USSSA Long Island Tournament March 31st- April 1st

Saturday

3pm	New York Jays vs Brooklyn Hign Heat Kings	Flynn Red
5pm	Smithtown Bulls (Weigl) vs Brooklyn High Heat Kings	Flynn Red

Flynn Park:
Long Island Expressway (495) to exit 53 north. (Sunken Meadow Pkwy) Travel north to exit SM3A (Indian Head Road). Make a left onto Indian Head Road and take to Somers Lane (2nd light past the church). Make left on Somers and take to the end. Make a right on Half Hollow Road (changes to Old Commack Road) and take to the field (approx 1 mile on RHS).

FCA Impact Play: “Self-Esteem”

Self-Esteem

READY: 

“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 1:6
SET: 

In our efforts to achieve high esteem, many of us try to wear the right clothes, drive the right cars, or have the right cell phones. We figure if we have all of the "right" stuff, we will finally feel good about ourselves. We think our teammates will begin to think we are cool.
The problem with having the right material items is that, in a month, week or even a day’s time, those will no longer be considered cool. That self-image we thought we could purchase will suddenly be gone.
Or, consider this. Have you ever worried about saying the right things at the right times, or gotten caught up in worrying about acting the right way? At some point, we have to come to the realization that we can't please everyone. No matter how hard we try, there will always be someone (parent, teammate, or coach) who doesn't approve of what we are doing. There will always be times when we do or say something that we shouldn't. Because we are imperfect, our constant striving for perfection will eventually wear us out.
Perfectionism often leads to negative thoughts. We continually remind ourselves of all the things we have done wrong and all the people we have hurt. We think about all of the times we messed up at practice, or worse, the times we messed up during a big game or competition. Things get even worse when we start telling ourselves how much we have let God down. We think about all the times when we deliberately disobeyed God and gave into temptations. This mindset can leave us broken, lost and alone.
But it doesn't have to be that way! Jesus Christ came to earth not only to save us from our sins, but also to save us from those negative thoughts. And it is those thoughts that lead to our low self-esteem. Can't you see how this is the work of Satan? Slowly but surely, he is wearing you down until you crack.
If you need to get out of the habit of thinking negatively, you must first resist the devil so that he will flee from you (James 4:7). Then, you need to meditate on the things God says about you. These are the truths about your life. Look up the additional Bible verses at the bottom of this devotion. Take a moment to read over them and allow yourself time to reflect and meditate on each one. If you will meditate on these verses throughout the day, the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to stay positive in school, at home, at work or at practice. You will most likely still have problems throughout the day, but the Word of God will help you to drive out those negative thoughts and embrace your God-given, Christ-centered, healthy self-esteem.

GO: 
1. What negative thoughts are plaguing you? How are they separating you from God and His Truth?
2. Are your negative thoughts preventing others around you from growing spiritually?
3. Are the negative thoughts of your teammates or coaches keeping you from God's best? How can you encourage them to be positive?
WORKOUT: 

John 8:36
Romans 8
1 Corinthians 6:19; 10:13
2 Corinthians 4:17
Galatians 2:20
Ephesians 3:20
Philippians 4:13
2 Timothy 1:7

FCA Brotherhood

READY: “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?” - Genesis 4:9 (KJV)

SET:  As a coach, one of the things I find most amazing is how great it is when a group of individuals bond in true brotherhood. I’ve been blessed to coach youth football (best sport ever—I’m just sayin’), and at the beginning of each season we give our kids homework to help them understand this kind of brotherhood.
We break it up over the first three weeks when conditioning is hardest on the body, mind and soul. It’s during these times that players (and coaches) either start to bond and get on the same page or fall away from each other.
The homework itself is easy. We ask them to write down the definitions of several words (e.g. Prepared, Faith, Desire, Respect, Integrity, Accountable, Loyal, Effort, Attitude, Endurance, Humble and Brotherhood) and use them in a sentence. Then, they are to list a word with the opposite meaning. While each word helps to build the foundation of brotherhood, it cannot create it. Our job as coaches is to foster an environment in which it can flourish.
As Christians, we are called to function in this same manner with our families, our churches, our teammates and, really, everyone God has placed in our path. It’s our responsibility to tend the souls, lead the hearts, shape the minds and follow Christ in order to achieve true brother/sisterhood—to be our brother’s keeper, so to speak.
It’s a fallen world, so the task of achieving brotherhood can be both simple and difficult, but the fellowship of believers is essential to our Christian life. Some people say, “God and I have an understanding. I don’t need to be part of a local church.” But the truth is we are told in Scripture not to forsake the fellowship and assembly of believers.
If we trust Jesus and lean on each other through life’s difficulties, a special bond will be created. In Christ we become true brothers and sisters.
(P.S. On the homework, one of my players actually listed sisterhood as the opposite of brotherhood. I laughed. He’s only 10, so we cut him some slack.)
GO: 

