Day Seven Hundred and Forty-Seven

The Conley Crew

Adam and I have been on a Washington whirlwind for the past 16 days. It’s been such a rewarding trip, but we’re a lot - A LOT - tired. Last night though, we were able to take a little break from our crazy schedule and sat down for a nice Olive Garden dinner with Dad, Tracy, and Alex. And yes, dessert too. I ate half a pumpkin cheesecake slice and it was every calorie worth it! Mmmmmm.

Love my Conley men!

Looky this! Larry opened up the Jacksonville Suns’ website last night to show me a little surprise. See that big lefty on the right?! That’s Adam on the Suns’ homepage! How awesome!

And then...there was a groomsmen pyramid in the living room...

And then a wrestling match...

Put half of Adam’s best friends in one room and there’s bound to be silly shenanigans! My boy has missed his boys, and since being back, he’s been able to spend some good, quality moments with them. And we’re so thankful for that! 

Day Seven Hundred and Twenty-Two

The Last Game

So, yesterday was an odd day at the field. Like, really bizarre. The whole thing. And it started with this. Yep, that's me. And oh yeah, that's a woman with a camera.

News Channel 4 was doing a story on the gravity of yesterday's game. It was a BIG day for the boys, and the news wanted every aspect of it covered. So, between innings, they meandered into the crowd and managed to find us. "Oh, looks like I've found the wives section," she said. "Who am I going to film?" And that's when the girls threw me to the wolves..."She's been here all season, ask her!" Thanks girls ;) I took the mic - sweating and shaking like a pig at the slaughterhouse - and mumbled some likely nonsense before pausing fifty times to figure out how to appropriately answer her questions. Did I ever mention that I HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING?! Haha :) I have even more respect for my husband now...and I used to have a lot! 

Let me set the stage:

Winner of THIS LAST GAME OF THE SEASON was headed straight to the playoffs...their season extended by at least another 5 games and the chance for a championship ring. I've never felt a buzz in the air quite like yesterday's. And everyone was on edge. We got a slow start to the game, went to our bullpen early, but eventually went ahead 4-2 in the third inning. Whew. It was after that this happened. In a fight between the two managers - arguing over stealing pitches - the umpire approached our dugout and started screaming at Andy. This, Adam said, doesn't happen often. 

Our short-lived 4-2 lead quickly became a 4-5 deficit in the top of the fourth, two innings before this happened (rain)...delaying the game for a solid half hour. Of course. 

We managed to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, and that's where the score stayed until the eleventh inning. With so many opportunities to take the lead, the Suns were retired back to the dugout 5 straight times. And so were the Braves. It was a stalemate. Until the top of the eleventh inning...when a Braves runner on second scored on an uncommon - and bizarre - throwing error by our infield. 

And in the bottom of the 11th, we just couldn't make it happen. The Braves took the W straight from us and celebrated on our field. It was really sad...and even harder to watch. Our boys fought their tails off, and in the end, only missed the playoffs by a half of a game. Rats. It was a rough way to finish the season, but gosh do these boys have something to be proud of. They're incredibly talented and the Marlins have a lot to look forward to in the future. Until then, happy offseason to the best team we've been apart of. We loved these guys and will miss them, truly!

Goodbye Bragan Field.

We learned so much in this place.

About life, love, baseball, and God.

It was one heck of a rewarding season...in so many ways.

Adam's final line for the YEAR:

11-7, with a 3.25 ERA

138.2 IP, 125H, 37BB, 129K

Incredible, Honey.

I'm infinitely proud of you.

Until next season, my friends!

We're all packed out of the clubhouse and ready to take on the offseason!

But...I am still a little (ok A LOT) sad that it's suddenly just...over.

Day Seven Hundred and Twenty-One

The Celebration Month Has Arrived 

(WE LOVE SEPTEMBER!)

It's September (holy moly, right?!) in the Conley Casa...and that means: this wife is a busy one. I've got a few birthdays, our anniversary, one wedding, a trip to Washington, the end of season, and a move. Breathe. Yesterday, I got in touch with my crafty side and started making gifts.

And for my night cap: the Sun's last evening game of the season. Complete with a stunning firework display. I'm gonna miss this place.

Day Seven Hundred and Twenty

The Final Start of 2013

Well that went by fast...

Adam's last start of the 2013 season came on August 31...and as I sit here, writing from the kitchen table, I'm in shock that the calendar reads "September 1st." That's like...fall almost?! If I remember correctly, last season didn't go by this fast. Sigh. I don't know how happy I am about the season coming to a close. We've had an incredible year with the Suns...so many ups...with just a few downs. And it's weird that after last night, Adam won't throw in Jacksonville again. Well, unless we make the playoffs...or if he gets assigned here next year...

