Day: July 12, 2026

Pop Quiz : Where does one go when they are missing both Jay Neal / Strasburg Express and Vickey Ritchie and Special Olympics Basketball ? Find the nearest ballpark is the answer !

So what if the actual temperature 🌡is 103 because it is a dry heat 🥵….

The view from the swimming 🏊‍♂️ pool that is located just beyond the center field fence..

Jay Neal is part of my Pick-  Six of folks that God saw fit to put in my life. Today is our annual OneofUs.Care Day at the ballpark up in Strasburg, and this will be the first time that we won’t be in the park for it.

Jay has promised me that once again, he will shower 🚿 our efforts with kindness. Don’t worry, Jay, you are not alone in struggling for a proper way to explain the efforts of our group.

Jay Neal, ladies and gentlemen, is as legitimate of a person as you can find. Back in the day, he chose Virginia Tech University over Duke University as a place to further his education and his football career.

Back in 1974, Jay hauled in four passes for 84 yards = Blazing speed and good hands !

Jay will downplay his efforts in my life, but that’s because showing random kindness to others is just a part of his day to day routine !

20 minutes before first pitch and both mascots have made it out of the lockeroom.

Stay hydrated, my friend !

Vickey Ritchie is now in her 2-4 pm window 🪟 of joy ! Bad luck in that she was gone for the last two Sunday afternoons that I was around, and now I’m gone for a few. Thoughts and Prayers for another terrific day at Hillsville Elementary School 🏫.

103° and it feels like 103°

First Pitch coming shortly as this is game 6 of a 6 game series between the Raineers ( Seattle Mariners ) and the Avaitors (A’s)

Avaitors won 🏆 the first half championship of the PCL.

12:07 pm. 103°
Digging the mountain ⛰️ as part of the back drop.

One inning in the books 📚 and it’s 0-0

Who am I kidding with the scoring updates ? Enjoy the rest of your Sunday afternoon….

Two innings, just 1 hit, 0-0, now 104°

Different view

Tacoma 1-0, 6th

4,218 in the building

Softball capsule #33 – There is simply no off-season for Softball, and here’s our proof ( Photo term )

Photo Credit : Allison Dalton

Allison Dalton VA RISE Team with Kevin and Nat at our 4 day tournament.

  The number of athletes that participate in a number of sports at the high school level has dropped significantly since the skyrocketing development of Travel Ball.

Allison is someone who wears multiple hats 👒, including the title of Mother to our Addie Greene. But her love ❤️ for the game extenders far beyond that as she also leads a Travel Team.

Her team went on quite an adventure this week as they competed in an event so large that it was held in multiple cities across the Commonwealth.

Travel Ball is a HUGE part of today’s sports world 🌎 and that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon. So, we are in need of more folks like Allison Dalton, someone who is willing to take on the responsibility for the well-being of others in hopes that they too will fall in love with the game of Softball !

Thank you, Allison, for both your time and your willingness to share a nibble of what has to be 🧱🧱🧱🧱 2 🧱🧱🧱🧱 fun!

https://aroundthevalleyin60days.blogspot.com/2026/07/file-this-one-under-girls-just-want-to.html

Here is the link to our Sister site, one where the photo 📸 stands alone.

Now, in Allison’s own words :

Our Morning 🌄 Brew today takes place amongst my homies. Everyone has a birthplace, and yes, mine is the great state of California.

Watching 👀 the Sun 🌞 rise from behind the mountains ⛰️
Morning 🌄 Brew
Travis Osborne and his Bible Verse of the Day :

Psalm 121:7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

Thank you, Brother Osborne !

How else can one tell that they have reached California ?

Ouch…..

Hopefully, Vickey Ritchie is set to have another great Sunday back home, and I received a goodie in the Mailbag from the World 🌎 of Softball that I will work on here shortly.

Have yourself a Blessed Day 🙌😇🙏