Scarborough Drops Aldine

After more than one week away from the court, the Scarborough Spartans knocked off Aldine High School 95-52 Tuesday afternoon.  The Spartans move to 15-4 for the season.

The Spartans next play Friday afternoon (January 2) at 3 pm against Milby in the Scarborough gym.

Get more information on the team's website. 

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Spartans Week #7

After more than a week away from the court, the Scarborough Spartans wrap up non-district play this week.  District 22-4A competition begins for the Spartans (14-4) Saturday, January 10 vs. Wheatley.

This Week's Schedule:

Tuesday, December 30 vs. Aldine (3:00) (at Scarborough High School)

Friday, January 2, vs. Milby (3:00) (at Scarborough High School)

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Full Season Schedule and Results

For more information, check the team's website

Harris County, Don't Forget to Talk to Your Comissioner

Dear Harris County residents,


Since the Future of the Dome has been brought up again, here is a friendly reminder to communicate directly with your county commisioners about the Harris County Domed Stadium.  Feel free to wish them a happy holidays while your at it.

FYI Here is a link to info about: The Stadium Being Built with 70 to 80% PRIVATE FUNDING

In response to this new development in the Harris County Domed Stadium's story, I once again encourage you to communicate with your county representatives concerning this matter.  Below are links to facilitate your communication with these representatives.

Thanks for listening.

Peace,
Mike Tauser

Judge Ed Emmett

Commissioner El Franco Lee- Mr. Lee does not list an email address but his office phone number is 713-755-6111.

Commissioner Steve Radack

Commissioner Jack Cagle

Commissioner Jack Morman

What Would a Hobbit Do? Give His Book Away for Free

At least a few of my descendants must have been hobbits, because I have decided to celebrate my birthday by giving away my book THE GAMBLE for free.  This promotion has expired.

More information about purchasing The Gamble can be found here.

Please consider telling a friend about this story.  Thanks.

If you have any difficulty, contact me via email at farmstros@yahoo.com.

Read more about The Gamble here.

Spartans Week #6

The Spartans made it to the Christmas break on a high note.  They won a went 6-1 for the week.  This included a third place finish in the Hempstead Christmas Classic, Thursday-Saturday.

This Week's Schedule:

After a busy week of basketball, the Spartans(14-4) are off for more than a week for the holidays. Their next game is scheduled for December 30.

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Full Season Schedule and Results

For more information, check the team's website

Spartans Take Third in Hempstead Christmas Classic

The Scarborough Spartans won third place in this weekend's Hempstead Christmas Classic. The Spartans wrapped up a 5-1 showing at the 12-team tournament with a 59-55 win Saturday night over Huntington.  The 14-4 Spartans are off until December 30.

Spartans' Hempstead Tournament Results

Thursday, December 18 vs. Weimar, Win, 74-27

Thursday, December 18 vs. Bellville, Win, 57-35

Friday, December 19 vs. New Waverly, Win, 60-31

Friday, December 19 vs. Anderson, Win, 59-54

Saturday, December 20 vs. Aggieland Home School, Loss 49-37

Saturday, December 20 vs. Huntington, 59-54.

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Get More information on the team's website

The Sign of the Hat Wearers- Real Grace Reflection #4

Following is my fourth attempt to reflect on Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas's 2015 theme, REAL GRACE. If I had paid better attention in High School English when we studied Chaucer, I might call this poem THE MILLINER'S TALE.  Instead, I have decided to call it...

SIGN SEEN ON THE DOOR TO THE GATHERING PLACE of the INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP of HAT WEARERS

Come one, come all and join us here

Hat wearing, we will be

A big hat, a small hat, a beanie, a fez

There’s no telling what you will see

Akubras, fedoras and helmets on heads

Deerstalkers and yarmulkes too

A songkak is here every once in a while

And coonskins are often in view

Do you have a hat? You can wear it right in

Sombrero or cowboy hat? Yes

If you have a thing on the top of your head

You’re welcome, there’s no need to guess.

There is just one thing that we need to make clear

Before we say anything more

If your head is empty, if holding no hat

YOU TOO, please come in through our door.

