Well we did it!   Went undefeated to win the gold medal beating the Subway Sluggers from PEI 11-4 in the final.  It was a bit back in forth in the beginning we got out to a 2 zip lead then they scored 3.  We were rallying with bases loaded none out and they ended up getting a triple play on a hard liner to left.  I was a bit worried when that happened.  Next up we loaded the bases again and our pitcher Tania hit a double to score three.  We gave up one in the top of the inning and then we loaded the bases again and Rosie hit a double to give us the seven runs needed in the fifth to mercy.  She had pitched the win to get us to the gold and is 55 like me so it was sweet.  I started the game in right and Cynde took over for me.  Marla was in left field and made a couple nice catches. We then took tons of photos and started trading with the other teams while celebrating with a beer in the beer gardens ( well rum and coke for me - yes hard stuff ...

Well we are getting a medal for sure just not sure if it's silver or gold!  Beat the breakaways 45 from Australia 13-3 to advance.  We jumped out to an 8 zip lead and added some more for the win.  We really thought this game was going to be closer but they couldn't hit off Rosie and their pitcher was almost Slopitch pitching at some points.  We have a good hitting team and our defense is solid so solid that a line drive hit Kelly in the shin pads at third and the ball bounced to Arlene at second and she threw the runner out at first! Pretty exciting to know we are leaving here with a medal.  Game time 1pm Sunday in New Zealand so that's Saturday at 6pm in BC, 7 in Alberta and Moose Jaw and 9 in Ottawa.

A top four finish for sure and hopefully a medal!  It was an early 615am trip to the ball field for an 8am start against the Demons from Australia.  These were the ladies we met at opening ceremonies.  It was a great hitting game on our part and a 10-1 win in just five innings.  Colleen was on fire with two home runs.  I played right field and scored once and I also struck out but it was a crappy low and inside pitch and that's my story! We now play tomorrow at 940 and a win moves us to the gold medal match.  There are three Canadian teams and an Australian team in the top four.  We get the Australian team. After our game we went up Mount Eden where we had a 360 degree view of the city.  It was amazing!  Then onto the bowling alley where 11 of us went for two games.  It was happy hour but it was still expensive.   Two games were $31 but boy it was fun!  I missed my shoes and my own ball. Excited for tomorrow.

We are off the the playoff round finishing first in our pool after a 14-0 over Alberta Crude.  I played third, Cynde second, Marla in center and Colleen caught.  We had two home runs in the game including a grand slam from Kelly.  It was awesome.  Auntie Janet's sister Helen came to cheer us on. We now play our first playoff game tomorrow at 8am.  Not sure the buses can get us there in time so we've booked a cab. We picked up groceries so Cynde can cook Greek then off to watch some comox valley teachers play basketball before going to the planetarium. Weather has been nice and warm here.  Oh yes still walking uphill both ways lol!

A gorgeous sunny day and a great vista for a ball game at Rangitoto College overlooking the ocean.  It was a tight game for the first three innings against the Salish Nation from the BC interior but we blew it open and went on to a 7-0 win in five innings.  That's considered a mercy over here. We then went over to the other ball field to watch the competitive 45 division and were surprised that they didn't seem to be much higher caliber than us...well at least the teams we watched.  Then we watched the men play.  It was a hot sunny day with a bit of wind.  Had a burger at the field and it had beet root on it.  Weird but good.  Cynde's pita also had beets on it guess that's a thing here. We play at 1120 tomorrow morning against Alberta Crude.

We went up the Sky Tower today.  It's over 1076 feet high with a fabulous view of all of Auckland.  It was a bit scary but Colleen actually walked around the outside yesterday now that's crazy!  The best part of going there was that is attached to the Casino.  Things are way different than at home.  For example the slot machines don't take bills greater than $20, the sound on the machines were all turned  down low, two glasses of wine and a rum and coke cost $27, jackpots paid out at $500 or more and the sports bar played Sunday night baseball on Monday.  Tomorrow is Anzac Day here (like Remembrance Day) so we don't play now until Wednesday.

Up early to catch the 7 am bus to make it to our 940 game.  Ugh!  It was windy and cloudy but turned sunny for our game.  All four roomies started this game.  Marla at third, Cynde at second, Colleen behind the plate and me in right field.  We got out to a 2 zip lead in the top of the first and then I led off the second with a double and sister Cynde couldn't be out done so she hit a double and scored me.  It felt great to finally get a solid hit.  This afternoon we are going up the sky tower and then hope to find the casino. I am tired of all this walking and will continue to bitch away in my head but we did find a bus that gets us a bit closer to our hotel. My drink of the week is a vodka cruiser exotic fruit flavor and tonight it's back to my rum. If I win at the casino I will rent a limo for the next trip to the park lol!

Up early today to visit the Auckland Zoo one of several places we have been granted free passes to.  It was awesome! We saw giraffes, lions, zebras, a rhino, kiwi, wallabys and a red panda.  The zoo is very lush with huge aloe vera plants, cacti and palm trees.  We did a speedy two hour tour before heading to the ball park for game two.  We beat the Native American Sisters from Ontario 9-5.  I played right field and got one hit.  Cynde came in part way through and played second.  She had two nice hits.  Right after our game it started to rain but it was sunny and cloudy and windy during the game. Met some nice ball players from Capetown, South Africa on the bus and they had a Cindy and a Rhonda on their team.  Weird.  Those girls had to fund raise like crazy like us as the exchange is $10 of their money to $1 NZ.  We traded pins with them happily but are seriously rethinking our decision of eating the chocolate from the swimmer fro...

