I wish it could stay fall forever. Bring on the hot chocolate, apples, nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkins. I am ready to leave summer in the dust.

Here are some pictures from my fall night at the Shawnee vs. Carl Albert football game.

The Shawnee Wolves run onto the field before the high school football game between Shawnee and Carl Albert Friday, 0ct. 2, 2009, at the Jim Thorpe Stadium in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

The moon rises over Jim Thorpe Stadium

Shawnee's Dakota Blanchard cheers before the start of the high school football game between Shawnee and Carl Albert Friday, 0ct. 2, 2009, at the Jim Thorpe Stadium in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Gabrion Frazier (1) is brought down Carl Albert defenders during the high school football game between Shawnee and Carl Albert Friday, 0ct. 2, 2009, at the Jim Thorpe Stadium in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Shawnee's Gabrion Frazier (1) and Carl Albert's Dwight Dobbins (2) get tangled up following a play during the high school football game between Shawnee and Carl Albert Friday, 0ct. 2, 2009, at the Jim Thorpe Stadium in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

The Shawnee Wolves run onto the field before the high school football game between Shawnee and Carl Albert Friday, 0ct. 2, 2009, at the Jim Thorpe Stadium in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Jake Witcher of Mustang, Okla., falls in mud during the MDA M.U.D.D. volleyball tournament at the Silver Stallion Club, Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Mustang, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps,The Oklahoman

Mud splatters during the MDA M.U.D.D. volleyball tournament at the Silver Stallion Club, Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Mustang, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps,The Oklahoman

Players play volleyball during the MDA M.U.D.D. volleyball tournament at the Silver Stallion Club, Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Mustang, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps,The Oklahoman

As photojournalists we often put ourselves in dangerous situations.  We risks ourselves and camera gear to chasing storms. We risk getting tackled by football players while on the sidelines or being hit by a foul ball. In the winter, I always carry a bag with a pair of dry socks, waterproof pants, extra gloves and other various winter items. Last week during the scorching heat wave I carried extra water to stay hydrated. As photojournalists it is important we prepare ourselves for the worst.

So, last weekend when I was assigned the MDA MUDD Vollleyball tournament, fellow staff photographer Nate Billings warned me to wear clothes that I did not care about. It was the best advice I have had in a while. I had no choice but to put myself in the line of fire of flying muddy water in order to get the pictures I wanted. My old jeans I wore are now a nice rust color.  At least I got some decent pictures.

See all photos

-Sarah Phipps

Paul Hellstern was covering the parade from the ground. You can see a gallery of his photos here.

Below are a couple of other still frames Bryan shot from the roof.

Boy Scouts carry an American flag down Broadway in Edmond, Okla., during the LibertyFest Parade Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

People watch the LibertyFest Parade on Broadway in Edmond, Okla., during the Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

-Sarah Phipps

Pictured Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. are: front left to right Kylie Moates, 9, Colby Moates, 12, and Lauren Cochell, 7. Back left to right Jake Prior, 15, Lisa Cochell and Derek Moates. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

A move to Dallas has not kept Lisa Cochell and her family from their tradition of attending Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Cochell starting attending the camp in 1973. Her little brother and sister joined soon after.

She now spends her summer vacations at the camp with her son, nieces and nephews. They have been attending since 1997.

The turtle and frog races have always been a favorite highlight at the camp.

“I love watching their faces. They are all so excited. I had a little camper today, she gave her turtle to the office because we had two turtles in the same category and her turtle won second. Even though it wasn’t for our group, she was like ‘My turtle won second’ and that is the best feeling. That is why I take my vacations to do this, ” Cochell said.

The night before the races, Cochell and several of the others counselor catch frogs on the pond at Camp DaKaNi. It is an activity they have done for several years.

“My son is great at catching frogs and it is because he has been doing it since he was four years old,” she said.

The family is pictured in this 2002 Oklahoman photo. Bottom, l-r, Derek Moates, 7, and Jake Prior, 8. Top row, from left, are Colby Moates, 5, Sarah Kerr, 4, and Jared Kerr, 10. Staff photo by Jim Beckel.

