By 5:30 this morning it sounded like at least half the camp was in the Garden Cabin living room. Upon closer look, it was the younger bunks exploding with excitement, super-proud to have been pinned either Red or Gray. Lucky for the counselors the kids decided to gather outside of the cabin.
The traditional Color War Breakfast Buffet was phenomenal. It’s one of the favorite meals of the summer, and we understand why. It’s pretty much everything you could ever want for breakfast, and it’s delicious!
After morning inspection, with anxious anticipation prevalent throughout the 200+ participants, the PA blared, “Red team to the Mail House, Gray team to the Pine Grove” – a call to the pre-game “psych-up” meetings intended to “inspire” each team to greater heights, and hopefully onward to victory. A few minutes later, both teams paraded to the Fred Pierce field, where all gathered to watch the 1st inning of the Stars (Bunks 29, 30 and JCs) Softball game, a 71-year tradition that marked the official opening of Color War 2019… and so it did, as Umpire Shep bellowed “Play Ball”! Head Bunkster Emily tossed the ceremonial first pitch, then turned the mound over to Red Pitcher Jack B who retired the Gray on 4 pitches in a quick top of the 1st, then got the game’s first hit with a sharp single through the left side in the bottom half. Reese knocked in two runs with a 2-out hit to give Red an early 2-0 lead. When the inning ended, all participants headed out to the various venues all over camp, from the Hejduk down to Trickey, and everywhere in between.
Red Stars never looked back as they pounded out a 16-8 victory. Captain Shuey and Jack Q smacked back-to-back home runs for the winners, and Emile, Owen and Reece went yard as well. Captain Jalen and Daniel answered with back-to-back dingers of their own, and Pablo also added a solo shot for Gray.
The Tigers (Bunks 8-14) played two very exciting Football games, with each team claiming a win. Sam D scored multiple TDs for Gray in winning one game, but Ben G and Cooper R helped thwart a Gray comeback attempt in the other with a couple of TDs and interceptions for Red.
Red Sophomores (Bunks 15-19) barely survived in Golf (match play) winning 5 ½ -4 ½. Red also dominated the week’s first Bocce match with a straight-set win.
In Soccer at the Hejduk, Hudson sealed the Red Juniors (Bunks 20-23) win with a late insurance goal in a 3-1 win, offsetting Bosco’s all-around effort to keep Gray in it.
The Seniors (Bunks 25-28) battled it out down at Trickey, with the Waterfront point going to Gray in a very tight meet. Although Red prevailed in the swimming events, Gray not only proved too strong in the Kayak races, but Rohan settled it with a great last run on the wakeboard to win it for Gray.
But clearly, the most exciting place to be was at the Hockey rink, where our littlest guys provided the most thrilling morning action. All other contests had ended, so the hill above the rink was filled with a few hundred enthusiastic wildly cheering fans. After splitting the first two games, the Cubs (Bunks 1-7) played game 3 with the Hockey point up for grabs. After a scoreless 1st period, maybe camp’s littlest guy, Nate F poked in a crossing pass for the game winner, then saw teammate Anders settle it with 1 more in the 2nd, and a hat-trick in the 3rd to win this one for Red.
An action-packed morning for sure, but only just the beginning.
After lunch and a quick afternoon “psych-up” meeting, the boys went at it again. The Cubs headed to Trickey, where once again, these little guys went the distance. Gray’s back was against the wall after an unprecedented, improbable first-ever tie (combined Kayak race times came out dead even) and needed a 1-2 finish in the relays to extend it. With Oscar, Jake K, Joel N, and Brody winning the freestyle relay in impressive form to force the tie, the ski boats were put into action to settle it – where this time Red skiers Grayson and Theo G prevailed, winning Waterfront.
In Junior Lax over at Sky II, Charlie S not only showed off his great scoring ability, but more so displayed a most impressive array of teamwork and unselfish play in carrying Red against a determined Gray squad, led by Aiden F. Bennett E and Alex H were stalwart in the nets for both teams.
Out front on the SkyLinks, the Senior duffers provided some highlights of their own as the match play event recorded not one, but two holes-in-one, another Skylemar Color War first – Corbin (R) and Jared H (G) put 1’s on their scorecards in separate matches! In the Bocce Garden, again Red was too tough with Alexander S scoring several wins for his team.
The two afternoon Stars Football games were high-scoring affairs. Noteworthy efforts by Noah V on offense and Tex on D led Gray in the down-to-the-wire finish in one game, while Gray’s overall speed ran away with the other.
In the Tiger Baseball afternoon doubleheader, great pitching was on display in both games. On the Freddy Pierce, Theo C, Leo M, and Will S had stellar outings, while Ari M hurled a shutout on the Middle Diamond. Catchers Bobby C and Ben K were outstanding as well – and with just enough timely hitting, Gray was able to scratch and claw its way to victory.
Finally, back at the rink, Sophs Nick S and Landon scored, then Gray held on for a 2-1 win. In the other game, Austin K scored twice, and Jack C stopped everything he saw in a 2-0 shutout win, also for Gray.
Red still held a slight, early 1st day lead, then added another point by winning tonight’s annual Ping Pong competition… all-in-all, a thrilling first day of action, with plenty of excitement left to come. We can’t wait!
Heard this today…
“This is so much better than the tooth fairy!”, according to Bunk 1, at around 5am.
Only at Skylemar.
