In late July, Connor was thrilled to join his buddy Braden and the Duffey family for their OPA Jays end of summer baseball tournament in Panama City Beach, FL. Jeff and I weren't able to make the trip this year, and the Duffeys were gracious enough to let Connor tag along with them. They loaded up for the long drive and planned a few stops along the way, including a fun visit with Braden's grandparents in Louisiana. Connor made himself at home and really enjoyed being an honorary Duffey during his stay.
When they arrived in Florida, they were so excited to explore the condo resort and beach. Their fellow Jays teammates were also arriving and they were all quick to get in some games and some "daiquiris" (non-alcoholic, of course!) from the infamous beachside Daq Shaq. The Duffeys were incredible hosts and Connor had such a great time staying with them in their resort condo, and they enjoyed other activities like putt-putt and souvenir shopping as well. I was so thankful for the photos that Heather sent my way each day. We sure missed Connor but he was having so much fun!
Of course, the main reason they were all in town was for the World Series baseball tournament hosted each summer. This team has really enjoyed playing together and they were hopeful for a successful outing. While they had a ton of fun on and off the field, in the end it wasn't the Jays' week for baseball. Connor really enjoyed all the time with his team but didn't have much success on the mound or behind the plate. The team struggled to pull off wins in their bracket, and after several days of games, they were super disappointed to be eliminated from the tournament. It was tough to hear Connor's voice as he recapped his outings over the phone, but we were so thankful he had the opportunity to compete with these athletes that had become such great friends to him.
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