The days continue to fly by and the Lits are I truly believe having the time of their lives. Most went to Lake Mission Viejo for a picnic, swimming in the lake, riding the 2 person electric motor boats, beach volleyball and picnic lunch with their host families. Couple of others went to Angels Stadium in Anaheim with their host Mom, who knows somebody who knows somebody and they got the VIP tour, on the field, in the dugout and met Mike Scioscia the Angels manager.
Tonight another doubleheader, so another 7 plus hours of baseball if you add in the hour of practice. The played tonight Ladera Ranch LL who will be their host families next week. Of course this league went way beyond any expectations in hosting tonight’s games. Two different four man ump crews for each game, announcing their names, a great meal of sandwiches, chips, soda etc. The dugout had iced down Gatorade & water and of course again the Lits barely touched them, like their beverages air temperature, they do not get our fascination with incredibly cold drinks.
First game as they are each introduced they were given one of the huge Easton duffel type bags with their respective name embroidered on it. The look on the faces when they saw these was priceless. The bag has a pull out handle and wheels, way cool. As has become the custom, the first game is not a defensive gem. The youngest Ed of the family of Ed’s, pitched a truly great game with the right handed Vilimas coming in after Ed had reached his pitch count max, final score with the Lits going down to defeat 12-8. Again probably five outs per inning. The highlight of the game, little Nomeda has a 3-0 count, fakes a bunt, third base charges in, she slaps a shot over his head and gets to first base safely, the crowd of host parents of course goes nuts, the home team crowd gives her very polite applause. So she has her first hit, yahoo!!!! Other highlight, little and I mean little Pupininkas gets two walks in the game, he may be tiny, but he has a tremendous attitude. Turns out, Pupininkas is a cousin of Jesse James, yes our notorious Jesse James.
Second game against the Mets. Like every night so far, the Lits are a different team, hitting the ball, making solid defensive plays, Lits win 6-4. Left handed Vilimas throws a gem of a game with Balantas closing out the last inning with only 7 pitches. The Lits are given a gift bag with a Ladera t-shirt, red socks, a Ladera baseball and a few other things I forgot to write down. We are starting to have a number of expatriate Lits at the games, so they are hearing the language and being cheered on with garai-garai-garai, very cool.
In the fifth inning of the second game, the host Dad of the couple Ana and Egilides brings them to the game from the airport. Those of you that have been reading from day one, will remember they flew over to Vegas for two nights. They went to the Grand Canyon the first day and wait for it……………. YES they did get married by Elvis in one of the chapels over there. They were a little disappointed to find out that there are four Elvis’s, but hey, they were married by the head Elvis. He even sang for the Viva Las Lithuania for them. As they are walking up to the field she is carrying her bouquet. Of course the word was out and as they walk up they get a standing ovation, what a hoot. The host Dad, Bob Bishop is so proud that this was all pulled off by he and Egilides, you would think he was the father of the Bride, again what a hoot.
NMVLL host families have come to the realization that they only have them for two more days, depression is setting in, they were again warned that tears will not be acceptable and deep squats will be enforced if I see tears.
