Sometimes, being able to go cover a game means that I can’t come alone. Sometimes, I bring a munchkin along with a camera. For those who don’t know, I’m a blogger and a photographer and a dad, among a number of other things, which means that sometimes I have to do lots of things at once. Like keep track of a 4 year-old and photograph a game. 

Munchkinland

Sunday was one of those days, as I brought my daughter to the Cal Poly women’s soccer game along with me. 

It wasn’t the first time I’ve brought her to a game. When she was about six months old, I would dress her in warm clothes and put her in the front pack while I shot games at Baggett Stadium from the top of the dugout behind the net, ducking low to keep her tiny, slumbering self out of the line of fire. 

As she’s gotten older, it’s become more and more difficult to BOTH bring the munchkin and take photos or cover games with any kind of thorough energy. 

When we got to the game on Sunday, I had been talking-up scarves. The women’s soccer team had advertised that they were giving them away. We got there right at kickoff, and all 100 scarves had already been given away (though I was told that several students came in, got theirs, and left — weak move guys.) 

No scarf didn’t mean a total meltdown though. We stood behind the UOP goal and I got some shots of Mustangs attacking. We went and talked to one of the security team who is a student. Munchkin got a water and climbed the empty, sun-soaked bleachers behind the benches. I got a few shots.

Not a bad day for some @calpolysoccer . 0-0 at half time vs uop.

A post shared by Fansmanship.com (@fansmanship) on Sep 17, 2017 at 12:54pm PDT

Grass glare

I’m generally a big fan of shooting from a raised angle — Spanos offers a unique opportunity there. The more I do it though, the more I hate it. When it’s really sunny — like it was on Sunday — there’s a glare that basically bounces off the grass field. It creates weird color balancing and messes with exposure quite a bit too if you’re not careful. It’s the kind of thing that I might notice were my full attention on the task at hand. 

Kneeling on the sideline wasn’t an option when you’re keeping just one eye and half your attention on your camera, though.

About 15 minutes into the game, it was getting hot for the muchkin. So we went upstairs. Walking around in the shade and paying a quick visit to the press box, she was rejuvinated and it was time for a snack.

I should know better by now, but at halftime I found myself walking away from the snack bar with a seven pound camera/lens, a ketchup-filled hot dog, and a drink in my hands. The munchkin carried her drink, and we found a place to sit in the shade and eat. 

Senior Megan Abutin puts away a penalty kick equalizer for Cal Poly on Sunday. By Owen Main, assisted by The Munchkin

Munchkin stamina

The first ten minutes of second half is about as far as she had gone in the past. The attention span of a four year-old wanders. Somehow, I was able to string it out a little longer than usual. With a comfortable temperature in a shady part of the stadium, she found a stick and was entertaining herself until Megan Abutin put in a penalty goal for Cal Poly. 

What I learned 

Photos Category

• My daughter’s stamina for being at games is getting better. Slowly. This makes me happy and hopeful for the next 2-4 years. 
• I can still get some OK soccer photos, even with her there. I just have to adjust my priorities in terms of how many I’m going to end up with and whether they’re ideal.
• Grass Glare — It’s a thing I have been aware of, but I’m really starting to see more clearly why photographers want to be closer to the ground as they shoot during the day. If there’s a photography lesson I learned, it’s that. Get close to the ground on a sun shiny day like Sunday. I’m not sure if knee pads will ever be my thing, but there is some technical reasoning behind low shots, aside from just looking cool.
• When you’re paying attention to a four year-old, little things like “where the sun is” can be lost on you as you shoot. 

Sports Category

• Cal Poly women’s soccer looks really resilient right now. Going down a goal, there was a little bit of unsure body language on the field, but Megan Abutin and the team stayed totally focused. Abutin is playing healthy and loose and was the key to unlocking some nice Cal Poly chances throughout the second half. The Mustang attack seemed much more connected than I saw last year. Let’s hope that keeps up.
• Leaving early, you always risk something like this happening without me being there. 

2OT FINAL: Megan Demijohn (104') her 2nd game-winner of the week – @CPWomensSoccer 2-1 over Pacific!#RideHigh & #PlayBig Thurs. vs Denver. pic.twitter.com/qDezSFXPW1

— Big West W-Soccer (@BigWestWSOC) September 17, 2017

To sum it up, if you bring a four year-old, try to enjoy the game a little and accept the fact that neither your photos nor analysis will be what they probably could be. 

And, for now, that’s just fine with me. 

Photos by Owen Main with an assist from The Munchkin. For all the photos from the game click here.

