Welcome to the home of the Oakdale Tigers! I'm Coach Mike D. My son Ryan plays second base, which is how I got talked into managing this team four years ago. Best thing I ever got talked into. (Don't tell my wife I said that about something that takes up every weeknight from April to June.)

Yes, I know it's almost October and the season ended back in June. It took me all summer to get this page updated. My wife says it's because I spend more time talking about this team than typing about it. She's probably right. But here it is!

The 1999 Tigers went 11-3 in the regular season, then swept right through the District Tournament 3-0 to bring home the first District title since I've been coaching this team. We finished up in the Sectional semifinal and ended the year 14-4. For a bunch of 11- and 12-year-olds who couldn't turn a double play in April, that's not bad at all!

The District Championship, June 19th. Tigers vs. the Maple Grove Pirates, the only team that beat us in our first four games. Marcus pitched all six innings. Top of the sixth, we're down 3-2, Pirates have runners on second and third with two outs, and their cleanup hitter smacks a line drive into left. Katie S. lays out flat and CATCHES it. Inning over. Bottom of the sixth: Luis walks and steals second (of course), Jake singles him over to third, and then with two outs Chris W. rips a double into the gap in left-center. Luis scores. Jake comes all the way around from first. Tigers 4, Pirates 3! I have never heard our parents make that much noise. Ryan says I cried. I did not cry. There was dust.

The Sectional semifinal, June 26th. We ran into a Hillcrest Rangers team with a pitcher who threw harder than anything we'd seen all year. Our guys battled, got the tying run to the plate in the sixth, and came up just short, 5-3. I told the kids after the game what I'll tell everybody reading this: I have never been prouder of a team. Not one of them hung their head.

We wrapped up the year with our team picnic on Saturday, July 17th at the pavilion in Oakdale Park, and what a day. About 60 people showed up, counting brothers, sisters, grandparents and at least two dogs. Danny's dad ran the grill (hot dogs and burgers until we ran out of buns), there were three different potato salads, and Mrs. J.'s brownies disappeared in about four minutes.

The annual Kids vs. Parents game went to the kids, 13-9. My hamstring still hasn't forgiven me. Then we had the water balloon toss (the Tigers' infield is better at catching baseballs, let's leave it at that) and handed out the awards:

• Most Valuable Player: Marcus J.
• Hustle Award: Katie S.
• Iron Man Award: Danny K.
• Most Improved: Kyle M.
• Every single Tiger went home with a trophy, and they earned them.

The kids surprised me with a ball signed by the whole team. It's sitting on my desk right next to this computer as I type. Thanks, guys.

P.S. The big District Champions trophy is on display in the front window at Hartley Hardware on Main Street through the end of October. Go take a look!

To all the Tiger parents: for driving to every away game, working the snack stand, bringing orange slices and juice boxes, washing those white pants (sorry), and cheering (mostly) nicely at the umpires. This team doesn't happen without you.

To assistant coaches Dave P. and Rich J., who never missed a practice, and to Sue K., who kept the scorebook for all 18 games and never missed a pitch.

To the umpires, who have the toughest job in baseball and do it as volunteers.

Believe it or not, it's never too early to think about spring! Sign-ups for the 2000 season will be held in February. Exact dates and the place will go up right here as soon as the league sets them (last year it was two Saturday mornings, and I'd bet on that again).

• Players who will be 9 to 12 years old are eligible. League age is how old your player will be on July 31, 2000.
• If your player is new to the league, bring a copy of his or her birth certificate.
• Fee and tryout information coming soon.

Six of our Tigers are aging out and moving up to the 13-and-up league next spring, so we'll have some spots to fill. We'll miss you guys! And yes, even though Ryan is one of the six, I'll be back coaching the Tigers. Can't quit now.

(And no, the Y2K bug is not going to eat the sign-up list. The league computer got checked out by Ray over at Precision PC Repair. It's fine.)

• Hartley Hardware & Garden - our sponsor, on Main Street.
• Precision PC Repair - Ray fixes computers right here in Oakdale.
• Carol Anne's Bookkeeping & Tax Service - also right here in town.
• The Colosseum Neighborhood - more sports pages on GeoCities.us.