PLAY BALL!

On a wind-swept Monday afternoon in Ojai, California, the 2011 Hueneme High School Freshman baseball team opened their season against the Nordhoff Rangers nine.

Hueneme Coach Mike Contreras, red cap, exchanging the line-up card with the Nordhoff Coach and the Umpire

Mike continues his fledgling coaching career as the Frosh Vikings head man. This level of baseball requires equal parts patience, knowledge, patience, encouragement and even more patience with a very inexperienced team.

Sacrifice

The Vikings got off to a good start with all nine batters coming to the plate in the first inning.

Stealing Second

The Hueneme nine was aggressive on the base paths.

Mike making sure everyone knew the situation

The Vikings led 2-0 after the top of the first but left three runners on base, not a good sign.

"Coach, go over the signs again please."

Bringing the Heat

Uh-Oh, the Rangers are on the move

The Nordhoff nine tied it up in the bottom of the first, 2-2.

Making a play deep in the hole

TROUBLE!!!

Fortunately, this one was a long foul ball down the right field line.

Competing

The final score favored Nordhoff 14-3 but the 0-1 Vikings played hard to the end. I was really proud of the way Mike used every situation, both positive and negative, as a learning tool for his boys.

They'll get better.

Next up, the home opener on Wednesday against the always dangerous Ventura Cougars.