Hello Raptors, thanks to everyone including our guest families for a great experience in Saginaw.  I really had a great time with Coach Pat and that I was able to be active assisting in coaching the boys.  I really want to especially thank Coach Pat Vostal also and his son Kris.  They were very significant additions to our Raptor family this year and especially this weekend.  Coach John and his family is also a significant part of our success, his energy is ever lasting.  But, he was summoned to work most of this weekend, but he did make the drive and catch a couple games.  I heard his supportive voice out there. 

Both teams went 3-0 Saturday in Pool play.  It was a long day compounded with the heat, but everyone was friendly, on-time, and very supportive as families.  So a BIG THANKS to each of you.  It had been a couple years since we were in Saginaw and it was a great and memorable return for me, and I hope for each of you.  Lacrosse is growing so fast in our State, but what’s so rewarding is that at both Raptor levels our community based non-tryout teams can really hang with the best of them, and that’s the most prideful knowledge that gives me serious perma-grin (big smiles).  Several major programs including MI Warrior and PLG congratulated us on our growth and progress these past six (6) years.  So again, a great BIG THANK YOU to each of you for making that possible.

The 14U, knocked of a very competitive team in True Detroit Sunday morning, then gave everything they had against a very physical Southside team.  We had some things not go our way in that game, but we competed exceptionally well and in another match up with a little deeper roster for fresh legs, we’d take them.  Then, playing in the 3^rd place game (3^rd of day), our boys were exhausted god bless them for having enough energy to take the field, but the tanks were empty of energy and understandably so.  As I spoke to a few families, I’d like to in future years keep this core of kids and families including Shane’s and Joe’s for future summer tourney’s beginning in summer 2020 and travel together the next few years in summer to a few destination sites, OR, find a program that we all love and stick together.  More on that in Winter of 2019/2020.  Finishing 4^th out of 13 teams is still pretty darn fantastic when everyone is a tryout team with exception of maybe 2.

Like 14U, the 12U, brought a strong core of Raptors and a few player additions to shore us up.  On Sunday, we lost our first playoff match up against a very strong PLG team, who eventually won the 12U tourney, but the boys competed so passionately and that game was close the entire game.  It really could have gone either way.  We had a small error that turned into a significant outcome by getting a delay of game penalty for not having enough players after a score just tied game @ 2-2 that led to an immediate score by PLG.  Regardless, these boys showed they can hang with anyone, and we were very thankful the additions of Beckett, Stuart, Alex and Colin rounding out our roster for the weekend.  Then, we beat what I actually considered to be a better team in West side especially with that monster #27 running around out there.  What an athletic young man that was.  We teased the other Coaches, but he was a legitimate 12 year old.  Finishing 3^rd out of 11 teams was GREAT all things considered.  Similarly to 14U, every team in this bracket was a tryout and play team with exception of maybe 1, so that is equally as prideful.  For the 12U, those remaining , and moving to 14U next year, I plan to launch a tryout derivative called the Lumberjax that will compete in the Spring session and attend 3-4 tournaments over the Spring season, and we will also have a community team that will keep a similar Spring schedule like we had both this year and in years past.  More to come on that in winter as well as well as off season training in winter.  It’s time to take another growth step.

So, this weekend was still a great weekend showcase for all of us as well as experience and I’m so proud of the boys for their character and brotherhood sustained over the years.  Thanks again everyone.

For the families that still have their loaned uniform, please return to my home by Wednesday this week @ 19356 Pollyanna Drive, Livonia.  Thank you.

Best regards

Eric Young

Mobile +1 734 646-1929

Hi Families, a few things to make your stay easier, just in case.

• Tonight, please have boys eat as reasonably healthy as possible with lots of water tonight and even a glass of milk.  No dairy tomorrow. No pop or sugary drinks tonight.
• Bring lawn chairs, so you can be portable.
• Bring coolers with healthy snacks and hydration for boys.  No pop, heavy carbs, cheese or dairy please.  Lots of fruit, veggies, sandwiches (no mayo), granola and water to keep fresh.
• Bring umbrellas for either rain or to deflect sun while watching games.
• With rain or for 12U early games, please bring extra socks for boys to change so feet are refreshed and don’t blister up.
• Bring lots of sun screen, and mosquito repellent.  Game near Field 1 is close to woods.
• If you can, bring extra tents to collect near Field 3 where I plan to be.  Look for Raptor banner to zero in on location.
• With it being so hot, I suggest boys have a wet towel they can cool and use to keep heads and neck are cool to reduce impacts from heat best we can together.
• I will have a small first aid kit on hand if anyone needs it.  Please see me if so.

Please arrive at tent area 1 hour before first game.  In games after, we will ask everyone to return to the tent are 40 minutes before each remaining game so we can walk together after getting head count to be sure we have all players in tow.

And for the biggest job of the weekend.  I need a 12U and 14U family to volunteer to carry the team water bottles to/from each game, and refresh after each game.  I will have water on ice with me to refresh the team bottles only to insure the boys have water.  Please see me tomorrow morning and I will hand over the water bottles to you.

Remind boys they are donning Raptor gear, and please have talk with them about keeping things on the up and up. If they are on their own ,and doing things are not supposed to, nearly always it gets back to us.  My hope is to set the best classy example we can.

Looking forward to what I hope is a great day tomorrow. 

Best regards

Eric Young
Mobile +1 734 646-1929