Since Valley had this weekend off, I carefully watched the weather reports for the first half of the week. By the time Wednesday rolled around, there was a consistent high in the 50s and a slim chance of rain being forecast for Saturday. I decided to officially announce the Fourth Toss Around under the condition that thunderstorms would prevent us from playing. When I woke up Saturday morning, things were fairly sunny and warm so I posted my confirmation that the Toss Around was a go.
Boy, did I ever make the right decision! It was slightly overcast, but I quickly got down to my lax shorts and a t-shirt and started working. I picked up some new (actually older model clearance) Nike cleats at Scheels (football to be specific) on Friday night after deciding that my low top soccer cleats were destroying my ankles and looked forward to breaking them in. At first only the two Couches, Ben and Hunter, were there. More and more people arrived as the day went on. Eventually Sam Lozada and Cam Bostwick finished their ACTs and joined us which brought the total up to 16!
After introducing ourselves and getting the basics of throwing and catching down, we moved over to the soccer fields (our lax field was being used by the womens' football team again). Dividing ourselves by shirt color (and splitting the four Valley players), we played some Ultimate Lacrosse. I know that most of us would have preferred to play a more traditional game, but it was a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I look forward to an even better turnout next week.
Not only was 16 our best turnout ever, but this week was also the first time that our adult players out numbered the Valley team in attendance. I have a strong feeling that we will be able to start some scrimmages in after the Valley season wraps up next month. As a reminder, Valley has home games at Waukee Stadium on May 2 & 9.
Interest in the Des Moines Demons keeps heating up and I have a feeling that we may actually be able to set up some scrimmages this summer! Because I think a cautious approach is best with our collective inexperience, I still plan on waiting to join the Great Plains Lacrosse League until 2010. In the meantime, I definitely plan to go forward with a pick up league this summer to help prepare us for 2010 (possibly a 2009 Fall Ball outing as well). We will continue to have Toss Around events; the next one is tentatively scheduled for next Saturday (April 11) at noon! There is a strong possibility that we will drag out the goals next week, but will most likely play a light contact (no pads helmets) game just to get more of the lax experience for the new players. Watch the Demons website this week for information about what kind of equipment interested players should order.Thanks to Caleb and Michael for joining us again and for bringing new players. also thanks to all of the new guys this week (as I call it J"-Day"): Jack, Jake, James, Joey, Jason, and Mike. Plus everybody whose name I missed. I apologize; I'm terrible with names and the overload of J-names just about fried my brain. Please don't take it personally.
