Friday, March 22, 2024

Middle School Soccer Mania Continues


Thursday, March 21, 2024
Just another GREAT day to be alive . . .

First, there was this fabulous occasion

We celebrated with pastries from our favorite French boulangerie and patisserie in Camarillo, Cafe Ficelle.

Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day, so we did it up right!

This was even a better reason to celebrate
a glorious Thursday in Ventura County

There better be a Granddaughter Day coming up soon for Mary's sake.

Speaking of Mary, while she had a one hour after school piano lesson today, our two grandsons were playing yet another round of middle school soccer games this afternoon.

In Las Vegas, Kevin's Canarelli Middle School Colts (1-0) were on the road taking on the Burkholder Academy Jaguars. The Colts traveled by school bus. It was Kevin's first bus ride to an athletic event and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience by all accounts.

We were not able to secure any photos from the game but were happily told that, once again, Kevin got a lot of playing time in the Colts (2-0) 13-2 route of the Jaguars.

WAY TO GO, KEVIN! 

Back in California, Jacob's Las Colinas Middle School Mustangs (2-1) were also traveling today to take on the De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts (DATA) Navigators in Ventura.

When these two clubs met last week in Camarillo, the Navigators won 1-0

No bus for the Mustangs, we arrived
by as series of car pools

For all of us, it was our first ever visit to the DATA campus which we found to be neat, clean and spacious.

This interesting tree bark caught my
eye as we entered the DATA campus . . .

. . . as did this mural, I LOVE murals!

DATA's beautiful setting for a pitch

We all hoped that the rest of that tall hill in the background didn't collapse further today.

Jacob lounging while watching the
LCMS Girls team improve to 4-0

So far, the Girls have played at 4:00 pm while to Boys team has squared off at 5:00 p.m.

Human skin-like folds of tree bark on
this eucalyptus tree that shades the pitch

Old #51 entering the game

Both teams came to the contest wearing white jerseys, so the visiting Mustangs donned the yellow scrimmage vests today.

Jacob kicking the ball ball away
from a  DATA Navigator

As always, that darn ball draws
a crowd of players

Another solid boot by Jacob

This one legged Navigator was a
profile in courage today

Laurie said that he actually had a left leg but I was not so sure.

Attacking the ball

WATCH OUT FOR THAT
BLIND SIDE BLOCK, JACOB!

Lot's of running in soccer . . .

. . . and some random jumping

I believe that that is #13 DATA's wife sitting
and mother standing on the left

He is a big and physically mature man-child and an extremely good player!

That vest just has to be creating
a lot of wind drag

Another one-on-one scenario
about to happen

Forcing a pass

Back on Defense

The Mustangs were playing Defense in their end of the field for about 80% of the game. The Navigators are that good.

Fortunately the Mustangs' goalie had a remarkable game with a ton of saves and deflections to keep the score close. At the intermission break, it was DATA 1 - LCMS 0.

Go get 'em, Jacob!

Cross training as Jacob works on
his vertical jump during the game

The DATA Navigators were simply a better team again today in beating the Las Colinas Mustangs (2-2) again, 2-0.

We all thought that Jacob did quite well in giving good effort and showing a good degree of toughness during a physical game.

Now we had a serious decision to make.

The soccer game in Ventura ended at about 6:20 pm.

Jacob had a Cosmos track practice at Camarillo H.S. from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

Under ideal conditions, the direct drive from DATA to Camarillo H.S. would take about 30 minutes, thus getting him at practice with, at best, only ten minutes left in the workout and still in need of warming up.

We unanimously agreed on a Plan B . . .

. . . Mexican food at Johnny's on
Ventura Avenue in Ventura

Only a 1 1/2 mile drive down The Avenue from DATA's campus and given the time parameters, it was the only sane call.

What is that behind Johnny's . . .

. . . it's a another glorious MURAL!

As much as I love both murals and all things Dia de los Muertos related, I love Johnny's plate of four carne asada street tacos more!

Jacob devoured his plate of four chicken street tacos with no ill after effects at all.

Johnny's is truly an iconic hole-in-the wall dining spot in the seaside town of Ventura that is well worth the stop.

Johnny's and I have both been
around since 1947

I did not know that.

On to EuroBall news . . .

The current Italian Football League table
with the Varese Skorpions atop the list

I have always loved the quirkiness of EuroBall scheduling and the IFL is no different.

The Milano Rhinos (2-2) have plated four games, their regular season is now half over.

The Firenze Guelfi (2-1), Torino Giaguari (2-1), Lazio Marines (0-3) and Bologna Warriors (0-3) have all played three games to date.

Then we have the Varese Skorpions (2-0), Ancona Dolphins (2-0), Legnano Frogs (1-1) and Parma Panthers (1-1) each having only competed twice this season.

Crazy, unbalanced scheduling indeed!

The new IFL Power Rankings are a
tad different than the actual standings 

Only three IFL games this week

While the Milano Rhinos play their fifth game of the campaign, the Ancona Dolphins who have played but two games in 2024, have their third bye of what will be the fifth week of the season.

The Firenze Guelfi and Lazio Marines also have byes this weekend.

Spain's Serie A schedule this week

In the Western Conference, the key game is the Las Rozas Black Demons (6-0) at the Osos Rivas (5-1). The Black Demons won the first game between these two Iberian powerhouse teams at home, 10-6, back on February 10th.

The best game in the Eastern Conference sees the Badalona Dracs (6-0) making the voyage to take on the Mallorca Voltors (3-3). The dominant Dracs had no trouble defeating the Voltors also on February 10th, 54-9.

We have no games, practices or events on Friday. A day of rest at last!

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