So last night, I took it all in. The feelings. The sights. The fans. The smells. The kids. The guys. The field. The weather. The Sounds. The cheers. But most of all, the man on the mound.

He's just incredible, really. 

I couldn't describe if I tried, exactly how proud I am of him. He's the most committed, hard working, honest man I know. He's a light in the darkest of places. And humility follows wherever he goes. I married a man of integrity and character. One whom I can count on for anything. I thank God every day for putting Adam in my life, and baseball or not, I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

The biggest upside of Adam in baseball is that he doesn't bring it home. 

It's not his strikeout to walk ratio. Or his ERA. Or his WHIP. Or his 0 batting average. Or his handedness. Or Wins. Or Losses. Or even his velocity. It's the fact that when the game is over, it's over. Done. He doesn't dwell on it or become defined by it. That's special. And for this baseball wife, so unbelievably appreciated.

Adam said after his game last night, "Now, I don't want you to freak out by this or start to worry. I'm over it and you need to be as well. But that was one of the worst starts I've had in a long time." Okaaaaaaaay. Thanks, Adam. Haha :) His honesty is just that...honest. But if it's the truth, he's not afraid to speak it. Praise God. So, he didn't have his best outing...bummer, because that was the last of the (regular) season. Sigh. His pitch selection was lacking, and he made some mistakes. Thankfully (for my sanity), his numbers wouldn't suggest a dismal outing. It wasn't his prettiest performance, but he held his head up, and finished his job. And when he walked off the mound, I was - more than ever - proud to call him mine.

And bad outing or not, I'd pick #4 EVERY SINGLE TIME.

His line for the night:

5IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 1BB, 6K

Day Seven Hundred and Nineteen

The Friday Family Faith Night

The last Friday of the Suns' season ended like this. With a concert. A Christian concert. A Christian concert at the baseball field...wow. I can't believe I can even type that! Watching hands raise in worship and praise for our Lord at the park was surreal. And so completely beautiful. 

(Check out that #1 Fan finger!!!)

Adam and I listened and sang along as Jason Crabb led worship. Then, we prayed over our team. 

Day Six Hundred and Ninety-Nine

The Sixteen Inning Smiles

It was a LONG night last night. But Pete - one of our bullpen arms - kept it light and sweet and much more bearable than it otherwise would've been. Like how precious is this?! That little girl sat there on that fence talking and smiling at Pete all night. And Pete - who has a degree in education - smiled right back. 

When I said it was a LONG night, I meant it. 16 innings long. 5 hours and 1 minute long. 33 hits, 14 runs, 6 Suns pitchers, and two sore butts LONG. 

But fireworks and my girls made it all better. 

Midnight pizza, cinnasticks, and Duck Dynasty made it better for them. 

Day Six Hundred and Ninety-Two

The Twentieth Start

Twenty. TWO-ZERO. 20.

Like, whoa. Where did the season go?

It's August, and though we've been doing this for four months already, my nerves still haven't settled. Every time he pitches, a mix of paranoia and anxiety pulse through my veins. It's not ideal. But since I still haven't found a remedy, I've come to accept my partial psychosis every fifth day. Cool. Thanks a lot Adam ;) 

This didn't help.

YES: those are fireworks.

YES: that is the middle of an inning.

YES: I was a mad wife.

The Jacksonville Jaguars held their first scrimmage last night in EverBank Stadium, located directly behind the right field wall of our stadium...and directly in front of Adam's line of sight as he wound up for his delivery. He handled the fiasco well. But still. REALLY? Not ok. I repeat: NOT OK! Any other time, I'm a total sucker for fireworks. But during his wind up? I don't think so.

It was Jimmy Buffet Day at the field last night, and in celebration, the Suns wore special beach jerseys. The jerseys were auctioned off, and Barb - Adam's booster - won it right off his back. He then signed it for her and took some photos. She's a dearly sweet lady, who always sends Adam off on road trips with a bag full of goodies. We're so thankful for her kindness! 

Adam won his FOURTH straight game last night! (Wahoo!) He's gone 28 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run (a Suns' record) and our team has also won NINE straight in a row now!! We're on a roll...and this crazy wife is loving every second of it!!

His line:

6IP, 5H, 2R, 0ER, 3BB, 5K

He's 11-4 now with a 3.02 ERA

Day Six Hundred and Ninety-One

The Jaguars' Open Practice

Yesterday, the Jacksonville Suns were treated like VIPs. They had on-the-field passes to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars' early morning practice, then were escorted away to tour the field, stadium, and locker rooms! 

I didn't get such special treatment. But this was just as good for me!