First game is in the books and it was an 11-1 win over PEI.  Cynde and I sat until the last inning and closed the game for the win.  I played third and she played second so that was a switch for us.  The girls bats were really good today.  Hope to be able to get an at bat in tomorrow's game.  Nice to know that lots of teams have wondered if we were in the 35 plus group!!!! Hitched a ride with Harvey and Rosie, instead of taking 3 buses home and then walked for groceries...have I said I am tired of all the walking?  Well I am.  There are too many hills! Cynde made spaghetti for dinner and we just relaxed tonight. Oh one game note - here you can have a DH and another player known as the rabbit.  The rabbit can run for anyone but just once per inning and they can start at any base.  Thought Cynde might be good at that just as long as she doesn't run for me! Cynde likes traveling by car way better than three buses Marla was stellar at third...

I am really appreciate Utah after today.  A quick ten minute drive and you are at any field.  Not the case here.  It took us three buses, a walk of about a kilometer and an hour and a half to get to the ball field from our hotel and we didn't even play today!  It was a trial run for tomorrow's game but we did have a bit of a practise.  Then back home and another bus to the opening ceremonies.  Pretty neat seeing all the athletes and special effects.  We sat in the softball section with a team from Australia and it turns out the son of one of the women worked at Mount Washington.  Karen, Karen and Denise are my new friends and they are coming to our game tomorrow with some stuff to trade. Oh and did you know a selfie stick is a dangerous weapon?  They weren't going to let me bring it in to the stadium and when I closed it up angrily it broke.  Not a happy camper. Room mate quiz What have you learned about NZ so far? Colleen - kiwis ar...

Okay I admit we are having a hard time figuring out what time it is here let alone back home.  If I texted you too late last night I' m sorry.  Between home, Cook Island time and NZ time it is confusing.  We headed to register this morning and got out games back packs and shirts.   Then off to get groceries.  Cynde, Marla and I were surprised at the prices of fruits and vegetables (avocados were $3.98 a pound and kiwi $3.49) but cheese and meat were reasonable and finally so was pop.  Some weird foods like chicken chips which I'm sure Joan would love lol. Can't get a decent cup of coffee I might be awake for two days after the watered down espresso I had.  We managed to get a coffee press for our room so we have something to go with our baileys and rumchala.  Booze is expensive but that hasn't stopped us.  Drinking more coolers than rum. Our apartment condo is on the 11th floor with two bedrooms, a tiny kitchen and a huge bathroom.  Th...

This day was to be the day we circled the Island to see all we could see.  We started out buying bus passes and headed to Maurie Beach where Marla, Corrina and Arlene snorkeled while Cyn, Jen, Carmen and I enjoyed the sunshine and drinks on the beach.  Then it was on to Rarotonga Beach which had gorgeous beach but gritty sand.  We brought out the ball gloves and played catch on the beach until it started to pour.  The sun came out again so we rented snorkel gear and paddle boards.  Yes I snorkeled the fish were so cool!  And yes I managed to stand up on the paddle board.  It rained again so we headed to happy hour at Castaway and Wilson' s Beach Bar - yes the Tom Hanks inspired  bar.  Now at Happy Hour cocktails are $10 at most places so not cheap in fact a bottle of coke was $5 and a cup of coffee $5.50 so not a cheap place at all.  We had appies of bacon wrapped prawns and scallops and those were yummy. From there we waited for the bu...

We arrived in the Cook Islands just before 6am and checked into Club Raro in Rarotonga and by 730 we were basking into the sun and checking out our beach which was a bit rockier than the pictures showed.  By 10 it was time for lunch and a nap.  Craziest thing about our resort there were chickens everywhere!  Sugar ants in our room too.  After lunch it was time for a nap for some of us while others hung out at the pool until dinner at the night market.  Taxis travel on 'island time' so some tourists heard we needed a ride and all 7 of us squished into their car!  Marla, Cynde and I got some weird looks from cars behind as we sat in the back of the hatch.  The things you do on holidays...after a meal of smoked marlin crepes and then BBQ chicken we headed back and hitched a ride with a lovely Island couple.  At the hotel we watched the waves and chatted with a sheep shearer and his girlfriend who shared my birth day. It poured down with rain and we h...

  At 730am I checked the flight to find out we were 15 minutes delayed and called the airport to see how it was looking.  Patty at pacific coastal suggested the 830 flight instead of the 1030 so we picked up Cynde and booked it to the airport where Patty met us with boarding passes in hand and we got there through security with minutes to spare. The flight to Vancouver was great and we met our five other teammates for the flight to LA and our 6 hour lay over.  No fun at that airport!  When it was time to head out for our Cook Islands flight we boarded a bus and headed out onto the runway.  It was like a movie scene with jets taking off right beside us.  Crazy.  Trying to sleep on our flight was crazy; dinner was served after midnight and there was a lady walking around in just her bra for part of the flight!

Well Mother Nature please be kind.  We fly out tomorrow morning and need a bright and sunny day.  Seven of us will be leaving tomorrow and spending my birthday together in the Cook Islands.  Looking forward to it but might have to go weigh my suitcase one more time.  I had to help Cynde downsize from 59 pounds earlier.  Never been away for 3 weeks before so not sure what to pack...oh wait they have stores there right!  Thanks for the birthday lunch yesterday and special thanks Mallory for my awesome cake!

So looking forward to getting away. It has been crazy town here (as Chad says). Dad's in a home, Mom was in emergency last week with heart issues, and it just seems to be piling on. A holiday is just what we need!

We are about to start another adventure. We are heading to the Cook Islands for Easter weekend and my birthday then onto the World Masters Game in Auckland New Zealand for fastball with our Loss of Gravity Team. After the games we are off to Australia. Wow! Can't wait!