Block Island

8.26.08 - Block Island, R.I. - On a suggestion from GQ, I went to Block Island with Damon and Sarah on Sunday to find out about the "best gin and tonics in the nation." They were pretty good. Nothing quite replaces drinking a g&t on a wrap-around veranda overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a salty breeze blowing through your hair. Well you get the idea. Now see the photos.

Thanks,

Will

Damon and Sarah, leaving the Spring House
Walking up the hill in Island Harbor from the beach
Damon. 
Me minus me at the beach. Check out those waves.
Salty at the Salty Dog clothing store. 
Sarah on the ferry back. 
Uh...me. I believe the statement of the day was, "you're doopy, but somehow it works." And I'm going to go with that. 
Newport, R.I.

Hillbilly Horseshoes

8.18.08 - Marshfield, Mass. - Kids from the 4-H camp in Plymouth competed in the Hillbilly Horseshoes competition at the annual Marshfield Fair. Typical country fair atmosphere, a lot of carnies, unfortunately, I didn't have the energy or the time to hang around and get some night photos. But I was happy about these, especially the third one, which is currently gracing my desktop. 

Fourth place winner Jamie Nielson with her seat. 
Horseshoes...you get the idea. 
Aforementioned desktop photo
Yes, it was at the agricultural ring, i.e. horse track.
The winners. 

Babe Ruth World Series

8.17.08 - Quincy, Mass. - Tough night for the Quincy Babe Ruth baseball team as they fell 8-0 to West Fargo, North Dakota in their second game of the tournament at Adams Field. They committed four errors, which was largely their downfall (usually is). Below are the shots I sent the Patriot Ledger. 

The center fielder misses a fly ball sparking the three-run third inning. 
Quincy waits to go on the field for their game. 

North Dakota shortstop throws for an out. 
Lead off hitter dodges a ball in his first at bat.

Red Sox Team Photo

8.15.08 - Boston, Mass. - The Team Photo was taken as well on Friday and included a visit to the carpenter's shop under the left field grandstand. It pretty much works out exactly like any group photo you've ever been apart of...only with the Boston Red Sox. Luckily the threatening skies held off and we got the photo done. Not without some consternation about the scoreboard message, stand setup and the correct amount and size of the ladders used. 

Keeping the troops in line. 
Ortiz arriving a bit tardy. 
Here are those threatening skies I was talking about. 
Lowell and Delcarmen, homies. 
Mike Ivins, the intrepid photographer. 
Staff photo has little different feel when you work for the Sox. 
Papi, front row, center. 
The players wait as the staff is switched out for the second photo. 

Jimmy Fund Telethon

8.15.08 - Boston, Mass. - The Jimmy Fund Telethon was Friday and the day was action packed for the Sox photo department (Full House: Mike, Babs, Megan and I). The Fund reached its goal of $4 million just before rain cancelled the game around 7:54pm (but who's counting). Below are some images. 

Red Sox wives answer the phones. 
Dustin Pedroia's wife, Kelli.
Pedroia talks about how he'd like to play with Johnny Peske at a talk with fans raise money. 
Jed Lowrie and Pedroia share a laugh. 
Jason Bay takes the mic at WEEI to talk about what it's been like playing with the Sox. 


Think: Cover of the Quiz Show, the movie. 

Futures at Fenway

8.9.08 - Boston, Mass. - The Single A Lowell Spinners played the Hudson Valley Renegades at Fenway Park for the annual Futures at Fenway event. The game was a stellar, 12-inning affair with a walk-off single with the bases loaded by Will Middlebrooks of the Spinners in the 12th that broke the 3-3 tie. Great game on a beautiful day. What more can I say?

-Will

Colin Kerrigan, 6, of Southboro, Mass. 
Middlebrooks after the game winning hit. 
Spinners teammates Luis Sumoza and Stolmey Pimental do the chicken dance in between innings. 
double play
Minor league promotions are the B-E-S-T, best! And border collies are awesome. 
ditto.
Auzzie Mitch Dening gets a lead-off hit in the 12th.
A Renegade signs autographs as he leaves the field. 

Northeastern Football Media Day

08.05.08 - Brookline, Mass. - Hooray, College Football! For some reason the sport has yet to grow legs here, but for a Southern boy there are few more exciting days than the first day of football practice. Luckily, I wasn't practicing, but I was shooting an assignment for the Patriot Ledger, who is following five players from Brockton High School who play together at Northeastern. Great day; nice people; the season couldn't have started better.

Best,

Will

The "Brockton Five" too cool for school
The "Brockton Five" down the line. 
Kicker Paul Branco and his goalpost
Punting practice
The long snappers warm up. I used to do this drill before every practice, so I guess this is more for nostalgia than anything else. 

Japanese Little League team visits Boston

8.1.08 - Boston, Mass. - The Red Sox Foundation hosted a Japanese Little League baseball team from Kyoto this week and their tour ended with two short games at Jim Rice Field on Friday.

Pitching, second game.
Hitting, second game. 
A ball shots through the third-short gap in the first inning of the second game against Hill House of Beacon Hill. 
The Japanese team bows in thanks to the RBI team from Roxbury they played in the first game which the Japanese team won, 4-0.
A player prepares the "Japan Chant" they do before each game. 
Shortstop
Pizza in between games with the Japanese coach. 
The kids sign a ball before the second game. 
On the field!
Fielding fly balls off the Green Monster