You see we dig hats, turbans, trillbys, you name it

We find all head coverings neat

But what holds hats up, that is the great treasure

From his or her head to the feet

So, bring in your hood or your doo rag or crown

Please, don’t leave your hat on the shelf

Yet, if your head’s bare, holding some or no hair,

You’re welcome, too, just bring yourself.

c2014 Mike Tauser

Roller Rink Rock and Roll- Real Grace Reflection #3

Following is my third attempt to reflect on the 2015 theme of Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas, REAL GRACE.  For the sake of full disclosure, these lyrics and its backstory, posted below, were actually penned about six years ago.  Reflecting on the theme for 2015 brought to mind the lyrics and the experience that led to them being written.

ROLLER RINK ROCK AND ROLL

Let your grace, Amazing Grace, override my melody
Let your mercy override the smallest corners of my song
Let your peace that passes understanding override my restless heart
Let your love, your hope and love, override me all day long.

c2008 Mike Tauser

In case you are wondering, there is a story behind the title of this song. Here it is:

I came home to Houston during Christmas Break of one of my years at Marquette University (I believe it was my junior year-1989) and volunteered to DJ a Christian music night at a local roller rink. I was majoring in broadcasting and had even produced and hosted a contemporary Christian music show on the campus station (WMUR), so I figured this was right up my alley.

I showed up at the rink with my feeble collection of music including Petra, Michael W. Smith, Steve Taylor and, if I remember correctly, Stryper, as well as a few more groups. I settled into the DJ booth, while the skaters started lacing up. The first song I played was THIS MEANS WAR by Petra, a Christian band with a hard rock sound. For many years their lead singer was John Schlitt who had been in a rock band called Head East. Before the end of the song's first stanza, a gentleman came in to the booth quite irate, asking why I was playing this rock music, etc.

I wish I could say that I had a great strategy of listening to this man's complaint in an attempt to reach some understanding, but the truth is I was so stunned by his attack on the TYPE OF MUSIC that I was playing that had been special to me that I couldn't formulate any response to him for several minutes. 

Eventually, several skaters offered to get some music from their cars that was a bit more "acceptable", so I did my best to play a mix of the two styles. If memory serves, the gentleman, who as best I could tell was a pastor/minister stayed by my side for at least 90 minutes. As I listened to him and got to explain a little bit of the positive ways God had used this rock and roll in my life, I was able to understand the crux of his argument. He even quoted that famous Scripture to me to defend it, it is from Paul's letter to the Classical Musicians, chapter 4, verse 1:"Thine beat shalt not override thine melody." (OK, OK that's not really a verse, it is April 1 after all). However, that was the main part of his argument, "the beat overrides the melody, therefore, the music is not of God."

Some events I have recently been a party to have made me think again of that night at the roller rink. While the roller rink memory is a bit humorous now that the emotions of the moment are far in the past, the recollection is also a bit disconcerting to me. Even if I met that man today, I don't think I'd have much more to reply to his complaints and his attacks on me. 

Furthermore, there are times when my shortcomings and sins make it so no one's words can get through to me, and I know there are some people who perceive me as THAT GUY attacking them.

I say all this to portray some of the jumble in my mind as I composed the above-posted lyrics. I know the writing of these lyrics reminded me that God's grace is sufficient to overcome(speaking of Paul) my failures. I hope they serve the same purpose to those who read them and hear the story behind them.

Spartans Knock off Lee for Ninth Win

Scarborough routed Lee High School 84-30 in a road game Tuesday night.  The win improves the Spartans' record to 9-3 for the season.

Scarborough travels to Hempstead this weekend for the Hempstead Christmas Classic.

Get more information on the team's website.

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Spartans Week #5

The Spartans opened and closed the last week on a high note.  On Monday, they knocked of Furr High School in their district-opening game.  The Spartans lost their first two games of the Sweeny Tournament.  However, they bounced back to win two games on Saturday and finish the tournament with a 2-2 record.  Scarborough heads into this week with an over-all record of 8-3.

