Rockies Skills Challenge - Regional Competition

Jamie competed in the Regionals for the Rockies Skills Challenge last Sunday in Pueblo. The competition started at 10:00am and, unlike the local competition in Alamosa, did not seem to be very organized. It goes against every fiber of my being to actually admit that our local rec center was organized, but compared to the event in Pueblo, they were. There are three skills involved: throwing, hitting & base running. In Alamosa, each event was set up at a different field and three groups rotated through, it was very efficient. In Pueblo, they had ALL of the kids do each event at the same time. So, all 40 or so kids had to wait for everyone to take their three throws before they moved on to hitting. Then, ALL of them had to wait out everyone taking their three hits before moving on to base running. All in the heat of the day, close to 100 degrees. The parents were melting in the stands...I can't imagine how the kids felt sitting and waiting in the heat.

Jamie said he had fun, though. He knew the other kids from Alamosa who were competing and I think that helped him feel more comfortable. There were 8 boys in his age division and, although I didn't get his actual measurements, I think he did better than he did in the local competition. He got 4th place in his age division. He really wanted to win so that he could go to a Rockies game so I think he was a little disappointed. He did so well, though, and he seemed to take it all in stride. I'm hoping that we can plan a trip up to Denver to go to a Rockies game anyway.

Bill & Jamie warming up before the competition began

throwing

waiting in the dugout for his turn to hit (almost his turn!)

hitting

base running (they ran from 2nd base to home plate)

crossing home plate

4th place!!

all of the competitors