The Cal Poly baseball team had question-marks all over the field this preseason. They emphatically answered some of those questions with a four-game sweep of former Big West opponent University of Pacific.

Kyle Smith was dealing on Friday night. By Owen Main

On Friday, Kyle Smith calmed questions about the pitching staff. The left-handed sophomore struck out six Tigers in the first two innings and nine overall in the complete game 6-2 victory. Smith only walked one batter and threw 108 pitches.

Saturday’s doubleheader started in dramatic fashion. In the first game, with the score tied at 6-6 in the 10th inning, freshman catcher Nick Meyer punched a single into right field to plate Michael Sanderson and put Cal Poly up 2-0 in the series.

The series advantage was pushed to 3-0 in the nightcap behind a strong start from junior pitcher Slater Lee. Lee went seven and a third innings and gave up three runs while scattering ten hits and striking-out eight batters. He walked just two Tigers.

In the final game on Sunday, Cal Poly was able to flex some offensive muscle, jumping out to a 15-0 lead and winning the game 18-2 to get to 4-0.

Great starts

Friday night was one to remember for Kyle Smith. There isn’t any understating a Friday starter who throws a complete game and gets a win to start a weekend. Smith’s velocity has never been super high, but his ability to keep hitters off-balance and think his way through a start is obviously advanced. The fact he’s left-handed doesn’t hurt either. To see him strike out six batters in the first two innings was great.

Catch and throw

To see Cal Poly make no errors behind Smith on Friday had to lower Larry Lee’s blood pressure a little bit. The Mustangs had defensive question-marks coming into this season, but committed just three errors in the four games this weekend. It’s not a number to hang your hat on, but considering the fact that they made seven errors in their first three games last season, we’ll call it a good sign.

Freshman center fielder Alex McKenna belted two home runs in Cal Poly’s 4-game sweep of Pacific. By Owen Main

McKenna flexes

With lack of experience all over the field, it was great to see a freshman step-up. Alex McKenna did just that, belting two home runs over the weekend en route to a Big West Player of the Week award. McKenna went 6-12 with two home runs and a triple on the weekend. He also walked seven times. In the crazy first weekend stats department, McKenna now sports a 1.817 OPS — not bad for a leadoff hitter and center fielder. He’s going to be an exciting player to watch over the next few years.

Barbier’s bat

Brett Barbier also had a very nice weekend. The junior played catcher, first base, and left field on the weekend and leads the team with a .571 batting average out of the three-hole. Barbier’s presence in the lineup provides both versatility and a steadying influence. When he goes well, this lineup looks like it can be dangerous.

Bruin Invasion

Cal Poly will host UCLA for three games and Michigan for one game this weekend as part of a Saturday doubleheader. The Bruins were a top-10 team coming into the year and have fallen off a little after going 1-2 last weekend. Their coach was not happy with his team’s performance, so you know they’re going to come to Baggett looking for blood.

Head coach John Savage said today was the worst #UCLA has looked in 10 years. Said he was embarrassed and disappointed.

— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSprD1) February 22, 2016

The series will be a great test for this young Cal Poly squad. First pitch on Friday night is 6:00pm.

Photos by Owen Main. To view them all, click here.

Some photos by Will Parris of the first round of the Big West Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.

First round winners were the four top seeds: Long Beach State, Pacific, Cal Poly, and UC Irvine.

Photos By Will Parris – Parris Studios

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The Big West Tournament is here and, while others may get more glamour or publicity, the Big West’s match-ups will be exciting and are sure to bring some March Madness to the Honda Center. In the spirit of true fansmanship, you might find a homer pick or two in here, but nothing is outside the realm of possibility in this tournament. Here are the brackets for the games, all of which will be played at the Honda Center:

ROUND 1 – Thursday, March 14

Pacific (2) vs. UC Santa Barbara (7), 12:00 PM

Season Series split 1-1

Pacific has been one of the most consistent teams in the conference. They have played solid team basketball all year and have only one player — senior guard Lorenzo McCloud — who averages double-figures in scoring on the season. This makes Pacific tough to plan for, but it also makes winning the tournament tough for the Tigers, who are trying to send head coach Bob Thomason out with a bang in his 25th and final season at the helm. For UCSB, it’s all about Alan Williams. To the extent that Williams can control the inside and find open shooters when he is double-teamed, UCSB can stay in this one. Williams, a sophomore from Arizona and an All-Big West First Team selection this year averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game this year. Pacific will play their game and, while I’m sure Williams will find open shooters, they won’t be named Boswell. If UCSB’s guards like Michael Bryson and Nate Garth can make 3-pointers, this game will be close, but I can’t see Pacific going one-and-done in their head coach’s last year. Look for their experience to wear on UCSB, who will definitely have a much more friendly seed in next year’s tournament. Winner: PACIFIC