This week's schedule:

Tuesday, December 16 at Houston Lee (5:30)

Thursday, December 18 vs. Weimar (3:00) (Hempstead Christmas Classic)

Thursday, December 18 vs. Bellville (6:00) (Hempstead Christmas Classic)

Friday, December 19 vs. New Waverly (noon) (Hempstead Christmas Classic)

Friday, December 19 vs. Anderson (6:00) (Hempstead Christmas Classic)

Saturday, December 20 vs. Aggie Home School (10:20 am) (Hempstead Christmas Classic)

Saturday, December 20 vs. TBD (2:00, 3:30 or 5:00) (Hempstead Christmas Classic)

Full Season Schedule and Results

Get more information on the team's website

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Spartans' Sweeny Tournament Results

Thursday, December 11 vs. Wharton, Loss, 60-33

Friday, December 12 vs. Columbia, Loss, 64-63, Game Story

Saturday, December 13 vs. Spring Woods, Win, 72-69

Saturday, December 13 vs. Brazosport Christian, Win, 69-44, Game  Story

According to Coach Martin Wall's Twitter feed, the Spartans finished third in the tournament.

Empty White Board- Real Grace Reflection #2

Empty White Board

I think that I’ve seen you before

Then each time you show even more

You fill up my frame, and I can’t comprehend

The picture that you have in store

A canvas in need of your art

A doodle, I can’t even start

You brush on your hues and fill up my page

Just watching, it seems, is my part

It’s true I am impatient clay

A lump set on rolling away

You capture my fear and mold my hard heart

May I be your vessel someday.

c2014 Mike Tauser

This is my second attempt to reflect on the 2015 theme of Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas- REAL GRACE.

Scarborough Wins District Opener, 75-50

The Scarborough basketball kicked off a busy week, winning their district opener over Furr, 75-50 Monday night.  With the win, the Spartans improved to 6-1 over-all this season.

Scarborough heads to Sweeny, Texas this weekend.  They are scheduled to play four games from Thursday to Saturday in the Miksch/Washington Invitational Tournament.

Get more information on the team's website.

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Spartans Week #4

The Spartans head into Monday's district opener with a 5-1 over-all record.  They opened week #3 with a win over Houston Austin.  Houston Davis knocked off Scarborough Friday night on a last second basket.

This week's schedule:

Monday, December 8 vs. Furr (5:30) (Barnett Fieldhouse) #District Game

Thursday, December 11 vs. Wharton (2:30) (Sweeny Tournament)

Friday, December 12 vs. Columbia (2:30) (Sweeny Tournament)

Saturday, December 13 vs. Spring Woods (10:30 am) (Sweeny Tournament)

Saturday, December 13 vs. TBA (TBA) (Sweeny Tournament)

Full Season Schedule and Results

Get more information on the team's website

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

The Skeeters of the Future?

Hundreds of minor league free agents are available according to Baseball America's free agent tracker.    Looking at the players on the market, I can't help but wonder which ones might end up wearing a Sugar Land Skeeters uniform for all or part of the 2015 season.

The Skeeters roster is consistently a landing spot for players who cannot find a place in a big league organization.  In three seasons, Sugar Land has provided an opportunity for numerous players to showcase their abilities and matriculate back to affiliated baseball. In a few cases, those players have made it all the way back to the Major Leagues from Constellation Field.

With this in mind, here is a look at eight free agents who might end up in Sugar Land for 2015. Ages are as of April 23, 2015-the Skeeters opening day.

Jeremy Barfield, 26, OF (Most recently with Oakland organization). Signed with Colorado

After spending time at Klein High School and San Jacinto JUCO, both in the Houston area, Barfield was drafted by Oakland in 2008. He reached AAA in the Athletics system in 2013.  However, Barfield was at AA Midland for all of 2014.  He has 67 home runs in seven professional seasons.

Tommy Field, 28, IF (Pittsburgh). Signed with Texas.

Field spent time with Salt Lake and Indianapolis in 2014.  He has a total of 33 games in the Majors with Rockies and Angels.  Field is an Austin native.  He attended Texas St. a few years after Skeeters fan favorite Dominic Ramos.

Josh Geer, 31, RHP (San Diego).