The Jaguars opened practice to the public, so I went to check it out. It sorta reminded me of pre-season practices with the Cougs...only these guys are about twice the size and run way faster.

EverBank Field: Home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A pretty neat place, indeed. However, I still much prefer our stomping grounds at Bragan Field: Home of the Jacksonville Suns.

Baseball > Football

All day. Every day.

Day Six Hundred and Ninety

The WAG Sorority

Some new faces to grace the pages of my glorious blog. Hahaha :)

These are my friends. And I like them. Though baseball brought us together, I would still choose them even if it hadn't.

(And WAG means "Wives and Girlfriends")

Nina has especially been close to me this season. She's from Jacksonville, but I met her last season in Greensboro when Adam played for the Grasshoppers. Her fiance is currently with the Jupiter Hammerheads this year, so when she's not working, not in Jupiter, and not planning every last detail of her upcoming wedding, she squeezes me into her busy schedule. And I am so thankful for her time, her words, her encouragement, and her friendship. As another Christian woman, living this crazy baseball life, we share a special and unique bond that I've cherished since the day I met her.

After the game, a few of us went out. I asked the boys to smile.
And this is what they gave me. Oh heyyyyyyy.

Day Six Hundred and Eighty-Eight

The Natural Position

NO.

This little Princess isn't my baby (Adam's either). Darnit.

But, I must say I look quite natural in this position...right?! Sigh. We'll have one soon enough, my friends. And by soon, I mean in like 12 years. For now, I have a big enough baby to handle at home. He's 23 and I still have to wash his undies. See. I'm doing good! ;)

A girlfriend of mine, who's husband plays for the Suns too, just welcomed this sweet precious girl into the world a few weeks ago. Her and Mama are true baseball nomads, already having been from Florida, to California, to Louisiana, and back again. They're a couple of troopers and I'm so so happy they're here. They give me hope that I can, in fact, make this crazy baseball life work...with a little family running alongside.

Day Six Hundred and Eighty-Six

The Nineteenth Start

It was a sloppy one out there yesterday. At right about game time, a terror of rain battered the entire downtown Jacksonville area. Including Bragan Field. The grass and infield were an absolute mess. And so, game time was pushed back from a 6PM start to a 7:45PM start. 

Adam stood in this same spot for about half an hour...just waiting - as patiently as possible - for the grounds crew to make good, the messy, messy field.

They had to squeedgy (or whatever the word is) the water from the grass onto the apron, which left the apron soaking wet. So, they brought in turface (yes I spelled that right...it's a special kind of dirt) to soak up the standing water. Finally, at 7:44, the field was prepped and ready for game 1 of a 5-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts. 

It was horribly muggy last night, which factored into Adam's performance. His hands were wet and tired, but thankfully, he was able to battle hard, holding the Lookouts to zero runs. (Yay Honey!) His line:

6IP, 8H, 0R, 0BB, 6K

And his TENTH win of the season!!! He's now 10-4 with a 3.22 ERA.

See look...happy Marlin wife!

And this is from my grandparents.
They were watching the game last night on the computer and spotted me...then took a picture of it! They said, "Kendall, we see you on TV!!!" Grama said that Papa said, "Yep that's her. I just know it." Hahaha I love them!!! There I am in the very front, right in the middle of the screen. Wahoo! I'm famous. Duh!

Day Six Hundred and Seventy-Four

The 2013 Southern League All-Star Gala

To open the 2013 All-Star festivities, a gala (not sure exactly what a gala is, but it was fun!) was held in the players' honor. 

Over dinner and drinks, the players (and their ladies) mingled with the public.

Your 2013 Jacksonville Suns All-Stars (minus Caminero...he was MIA)!!

We've got one manly group here in Florida.

Following dinner, we moved outside for the rest of the evening.

There, they had the MLB All-Star Game playing in the background.

So neat.

(And yes, I did intentionally photograph Mo. Because I'm a pitchers wife...and you're looking at the best closer of all time)

And then, introductions began...

Hello to the 2013 Southern Division All-Star coaching staff. And you betchya, they're all Suns!

The 2013 Southern Division All-Stars!! 

(Adam is the third head from the left. Peek-a-boo!)

After introductions, the boys pulled up chairs and signed autographs for their fans.

Located 5 blocks from our condo, this is the scene we enjoyed yesterday.

This property is called "The Jacksonville Landing." It's a priceless gem here in Jax.

I'll never tire of this.

At least I don't think I will. Or could. 

He's so special to me. And I love watching him make people smile.

My very own All-Star.

He doesn't need the title for it to be the truth.

But I sure don't mind it! :)

(Things have been hectic and really busy today...so I apologize for the brevity of this post. It's 2 AM...Adam just left for a 10-day road trip, and I'm exhausted.)