For this team, today was truly the greatest day of the trip. LITS WIN A DOUBLEHEADER. They played tonight against NMVLL, those that have read the previous updates know that the Lits stayed with NMVLL host families last week. Both NMVLL and this weeks hosts, LRLL, play the Lits twice, only fair since they went beyond the call of duty.
First game against the Giants, as you all know, the first game has not been the Lits forte, but tonight, they jump on the ball, solid defense and are hitting the ball like nobody’s business. In the 4th inning the are ahead 11-2 and finish the game 14-8. Edis Matusevicius pitches very well and game is closed out by Vykintas Kaziulis, defense was better than we have seen in the first game so far, still issues, but a better display than has been the case previous nights. The NMV Giants manager very gracious, congratulates all the kids and VN, Giants players seem to be just as excited that the Lits win as the Lits are. With the Lits at the NMV fields all day last Saturday, every NMV kid knows them all, truly a great universal respect and admiration going both ways, which is for me what this adventure was and is all about.
For those that have called games in Europe, little Pupininkas is hit by a pitch just above the elbow, had to hurt, he heads for first holding his arm, umps have called time, VN checks on the little guy, yells to the dugout, one of the kids brings out the famous can of freeze spray, they spray his arm, he stays at first. I ask VN if the little munchkin is OK, he says, “yes he is fine, he wants to stay and run”, kid rocks.
Second game against the Nationals. The Nationals are the only undefeated team in NMV and have rocked all their opponents this year. Rick Mayer, the manager, was the host for both Nomeda and Gerdes last week, he and his wife Tia loved their Lits and it was more than a mutual love fest. The Nationals do not pitch their number one or two pitchers as they have a game later this week, but he throws the rest of his staff, this was not a give away game, taken seriously by both sides. Rick knows that VN really cares that his kids play well and brought the team here to face good competition, and if they win great, but if they lose but have played to the best abilities, VN is fine with that also. VN knows the Nationals reputation as the studs of NMV and was truly looking forward to playing them. Game goes back and forth, both teams playing well, in the fifth Lits ahead 5-3, Nationals have bases loaded, the stud hitter who jacked a three run home run in the first inning is up to bat. VN has Robertas Vilimas intentionally walk him, now 5-4, next batter strokes a double scoring two runs, Lits down 6-5. Now top of sixth, Lits start spraying the ball all over the field, go ahead 8-6. Rapalas Petronis, Egle’s son comes into pitch the sixth, allows one hit, but closes out the inning with some great defensive in back of him, Lits win, place goes nuts.
NMV kid’s had spring break last week when the Lits were with them, so not only the host families kids got to know the Lits, but since all were out of school all their buddies got to know the Lits also. Tons of kids all rooting for the Lits. Feel bad for the poor LRLL host kids, they are in school this week, so they rarely get to see their guests, some of the Lits are sleepers, so the host kid is out the door for school, and the Lit is at practice and then games before the host kid gets home, and the Lits are not getting back to the hosts homes before 10:00 PM, so host kid already in bed, bummer.
Gather there maybe a mass defection from school on Thursday so they can go to Disneyland with the Lits and for sure others are dumping school on Friday. Somehow, rules that would never ever be broken, are broken when they get very quickly to love their Lit guest.
Rapalas and Egle’s hosts this week, have taken to them in a big way. The host Dad since his kids are in school, took them today to Laguna and Newport Beach, toured the art galleries and had espresso, more for Egle than Rapalas. So it is Rapalas’s turn and they go to one of the local kids parks, video games etc plus go carts and wonder of wonders batting cages. Raplalas has no interest in go carts, batting cages of course for the typical Lit baseball junkie. The start in 40 MPH cage and when the host Dad ran out of tokens 45 minutes later, they are in the 80 MPH cage. Host Dad convinced that this was the cause of Rapalas hitting every thing that came his way today. When Rapalas takes the mound in the sixth inning of the second game, this normally reserved stress free Dad, looks like he is going to burst a blood vessel, pacing back and forth like an expectant father in the waiting room, game over he has to sit down and de-compress, the Lits have away of just getting under your skin, they are yours and you are as proud of them as you would be your very own, just a way cool thing for me to see.
Tomorrow, day with the San Clemente lifeguards at the beach and then one game against SCLL, San Clemente LL.
This missive is also now available at the following link: Orange County Register
