Our Latest World Trip to Prague

Let us take a minute to reflect on our 7th UCLA Alumni Baseball jaunt
to the 4 corners of the world.

Prague was a wonderful city and lived up to its reputation of being a
sight seers delight coupled with all the history one could imagine.
That along with the super friendliness of the people who treated us
royally made it a wonderful trip.

Our team became the "walking wounded" of the tournament where we
needed 4 straight hits to score a run! But none of our motley crew
EVER gave up or quit trying---they were absolutely magnificent in
giving it their all. I was never more proud of any team that I had the
pleasure of coaching.

We may not have ended up winning the tournament but each and every
member or our club WAS a winner and none of us coaches could have
asked for more. Playing above and beyond their pulled hams and groins
and soreness was a factor that Coach Adams instilled in his players
over the years and it was glowingly apparent with our team.

And, Coach Adams was, as usual, his superb self. Regretfully Coach and
General Manager Marty Stuka had to miss this trip and the burden of
all those "little" things fell on Gary's shoulders. He did get a lot
of help from an extremely competent Dan Keller not only with the GM
duties but as a player who competently played any position on the
field---even pitching 5 2/3 innings of one game and winning it---great
job, Dan! I won't mention all the other players who did such a
magnificent job but each and every one of them went above and beyond
their capabilities (pain and all) to make our trip successful.

But, the person who puts these wonderful trips together and makes them
run is Coach Gary Adams---make no mistake about it. The hours he
spends on the phone to find 12 or 13 "bodies" to make these trips is
amazing in itself. That along with coaching the team, being the go to
guy whenever something goes wrong, keeping everyone happy and in the
lineup, AND
even being the captain of the Titanic and being left in Prague while
all 21 members of his "crew" made the plane!!!
Thanks, Gary from your coaches, your jock straps, your "pick up"
players and all those who made this venture---you ARE the best!!

And thank you Marty for all you do to make these trips a reality---get
your "ephus" pitch ready for Australia!!

Thanks also to "Doctor" Gene Adams for his looking after the "wounded"
jocks and keeping them fed with candy and energy---superb, Gene!

And thanks to everyone who made the camaraderie and out trip a
tremendous success and may it happen again next year in Australia.

Coach Mickens