Geer is a Texas native who pitched at Rice University.  He has pitched in San Antonio each of the last three seasons.  One of his starts for the Missions in 2014 took place in Houston. Geer has some big league experience and he posted a solid AA season in 2014, so he could well be picked up by a big league organization.  If not, Sugar Land seems like a fit.

Dustin Martin, 31, OF(Arizona).

Martin started 2013 and 2014 with the Skeeters.  Each season he was picked up by Arizona.  He has played a total of 42 games with Sugar Land.  Martin is a Corpus Christi native who played in college at Sam Houston State.

Michael Nix, 30, RHP(San Diego).

In three seasons, Nix has made 51 appearances for the Skeeters.  He has moved on from Sugar Land in season twice- 2013 (to White Sox); 2014 (to San Diego).  If  he doesn't latch on with a big league organization, Nix could be back in the Skeeter rotation.

Josh Rodriguez, 30, IF(Miami).

Rodriguez attended South Houston High School and Rice University.  He has bounced around to four different organizations after being drafted by Cleveland in the second round in 2006.  He has played almost 300 games at AAA in nine professional seasons.

Ross Seaton, 25, RHP(Houston). Signed with Detroit

The Astros selected Seaton in the third round of the 2008 draft out of Second Baptist in Houston.  He spent time at AAA in each of the last three seasons.  Seaton leads the Corpus Christi franchise in career starts(64) and innings pitched(372 2/3).

Will Startup, 30, LHP(Detroit).

After spending 2012 with the Skeeters, Startup pitched in the Detroit system each of the last two seasons.  Most of his work for Detroit was done at AA Erie, where he made a total of 69 bullpen appearances.

Given to be Given- Real Grace Reflection #1

Here is my first attempt to reflect on the 2015 theme of Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas: Real Grace.  If you feel compelled to put these words to music, I'd be glad to hear what you come up with.

Given to Be Given

It puts nothing in my pocket

Not a thing upon my plate

No, I cannot hold on to it

To use at a later date

With it, still my wallet’s lacking

My cup? Empty does remain

I could write of it for ever

Yet my words wash down the drain.

It’s nothing I can hold on to

It’s everything as well

Each day, each second it is new

A miracle to tell

It seems to journey off, I panic

When will it return?

It’s always there to open up my eyes

So my heart learns

My tries to hold onto it

Are a certainty to sink

A boat made out of cardboard

Quickly sucked down in the drink

It’s given to be given

It’s shared so I can share

The vessel that can store it

I’ve not seen it anywhere.

c2014 Mike Tauser

Adam Godwin Joins Pittsburgh Organization

According to Baseball America's Minor League Transactions page, another Sugar Land Skeeter will be getting a shot at affiliated baseball.  Adam Godwin, who roamed the outfield at Constellation Field in 2013 and 2014, signed a minor league contract with Pittsburgh for the 2015 campaign.  Godwin last played affiliated baseball in 2009 with Chattanooga, the Dodgers AA team at that time.

In 215 games with the Skeeters, Godwin, who turns 32 on December 13,  had 239 hits and 63 stolen bases. He has 269 stolen bases in 10 seasons as a professional.

The BA transactions page also shows that former Skeeter Jason Lane has re-signed with San Diego.

Spartans Fall in the Last Second to Davis

Scarborough led Friday night's game until the final second against Houston Davis. Unfortunately, the final second was when the game was decided, as the Panthers hit a field goal in the game's final moments to take a 46-45 lead.  That one point lead was Davis's first of the game. The Panthers held on for a hard fought win when a last second 2/3 court shot by Hunter Janacek of the Spartans missed the mark.

Spartans Coach Martin Wall tweeted the following after the game, "win or lose the goal is to get better and we accomplished that tonight. proud of the team. emotions after the loss shows we care. next up!" With the defeat, Scarborough fell to 5-1 for the season.

The Spartans open district play on Monday night.  They take on Furr High School at 5:30 pm at Barnett Fieldhouse.  

Get more information on the team's website.

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Broderick Signs with Angels Organization

The Sugar Land Skeeters have sent another player back to affiliated baseball.  According to a tweet from Matt Eddy of Baseball America, Brian Broderick, RHP, has signed with the Angels organization.

