there!

Third Times the Charm?

In all actuality, this title can apply to a lot of things the Boise Hawks will encounter tonight. 

First of all, coming off two winning games against Yakima, the Hawks are looking for their third straight win.  So far this season, the Hawks have only been able to string two wins together at the time.  Tonight will actually be the third time they try to get that winning streak kicked off.

The second reason is more of a personal beef I have…and yet, beef may be the wrong word. 

On Wednesday, we started doing on-field Northwest Dodge player-of-the-game interviews (and I get to be the correspondent).  The first night, I interviewed Logan Watkins who has now extended his hitting streak to eight games.  Logan was a little camera-shy so I had to beg him to come do the interview, at one point, taking him by the hand and dragging him across the field (not one of my prouder moments).  When I finally convinced him to sit in the hot-seat and we were moving through the interview fairly well, here comes Brett Jackson with a shaving-cream pie–right in Logan’s face!

Pie in face.jpgLogan handled it well, even completing the interview with shaving cream on his face, but was convinced that I had planned the whole ordeal.  After talking to Logan afterwards and straightening out the fact that I did not have anything to do with the shaving cream, I figured I was back on good terms and wouldn’t have any problems with the post-game interviews in the future.

Then came last night’s player-of-the-game interview with Justin Bour.  Justin’s a newbie, joining the Hawks just three days ago.  As I pulled him aside after the game I said to him, “Hopefully you won’t get a pie in the face like Logan did.”

Pie II.jpgLet me just say that I needed to eat my words about ten minutes later…as I saw Brett Jackson bolting towards us out of the corner of my eye.  Next thing I know…Justin’s face is plastered with shaving cream.

While I don’t know if Brett Jackson is totally to blame–and it is all in good fun anyway–Brett will be the Northwest Dodge Player of the Game tonight no matter what.  We’ll see if what goes around comes around!

Although, maybe I should be the one hoping not to get a pie in the face…

Remember, you can watch all home games on BoiseHawks.tv.  At the end of the game, don’t forget you can also catch the Northwest Dodge Player of the Game interviews…and plenty of pies.

Droppings from the Nest, July 16th-17th

Coming off of their five-game road trip in Vancouver, the Boise Hawks have come back to Boise shouting “Honey, I’m home!” 

Logan.jpgThe Hawks won their second in a row against the Yakima Bears last night.  Logan Watkins has extended his hitting streak to eight games now, going 4-5 on Wednesday and 5-6 last night.  Additionally, new Hawk and first baseman Justin Bour hit the first Hawks home run at Memorial this season–I know the fans have been waiting on that one!
Now let’s get to those droppings:

Also, some roster moves you may not be aware or: pitcher Miguel Sierra, catcher Alvaro Sosa and infielder Jordan Petraitis were all sent to Mesa on Wednesday.  In return, pitcher Eduardo Figueroa, catcher Richard Jones and first baseman Justin Bour were all promoted to Boise.  Jones and Bour were both members of this year’s draft class–Jones a 9th rounder out of The Citadel and Bour a 25th rounder out to George Mason.

Droppings from the Nest, July 15th

It feels slightly counter-intuitive to say this, but I love gamedays!  Yes, gamedays mean 14 hour days.  Yes, gamedays mean eating lunch in my office.  Yes, gamedays often mean running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  But I love it! 

I like the immediacy of gamedays–the adrenaline rush.  It’s the closest thing to actually playing baseball I can get.  I still get butterflies; I still get excited about the game.  I guess what I’m trying to say is–I am so glad the boys are back in town!  Good thing I feel this way because we have eight games ahead of us.

On to the (minimal) droppings:

*That’s another reason why I like it when the guys are back–there are more droppings to talk about.

Off-day Adventures in Boise

With the guys in Vancouver for five days, my coworkers and I enjoyed some nice R&R…even getting our first “real” weekend since the beginning of the season.