Lauren Cochell, 7, poses with a frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Derek Moates, 14, poses with his bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Jake Prior, 15, poses with his bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Colby Moates poses with his bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Kylie Moates, 9, poses with a bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Camp counselor Lisa Cochell poses with a bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Click play to see all frog racing photos and to hear audio from the race.

-Sarah Phipps

Dave Nelson of Omaha, Neb., shows his tattoo he got before traveling to Oklahoma for his first Endeavor Games at Edmond North High School in Edmond, Okla., Sunday, June 14, 2009. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

View Sunday’s pictures

View all Endeavor Games photos

-Sarah Phipps

Florida celebrates a game-winning grand slam by Ali Gardiner to advance the Gators past Alabama to the championship round of the Women's College World Series, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Every little girl who plays softball dreams of the day when she will hit a grand-slam home run to give her team a win.

On Sunday this dream became a reality for Florida Gator Ali Gardiner.

Gardiner walked up to the plate in the bottom of the 7th as the Gators trailed Alabama by 3. With two outs and the bases loaded, Gardiner, who was 0-for-9 in the WCWS, hit the 2-1 pitch just beyond the fence in left field, propelling the Gators into the championship round.

After shooting one of the longest softball games of my life (the previous game between Georgia and Washington went for more than four hours), Gardiner’s heroics were a nice highlight. College softball rarely produces high scores. On Sunday, I saw 28 runs in just two games including 2 grand slams. This year’s WCWS has produced a record 24 home runs setting a new single tournament record. Sunday’s 7,000 plus fans got their money’s worth.

After six-plus hours standing in burning sun on Sunday, I was pretty miserable. But after editing the pictures of Gardiner being dog piled by her teammates, I knew it was worth the pain.

The WCWS stands are often filled young softball players and their families. Knowing that there are now several little girls dreaming of the day they can be just like Ali Gardiner puts a smile on my sunburnt face.

Florida's Ali Gardiner celebrates her game-winning grand slam as Alabama's Lauren Parker reacts during NCAA softball tournament game between Alabama and Florida, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Florida's Ali Gardiner celebrates her game-winning grand slam as as she rounds the bases during NCAA softball tournament game between Alabama and Florida, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Florida head coach Tim Walton celebrates the Gators' win over Alabama during NCAA softball tournament, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Here are two photo galleries from the games I shot yesterday and one from the night game photographed by Bryan Terry.

Washington vs. Georgia

Florida vs. Alabama

Washington vs. Georgia, the rematch

-Sarah Phipps

A child runs the bases at the Bricktown Ballpark during Sunday Fun Day on May 17, 2009. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Growing up in Kansas City, my favorite activity in the summer was to go to Royals’ games with my father.  There is no other experience in the world like going to the ball park with your pops.

The sights, the sounds, the smells, the food.  A hot dog at the ball park tastes better than the world’s finest filet mignon.  The crack of a line drive is unforgettable.

Baseball is the the definition of summer.

We would always go to at least three games:  Memorial Day for my birthday, Fourth of July for the fireworks, and my personal favorite Blues Springs’ Day.

Blue Springs Day was extra special. On this day, I would put on my softball uniform cleats and all. And along with hundreds of other future hall of famers, I would parade around the warning track before the game. If was lucky enough,  George Brett might even wave hello.  I felt so cool. I was on top of the world.

Here in Oklahoma City, every Sunday the RedHawks host Sunday Fun Day. After the game, all the children are allowed to run the bases, hit home runs, and play catch with their dad in left field. I certainly wish I had a memory of playing catch in left field at Kauffman Stadium with my pops.

I bet these kids feel as tall as their shadows as they round the bases and will always remember the time they hit a homerun at the Brick.

Summers at the ballpark can create memories of a lifetime.

Children run the bases after the RedHawks baseball game on Sunday, May 17, 2009. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

-Sarah Phipps

These are a couple of frames before I did my best Marcia Brady impression. Remember the episode where she got hit in the nose with a football and it ruined her prom? Well, my prom was not ruined but the next day at work there was some pain on the right side of my face.

I never imaged that I would be Robinson’s intended target in the back of the end zone. I am quite honored that Gundy recognized my superior athletic power and involved me in his offense. I can tell you from experience Robinson has some zip on his ball. I am glad this pass took a bounce before hitting me in the nose.

-Sarah Phipps