1. Have you ever experienced true brother/sisterhood? Describe the situation.
2. Is there unity on your sports team? If not, how can you help develop it?
3. Do you have a group of brothers and sisters in Christ you meet with regularly?

WORKOUT: 

John 15:10-17 (KJV)
Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)
1 John 3:11-18 (KJV)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ruben Hernandez is a youth football coach in Illinois. For more information about FCA please visit FCA.org.

20 Principles Of Success Not Taught In School

1. The only thing in life you have control over is your perspective. No matter what happens, YOU control what the meaning is, and what to do with the meaning you give to the circumstance.
2. Have more fear of regret than failure.
3. Failure is only part of the journey to success. There is not one success story out there that hasn’t experienced failure. The reason you are hearing about it as a success story is because those people saw failure as a tool to get it right.
4. It’s not about what you want to do for a living, it’s about you who want to be. What is your purpose and legacy?  I believe the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is wrong. We need to be asking, “Who do you want to be? What footprint do you want to leave in this world?” From there, you will have your answer as to what you should “do.”
5. Stay focused on your race within. When you are too busy looking behind and around you, people are passing you by.
6. True leadership comes from good energy. Worry more about what your energy is like than the firmness your handshake.
7. Life will give you the same challenges/problems over and over again until you learn your lesson.
8. Until you jump over your inner roadblocks, your outer ones will stay firmly in place. We spend so much time focused on all the exterior obstacles around us, letting them be our excuses. But the more clear and aware we are of our internal roadblocks, and dissolve them, the external roadblocks will begin to disappear, too.
9. The most successful people are the ones that work on themselves first.
10. Do not judge—be inspired. If you are too busy judging everyone and everything around you, you are not remaining open to find inspiration in everyone and everything around you.
11. You are not allowed to complain about something unless you are going to do something about it.
12. Surround yourself with people you want to be like.
13. Learn to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. The more fears you face, the more you will grow.
14. Always ask, “What if?” and, “Why Not?” Instead of thinking, “What if I fail?” ask, “What if I succeed?”
15. Creativity is your unlimited capital. Understand and harness its power.
16. “I only have good days.” If you start off everyday with this mindset, even when challenges emerge, your positive mindset will help you overcome them more readily.
17. Create your own footprint. You do not need to do what others have done before you.
18. Hit the “mental reset button.” When you are thinking negative thoughts, envision hitting the “delete” button in your mind and begin to rewrite a better story.
19. Abundance is everywhere. You must choose to see it and believe it in order to fully experience it.
20. There is a lesson in everything that happens to us—wisdom to be gained and gratitude to be given. Begin with gratitude and everything else will reveal itself

High Heat Kings 1st write up for 2012 season from Youth1.com!

http://youth1.com/baseball-new-site-content/the-high-heat-kings-of-new-york.html

High Heat Kings start the season off right!

We're baaaaaaackkkk! Just when you thought it was safe to enter the ball field! High Heat Kings new and improved go 4-0 and bring home their 1^st title for 2012 winning the Hudson Valley Sportsdome 12U Big Swing indoor tournament. Kings played some of the top 12u teams the Tri-State had to offer. Great job boys! Feels good to be one again and to be playing baseball!