Adventure #1: Whitewater rafting the Payette River
I am scared of drowning.  I once watched this video that showed people rafting the Colorado River and I remember thinking: “There is absolutely no way I would ever go whitewater rafting…”

Rafting.jpgUnless it was connected to my job.

How on Earth did I find a job that would be able to tie in whitewater rafting?!  It’s not like my job was on the line if I didn’t go whitewater rafting, but my boss did invite me, along with another office member, to go with her family.

Leading up to Thursday, I was so nervous, all I could think about was rafting…and falling out of the raft.  That morning I couldn’t eat breakfast for fear of a nervous stomach.  But I did manage to chow down some granola (I was trying to get into the outdoorsy mode) and some Tums.

Rafting 2.jpgTurns out most of my anxiety was unneeded as no one in our raft fell out and our guide told us we were the best paddling team he’d seen in a long time…although I’m pretty sure my knuckles were sore the next day from the death-grip I had on my paddle.  We ended up doing “The Rush” half-day trip, riafting through Class III and IV rapids with such names as Bronco Billy, Staircase, Slalom, Dog Leg and Tight and Right.  Great choice for a first-timer, ha!

I think my favorite part was when we were coming up on our last Class IV rapid, Slalom, and our guide was explaining that we need to avoid a monster hole named Seemore.  It’s named Seemore because, as our guide explained, “you see more boats flip and you see more people swim than at any other point of the trip.”  Glorious.

Seconds before we were about to meet Seemore face-to-face, the guide says, “Change of plans, we’re not going to try to avoid Seemore…we’re going right through him.”

I thought I was going to puke.  But before I knew it my mind switched from thoughts of puking to thoughts of paddling as fast as I could.  After a couple huge splashes and what looked like a massive water-cave, I spun around and shouted, “Was that Seemore?!”  The guide confirmed that we did, in fact, make it through Seemore alive…I was so excited I almost fell out of the raft celebrating.

I guess that’s one more thing to check off my bucket list–even though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there to begin with.

I’m starting to feel like I’m crossing a lot off my bucket list here in Boise.  Zip lining is the next big thing to do–but that will have to be after our upcoming eight-game homestand against Yakima and Salem-Keiser.  The guys get back in town tomorrow and take on the Yakima Bears at 7:15.  Check out www.boisehawks.com for tickets or call us at (208) 322-500. 

Go Hawks!
 

Droppings from the Nest, July 14th

Bullpen celebration.jpgHawks notched another win against Vancouver last night with pitcher Larry Suarez getting his first win of the season–and his first win since 2007.  In an uplifting performance, the bullpen came through and staved off the Canadians for the 6-3 victory.

The Hawks bats weren’t silent either as Jose Valdez extended his hitting streak to six games and Logan Watkins extended his streak to six games.  Overall, the Hawks recorded 10 hits.

Let’s check out those droppings:

Droppings from the Nest, July 11th-13th

I apologize for slacking off, I had my first full weekend off since (I think) the season started.  I took the time to explore Boise and relax.  Went to the zoo, did a little karaoke and recovered from my Thursday whitewater rafting adventure.  As soon as my pictures from my water-proof camera are developed I will write a post about my off days.

Now on to the droppings:

The Hawks take on the Vancouver Canadians tonight, hoping for another win.

Droppings from the Nest, July 10th

992850runey_davis.jpgBefore we get to the droppings, we have some roster news to cover.  The Hawks have added outfielder Burundi (Runey) Davis to the roster and word is that he has joined the team for tonight’s game in Vancouver.  Runey was the 12th Round Draft Pick by the Cubs this year out of Howard College in Texas.  Ironically, Howard’s team is also called the Hawks…fate?  In Mesa, Runey was hitting, .250 with one double, 2 homers, and 5 RBI in six games.  Sounds like a much needed power bat for the Hawks…

Not much in today’s droppings because of the off-day yesterday, but: