The first place Flyboys return home for a four game homestand before a day off on Monday. The team will host the Bluefield Ridge Runners. Being the curious type, I am looking for a definition of Ridge Runner. This is what I found. The nickname refers to people from the higher parts of mountainous areas in the Southeast United States, especially Appalachia. The term has significantly different meaning in other parts of the country. The Athens Banner- Herald wrote that Ridge Runners are employed by the Appalachian Trail Conservatory or the Appalachian Mountain Club. The ridge runners work to educate, protect the experience of trail users and attempt to keep trail conditions pleasant for all those out there who enjoy it. One ridge runner stated notable perks of the job he or she loves. Those perks are as follows: nightly live music performed performed by owls and coyotes, breathing fresh mountain air, awaken to the sound of song birds, the remarkable colors of sunrises, sunsets and the pace of life in the backcountry is slow, Enjoyably different from a nine to five job way of life. Sounds like we should all schedule a trip the Appalachian Trail.

http://www.AppalachianTrailClarity.com

This series will features the first place Flyboys and Bluefield, who has had difficult times recently, losing nine of twelve games. Well, on paper this series should go to Greenville. As it has been said before, the game isn’t played on paper it is played on the field. The Flyboys drop game one in a clunker, 6-4. The score indicates a close game but believe me, it was not. Game two saw the Boys drop another game to the fourth place team, 6-1. It was a game that lacked intensity, good fundamentals and it was frustrating to watch from the coach’s perspective. I know we are better performers than the last two games would indicate.

An often overlooked concept of winning championships is consistency. Our favorite team doesn’t win the title unless they perform consistently. There have been many talented players who never reach a pinnacle of play because of roller coaster level of play. Think of the players ,that we may look up to, they perform consistently. It is hard to win with variables in team’s everyday lineup. My advice to young players is to strive for consistency not just a highlight reel playsor pitches every other week. Consistent performance begins with one’s preparation. A pitcher’s life is regimented. I have seen and been on the field with major league all stars, hall of famers, and players who only stuck around for a minute. Talent is part of the equation. However, those who prepared in a consistent matter, those who had regimented habits accomplished sustained success over the years. One consistent starting pitcher began tossing in the outfield before his start at twenty two minutes before game time – every game. He had the same sequence of pitches in the bullpen before each game that ended in pitch number thirty two. This pitcher always walked to the dugout for water and to sit for five minutes before being announced on the public address system to take the mound. He pitched until he was forty years old. During the week he had the same days in the weight room. The same day he threw his practice session in the bullpen, two days before he scheduled to pitch in the gane. His preparation was regimented. John Di Lemme wrote a poem titled “I am A Habit”. It is read for everyone in this great life we have the chance to live, live here is a used as a verb. In the poem he writes “ I am your greatest companion, I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who have failed I have made as well. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Who am I? I am a habit!

If you love playing sports at any level. Create daily a game day routine, a pre pitch routine and preparation (practice day) routine. Most routines come through trial and error. These things will increase your level of consistency. All athletes know that there will be ups and downs during a long season but if we have a solid routine to fall back on, the peaks will be higher and the valleys not as low. Tomorrow is a new day. I will make up, make the bed, make coffee, sit in silence to express gratitude as well as visualize the day in front of me. My morning routine!