Kings makes the most of four hits in 7-4 victory over H and Run Outlaws

Game 4 recap: Championship Game

Kings 3-0 and Hit and Run Outlaws 3-0 had no shortage of baserunners on Saturday, but it was Kings that was able to take advantage, pulling out a 7-4 win at Hudson Valley Sportsdome title game.

Hit and Run Outlaws had five hits compared with Kings' four, but Hit and Run Outlaws stranded eight runners on base.


Thomas Girard racked up two RBIs on one hit for Kings. Girard singled in the third inning scoring Gibbs and Zurita.



Hit and Run Outlaws was led by a flawless day at the dish by #21, who went 2-2 against Kings' pitching. #21 singled in the second and fifth innings.


Kings ran wild on the basepaths, finishing with seven steals. Travis Zurita and Ron Gibbs each had one stolen base, Ray Torres had two stolen bases, and Girard had three stolen bases.

The game's last lead went to Kings thanks to a first inning rally that saw two runs cross the plate on an error and a walk by Girard.

Hit and Run Outlaws scored one run in the top of the second to cut its deficit to one. A wild pitch triggered
Hit and Run Outlaws' comeback. #5 struck out to end the Hit and Run Outlaws threat.

Kings increased its lead with four runs in the third.  Torres to start the inning off with a double to right center. That was followed up by Zurita walk and Girard's single scoring Torres and  plating Zurita.

A one-run fourth inning helped bring Hit and Run Outlaws within four. An RBI single by #8 set off a Hit and Run Outlaws rally. #9 struck out to end the Hit and Run Outlaws threat.

After pushing across two runs in the top of the fifth, Hit and Run Outlaws faced just a 6-4 deficit. An RBI single by #23 and gave Hit and Run Outlaws life. After 5 innings of solid work from Girard's to close out the game was Michael Palazzolo with runner's on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and  Hit and Run Outlaws' back in the game Palazzolo struck out  #10  to end the ballgame. And give the High Heat Kings it's first title for 2012!

Kings defeats Long Island Colts after late game two-run home run, 5-4

Game 3 recap:

Kings and Long Island Colts passed the lead back and forth six times on Saturday at Hudson Valley Sportsdome, but in the end Kings pulled out a 5-4 win in six innings over Long Island Colts.

Kings scored three runs in the first inning to build an early lead.

Jojo Alvarez racked up two RBIs on one hit for Kings. Alvarez homered in the fourth inning.

Kings piled up the steals, swiping six bags in all. Thomas Girard and Travis Zurita each had three stolen bases.

The top of the first saw Long Island Colts take an early lead, 2-0. A double by #13, bringing home #15 and #24 started the inning off.

Kings never trailed after scoring two runs in the fourth on a two-run home run by Alvarez.

Kings cruises past the Bellport Braves, 8-1

Game 2 recap:

The Bellport Braves had a tough outing on Saturday, as Kings dominated in an 8-1 win in six innings at Hudson Valley Sportsdome.

Thomas Girard racked up five RBIs on two hits for Kings. Girard doubled in the second inning and homered in the sixth inning.

Jojo Alvarez gave the Bellport Braves trouble on the hill. The Bellport Braves managed just one hit off of the Kings' pitcher, who allowed no earned runs, walked one and struck out 10 during his 4 1/3 innings of work.

The game was never in doubt after the second, as Kings scored four runs on two doubles and an error.
Kings tacked on another four runs in the sixth. A scored Travis Zurita to get the inning started on a good note. That was followed up by Girard's three-run blast, bringing home Alvarez and Bradley Newman

Kings take out Tiger Sports Club with help from Epps, 5-2

Game 1 recap:

Kings beat Tiger Sports Club 5-2 in six innings on Saturday at Hudson Valley Sportsdome as Shane Epps had a good game at the plate.

Tiger Sports Club's pitchers couldn't stop Epps at the plate. Epps went 2-2 and drove in one. Epps singled in the second and fourth innings.

Tiger Sports Club was ahead early but it ultimately surrendered the lead for good. Tiger Sports Club led until the fourth inning, but Kings took the lead back, and close out the game with great pitching from Torres and Epps to combine with a 2 hitter.