Chris Eversley is one of the players to watch in the Big West Tournament

Cal Poly (3) vs. UC Davis (6), 2:30 PM

Season Series split 1-1

For all the consistency the Mustangs showed during conference play and for how much better it still seems they’re getting, people might still think they overachieved in earning a third seed in the tournament. Without a tournament title, they may not be viewed as a true contender until they prove they can make it back to the championship game, where they haven’t been since the Derek Stockalper– led team lost to Long Beach State 94-83 in the 2007 final. To win Thursday’s game, and the tournament, Cal Poly will have to shoot very well and play their trademark grinding defense that has established them as the conference’s best defensive team. UC Davis has also never won a Big West Tournament since joining the conference in 2007. The addition of Corey Hawkins (son of 13-year NBA veteran Hersey Hawkins) has bolstered the Aggies this year. If Hawkins and sharpshooter Ryan Sypkens have great shooting games, they can open-up the inside for big-man and fellow all-conference selection J.T. Adenrele. Both of these teams have a lack of experience at key positions, but Cal Poly has shown more consistency this year and, in the first round, that should put the third-seeded Mustangs over the top. Winner: CAL POLY

Long Beach State (1) vs. Cal State Fullerton (8), 6:00 PM

Season Series – Long Beach State 2-0

Long Beach State is Long Beach State. They are athletic, long, and imposing. At times, they can play suffocating defense. For the past few seasons, they’ve had cold-blooded leaders like Casper Ware with the ability and persona to be a conference tournament hero. The question for this year’s 49er team is whether Big West Player of the Year James Ennis and first-team all-conference selection Mike Caffey have a tournament hero in them. Fullerton has had a weird season. Picked to compete in the regular season, the Titans were never quite able to put everything together. With a rash of injuries and a tough road trip, Fullerton dropped to the number-8 seed on the final day of conference play. For them to have a chance, guard Kwame Vaughn will have to probably score 30 points and everyone else from Fullerton will have to play great. In the end, Long Beach always seems as comfortable in Anaheim as they do at home. Their defensive intensity always kicks-up a notch in the postseason too. While Fullerton might keep it close for a while, look for the 49ers to pull-away late and punch their ticket to Friday. Winner: LONG BEACH STATE

UC Irvine (4) vs. Hawai’i (5) 8:30 PM

Season Series split 1-1

The nightcap of this year’s first round is, on paper, set to be the best game. Both teams won at home during the regular season by four and six points. Hawai’i, led by all-Big West first team selection Christian Standhardinger, fell to the fifth seed after holding one of the top-3 spots in the standings for most of the year. UC Irvine has the outside-shooting edge, so this game will be about how effectively Adam Folker and Will Davis can hold down Hawai’i’s big front line of Isaac Fotu, Standhardinger, and Vander Joaquim. This matchup is not a great one for Irvine and I see Hawai’i’s inside presence proving too much in the first round for UC Irvine in the only “upset” of the first round. Winner: HAWAI’I

Round 2 – Friday, March 15

I won’t go into excruciating detail here, but I see Hawai’i making a run in this tournament. They play in a big arena regularly, so their shooting won’t be negatively affected and Long Beach State is vulnerable. Hawai’i is the only team that can give Long Beach State problems physically, and I see them pulling the second round upset. The Cal Poly- Pacific matchup would also be an interesting one. The Mustangs lost to UOP early in conference play in Stockton, but didn’t seem to have a TON of trouble with the Tigers when they played them at home later in the year. Pacific travels farther to get to the tournament and Cal Poly has been playing really well coming in, so I’m going to pick another mini-upset here with the Mustangs winning a tight one. Chris Eversley, who CBSSports.com’s Gary Parrish picked as one of the top-three players to watch for in the tournament, could be the difference here.

Final – Saturday, March 16

Cal Poly vs. Hawai’i. I can’t believe I picked Long Beach State to not make the finals. I can’t believe I picked Cal Poly to make the finals. But I did. UCSB and Long Beach State have each made the final every year for the past three years. I’m not going to pick a winner here. If I end up being right by Saturday, I’ll pick a winner on that day.

What do you think about my predictions? Who is your pick? Respond below.