“The game is a lot like life. You’re going to have your ups and downs.” — Phil Rizzuto
Norfolk State was in town so we took the opportunity on a Friday afternoon to head to CCSU for a double header to see a new team. They entered with a record of 1-29 overall and 1-17 in the NEC, with CCSU having the opposite conference record of 17-1.
I picked Eli up from school a few minutes early, and we headed to New Britain. The weather was warm-ish and sunny, with high wind gusts. We arrived early in Game 1, around 3:00, and spent time passing a ball to the right of the home plate netting – something Eli has wanted to do more and more as of late.
CCSU outscored NSU 13-3 and won by run rule after 7 innings, but the highlight of the game came in the top of the 7th when NSU junior Justin Journette hit a solo home run. This was career home run #36 for Journette, breaking a 36-year-old school record. Eli was able to track down the ball, a monster shot to left-center, and gave it back to him. He was very appreciative and gave Eli another ball and batting gloves as a thank you.
Game 2 was much closer in score, with CCSU winning 4-3 and improving to 19-1 in the NEC. Journette hit another solo home run (career #37), which Eli also gave to him. He ended up signing it and giving it back to Eli after the game. Eli was able to get dugout cards from both head coaches, and we got the HP umpire’s batting order cards.
We’ll try to attend the NEC tournament at the end of May in New York, depending on other conference tournaments in the area at the same time.
