IYAA Baseball weathers the storms

Image: Blazing away — Italy started the 2009 baseball season in a blaze of glory.

Blazing away — Italy started the 2009 baseball season in a blaze of glory. (Barry Byers)

Image: Dotting their i’s, crossing their t’s and zipping their gear up are Coach Gary Wood and shortstop Eric “Flash” Carson as they get prepred to begin the season.

Dotting their i’s, crossing their t’s and zipping their gear up are Coach Gary Wood and shortstop Eric “Flash” Carson as they get prepred to begin the season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jacob & Justin — The players try to get loose before their first game of the 2009 season.

Jacob & Justin — The players try to get loose before their first game of the 2009 season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ready to go — Hank Seabolt is all smiles before the first pitch.

Ready to go — Hank Seabolt is all smiles before the first pitch. (Barry Byers)

Image: Victor-y will be ours! — Victor realizes the season is a marathon. While Vic concentrates on his hitting drill, he still keeps one eye on the 1st place prize.

Victor-y will be ours! — Victor realizes the season is a marathon. While Vic concentrates on his hitting drill, he still keeps one eye on the 1st place prize. (Barry Byers)

Image: Colton Petry — Colton gets his throwing arm loose.

Colton Petry — Colton gets his throwing arm loose. (Barry Byers)

Image: Justin And Chase — No strangers to 1st place finishes, Justin Wood and Chase Hamilton will rely heavily on one another to bring home another Championship.

Justin And Chase — No strangers to 1st place finishes, Justin Wood and Chase Hamilton will rely heavily on one another to bring home another Championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey Walton — First Baseman Bailey Walton carried the equipment to the field and later blooped a double over Whitney’s infield to help tie the game 8-8.

Bailey Walton — First Baseman Bailey Walton carried the equipment to the field and later blooped a double over Whitney’s infield to help tie the game 8-8. (Barry Byers)

Image: Collecting thoughts — From collecting thoughts, before the game, to collecting their first win of the season against Hillsboro, 11-8.

Collecting thoughts — From collecting thoughts, before the game, to collecting their first win of the season against Hillsboro, 11-8. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anxious but steadfast — Italy conquered their pre-game anxieties to beat Hillsboro 11-8.

Anxious but steadfast — Italy conquered their pre-game anxieties to beat Hillsboro 11-8. (Barry Byers)

Image: Eric and Jacob — Bagging up after the game is Eric Carson and Jacob Essery.

Eric and Jacob — Bagging up after the game is Eric Carson and Jacob Essery. (Barry Byers)

Image: He’d be a, patcher — Justin Wood pitches and catches just not at the same time.

He’d be a, patcher — Justin Wood pitches and catches just not at the same time. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hulk Hamilton — Basking in the glory of win #1 is Chase Hamilton.

Hulk Hamilton — Basking in the glory of win #1 is Chase Hamilton. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coaches conference — Coaches had to make some adjustments to secure the win against Hillsboro.

Coaches conference — Coaches had to make some adjustments to secure the win against Hillsboro. (Barry Byers)

Image: Chase pitches — Chase Hamilton hammers Itasca throwing over 80 pitches.

Chase pitches — Chase Hamilton hammers Itasca throwing over 80 pitches. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cage match! — Russel Clingenpeel and Victor Desmond peer through the cage to watch the battle.

Cage match! — Russel Clingenpeel and Victor Desmond peer through the cage to watch the battle. (Barry Byers)

Image: Looking on — Italy’s Coach Gary Wood, Lewis Essery and Gary May are restless late in the game.

Looking on — Italy’s Coach Gary Wood, Lewis Essery and Gary May are restless late in the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey holds runner — Bailey Walton tries to hold the runner on 1st base.

Bailey holds runner — Bailey Walton tries to hold the runner on 1st base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Norwood — Big Coach Norwood has a heart of gold when it comes to the kiddos.

Coach Norwood — Big Coach Norwood has a heart of gold when it comes to the kiddos. (Barry Byers)

Image: Got it! — Italy’s infield warms up before the umpire yells, “Play ball!”

Got it! — Italy’s infield warms up before the umpire yells, “Play ball!” (Barry Byers)

Image: Kendrick Norwood — Kendrick Norwood takes the infield.

Kendrick Norwood — Kendrick Norwood takes the infield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Garret Janek — Garret Janek delivers the fastball….STRIKE 3!

Garret Janek — Garret Janek delivers the fastball….STRIKE 3! (Barry Byers)

Image: Coaches observe — Coach Stephen Mott and Coach Stephen Janek try to guide their troops to a victory.

Coaches observe — Coach Stephen Mott and Coach Stephen Janek try to guide their troops to a victory. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gary catches — Gary Scott Escamilla does his work behind the plate. However, Covington found a way winning a close one over Italy, 8-7.

Gary catches — Gary Scott Escamilla does his work behind the plate. However, Covington found a way winning a close one over Italy, 8-7. (Barry Byers)

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