Game #6

Date: September 9, 2010
Start: 9:15pm
End: 10:10pm
Where: Havins Field #2
Opponents: Gang Bangs One Out

We were the home team.

Outcome: WIN
Final score: 7-6

Notes: An incredibly tense back-and-forth game featuring excellent defense by both teams -- of the 12 half-innings played, 7 of them were scoreless, and another 2 featured only a single run! There were a few defensive highlights of the game:

• In the top of the first inning, Neil made fine plays on two difficult ground balls, making accurate off-balance throws to force a runner at first base in the first play, and at home plate in the second play.
• Amanda made a leaping snag of a high line drive that was ticketed for right field to make the first out of the second inning (against the first batter of the inning -- way to set the tone for the inning!).
• In the top of the third inning, the first batter hit a sharp ground ball to Courtney at second base. Even though the runner was fast, Courtney was able to make a strong throw to a stretching Amanda just in time to get the out at first base. Later in that inning, with a runner on first and one out, the batter laced a line drive into left field. Zook quickly got the ball in to Matt. He threw a perfect strike to Becky at third base, in time for her to tag the runner who was trying to go first to third.
• In the top of the fourth inning, the bases were loaded with nobody out. The batter hit a fly ball to shallow-to-moderate depth left-center field. Newton caught the ball, and the runner from third base headed for home. Newton unleashed a beautiful throw to Lacey at home plate, beating the runner by several steps. She applied the tag to complete the double play. (As a side-note, the next batter singled to re-load the bases, but the subsequent batter flew out to left field, allowing the Weasels to escape unharmed from a bases-loaded jam with nobody out)
• In the top of the fifth inning, there was a runner on second base with two outs. The batter hit a ground ball into right-center field. As Patrick was fielding the ball, the runner from second base was rounding third and decided to try for home. Patrick made a great throw to Lacey at the plate, which convinced the runner to head back toward third base. Lacey threw the ball to Becky at third base, but it ended up coming out of her glove as she tried to catch it and apply the tag. Even though the ball only rolled perhaps a foot or so away, the runner on third base made a break toward home. He didn't go far, and immediately tried to return to third base, but not before Becky was able to grab the ball and tag him out to end the inning.
• The first batter of the top of the sixth inning hit a foul pop-up near the backstop. Zook moved back and fielded it effortlessly, giving the Weasels an easy first out of the inning.

...and those are just the highlights! There were plenty of other solid defensive plays which contributed to this victory. There was some late-game drama when the opponents scored 5 runs in the top of the 6th inning to take a 6-4 lead over the Weasels. The Weasels did not panic, however. Patrick led off the inning by using his excellent speed to reach base on an infield single. Amanda managed to get to a full count and then work a crucial walk, putting the tying runs on base. Neil laced a double into right-center field, scoring Patrick and advancing Amanda to third base. Becky hit a hard line drive, but unfortunately it was right at the shortstop -- one out, and the runners were unable to advance. Newton hit a hard ground ball to the first baseman. She boxed it around, and was unable to make a clean play on it. Amanda had already scored, and Neil was waved around third base. The first baseman finally got control of the ball and made a throw to the plate, but it was offline and Neil scored the go-ahead run. Newton took second base on the throw. At this point there was less than a minute left on the clock. Lindsay took a pitch, and then drove a fly ball over the left-center fielder's head. Time expired after she had rounded first and Newton rounded third. Because the Weasels already had the lead, the game ended at this point, giving Lindsay only a single on her hit (even though she surely would have had extra bases) and not allowing Newton to score a run (even though he crossed the plate before they got the ball in). All in all a very exciting way to end the season! Thanks to our fans for coming out to cheer, including Ted, Becky, Tim, and others I'm surely forgetting. Great thanks to David for keeping score!

Batting lineup:

1: Matt, SS,SS,SS,SS,DH,SS*
2: Carrie Z, DH,C,LF,2B,1B,C*
3: Patrick, LF,DH,RCF,RCF,RCF,LF*
4: Amanda, 1B,1B,1B,1B,DH,1B*
5: Neil, P
6: Becky, 3B,3B,3B,3B,3B,DH*
7: Newton, LCF,LCF,DH,LCF,LCF,LCF*
8: Lindsay, RF,LF,DH,LF,LF,RF*
9: Shawn, RCF,RCF,LCF,DH,SS,RCF*
10: Courtney, 2B,2B,2B,DH,2B,2B*
11: Mitch, DH,RF,RF,RF,RF,DH*
12: Lacey, C,DH,C,C,C,3B*

* - In the first inning, they played the first position listed. In the second inning, they played the second position listed. And so on.

Back to the main softball page