Fantasy Camp Wednesday, Friday - Saturday night

Backing up to Wednesday afternoon: Wednesday afternoon is the usual "afternoon off" for the campers. Some guys go to the beach (weather permitting), others just hang out, and some play golf in a scramble organized by one of the pros. Paul and I played golf with former Twins player and manager at AAA Rochester, Phil Roof, who has the biggest hands we have ever seen. I took a picture of Paul's hand next to Phil's, and it was like grandson Zach's in Paul's! We had a good time, shot even par for the 15 holes we were able to get in before dark, and enjoyed the break from baseball.

Friday The Nimrods lost 9 - 3 against the team that beat them 12 - 11 on Thursday. This means that they are out of the competition. We spotted them too many runs in the first couple of innings and couldn't catch up. Paul pitched the last 4 innings and gave up a few runs on some "seeing eye" hits. Unfortunately, the Nimrods were not scoring, so it really didn't factor in the outcome of the game. I guess we were either 3rd or 4th best of 8 teams.

Friday night dinner was preceded by a second Kangaroo Court and MVP awards for the previous 4 games. Paul was again awarded MVP for his 4-hit, 2-run, 9-strikeout complete game performance in the Wednesday morning game.

Saturday The championship games for both the upper and lower division were played today. The team, whose roster included Twins broadcaster, Dick Bremer, won the championship. We did not watch the games, as we took a couple of our Nimrod teammates to the Everglades for an airboat ride. We saw a few alligators, numerous birds, and a lot of dead fish -- a result, they say, of the recent cold snap here in south Florida.

We are now back from tonight's closing banquet. There was a charity auction which netted several thousand dollars for the Lee County Children's Foundation. In addition, team division champion and individual awards were handed out for Over and Under age 50: Cy Young, Gold Glove, Rookie of Year, MVP and Kirby Pucket Award (for hustle/inspiration). Paul was nominated for, AND WON, the Cy Young award (best pitcher) in the Over - 50 age group, and was one of the five nominees for the MVP in the Over 50 age group. Needless to say, he was very happy to have won the Cy Young, and I was very proud of the old guy. But equally rewarding was just being included among the group of other outstanding pitchers who were nominated.

We are now packing up and tomorrow, morning bright and early, we will head north.....just as the temperatures have returned to "normal" for this area! (At least we have not gotten too spoiled, and the re-entry to MN winter will not be so severe!