Broderick, 28, spent all of 2014 in the Sugar Land bullpen.  He recorded 11 saves and posted a 2.31 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings pitched.  Broderick made 11 appearances for the Washington Nationals in 2011.

Get Your Spartans Stats Here

If you're following the journey of the Scarborough Spartans basketball team this season, keep the link to their Max Preps page handy.  The Spartans coach, Martin Wall, is diligent about updating the team's statistics after games, so you can know the latest on the Spartans before anyone else.  Max Preps does require that you sign up for the website (for free) to access advanced information.

Spartans Down Austin, Improve to 5-0

Scarborough knocked off Houston Austin, 62-39 on Tuesday night.  With the win, the Spartans improved to 5-0 on the season.

The undefeated Spartans next play Davis High School Friday at 6:30 at Scarborough.

Get more information on the team's website.

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.

Van Hekken Headed Back to Korea

Andy Van Hekken will be headed back to Korea in 2015 to play a fourth season with the Nexen Heroes.  Van Hekken posted 20 wins during the regular season for Nexen in 2014.  According to this article, he will have a base salary of $650,000 (US dollars) in 2015.

High Speed Train meeting

Constellation Field is a Launch Pad

The Sugar Land Skeeters play in the Atlantic League, which as an independent league provides a platform for players to showcase their skills in hopes of being picked up by a major league organization.  Following is a listing of players who have returned to affiliated baseball after spending time at Constellation Field.

Brian Broderick(Angels) and Adam Godwin(Pittsburgh), members of the 2014 Skeeters, will begin the 2015 season with big leauge organizations.

7/25/2014- Taylor Harbin, IF to Mobile(Arizona-AA)
6/26/2014- Chris Smith, RHP to El Paso(San Diego-AAA)
5/24/2014- Michael Nix, RHP to El Paso(San Diego-AAA)
5/10/2014- Dustin Martin, OF to Mobile(Arizona-AA)


Aaron Bates(Dodgers) and Brian Burgamy(Mets), members of the 2013 Skeeters, began the 2014 season with big league organizations.

8/22/2013- Ryan Langerhans, OF to Toronto (MLB)
7/21/2013- Jason Lane, LHP to Tucson(San Diego-AAA)
7/6/2013- Matt Wright, RHP to Reno(Arizona-AAA)
7/5/2013- Jason Bergmann, RHP to NW Arkansas(Kansas City-AA)
6/14/2013- Dustin Richardson, LHP to Salt Lake(Angels-AAA)
6/7/2013- Michael Nix, RHP to Charlotte and Birmingham(White Sox-AAA and AA)
5/30/2013- Chase Lambin, IF to Omaha(Kansas City-AAA)
5/22/2013- Dustin Martin, OF to Mobile(Arizona-AA)
4/22/2013- Sean Gallagher, RHP to Tulsa and Colorado Springs(Colorado-AA and AAA)

Scott Kazmir(Cleveland) and Will Startup(Detroit), members of the 2012 Skeeters, began the 2013 season with big league organizations.
 
8/25/2012- Amadeo Zazueta, IF to Dunedin(Toronto-High A)
6/8/2012- Drew Locke, OF to Corpus Christi(Houston-AA)
6/6/2012- Matt Wright, RHP to Lehigh Valley(Philadelphia- AAA)
5/25/2012- Jimmy Van Ostrand, IF/OF to Harrisburg(Washington-AA)

Spartans Basketball Week #3

The Spartans made it to the Thanksgiving break with a 4-0 record.  They knocked off Magnolia West on the road on Monday and Westbury at home on Tuesday to complete the week.

This week's schedule:

Tuesday, December 2 at Houston Austin (6:00)

Friday, December 5 vs. Houston Davis (6:30) at Scarborough

Full season schedule and results

Get more information on the team's website

This site's coverage of Spartans basketball is brought to you by ???  If you have an interest in sponsoring the coverage, I will donate all proceeds to the Spartans program.  Please contact me at farmstros@yahoo.com for more information.