Softball Update, 09-16-07
Opponent: Blue
Score: 5-9, (L, 0-1)
Personal Stats: 1-2, BB, 1 Run
Recap: A lot has happened since the last post, the most important of which being that I was tapped to coach this year. That's right, this is "my" team that we're following this year. This is my second year coaching, with the first one being way back in 2001 or 2002, a team that had some "issues" and wound up winning two games by forfeit victory in the entire season. That was back when the league was still at eight teams and playing at Mason Park, and I was single, hadn't finished my degree, and was still a student assistant. Now we're down to four teams (like last year), playing at the Kids Future Now property (fences to aim at!) again, and I'm of course married, am almost done with my Master's, and work full-time. So hopefully that change is also reflected in the team's performance! :)
As for the team itself, I'm very happy with the make-up of it. As I told them on Sunday, I believe we have the most balanced team in the league. I managed to pick the paper with the one on it at the draft, so I was going first in every round and picked up pretty much everyone that I wanted. We had a couple late adds after the draft as people signed up late, but they also turned out to be people I know. We have three ex-coaches on the team, so there's a lot of experience and knowledge. Every team is maxxed out at fifteen people right now (thirteen made the first game), so juggling the lineup (especially defense) is going to be a challenge. All that setup out of the way, let's get to the game.
I wasn't expecting much for the first game back. It's one to knock of the rust and get things back into playing shape. When I called everyone late in the week to let them know they were on my team, I also invited them to an optional, last-minute practice at Mason Park on Saturday, and half the team showed up, which I think is awesome. We had a great time and got some much needed warm up in. Er, now really on to the game.
We were the home team and took the field first. We gave up three quick runs which I'm going to attribute to rust, as our defense was really quite solid after that through the early innings. I started at short, as we didn't really have a dedicated shortstop, and got the last out of the inning sliding to cut off a groundball and flipping to second for the force out. Our first at-bats were fairly rusty too, though I was batting second and got our first hit of the season, bouncing a hit through the hole between third and short. I got forced at second on ground ball to third for the third out, however.
My second at-bat was terrible. I was first up in the inning and got over-excited, dropping my shoulder and swinging at an inside pitch which resulted in a weak groundout to third. The heart of the order picked it up, however, and put up our first three runs of the season on a string of hits. It was 5-3 at this point (believe it was the bottom of the third), and it stayed that way until the sixth and final inning.
The defenses were both doing very well, and it was a close game. A couple of fielding mistakes in the top of the sixth made it 9-3, and time had been called during the top of the inning so we'd only have one more chance (we typically try for seven innings). We were at the bottom of the lineup, however I'd put Dan (of previous years fame) at the bottom of the lineup for just such an occasion. I was due up fourth, and I managed to get to the plate and took two balls to get to a three and one count (we start each at-bat with a one and one count to speed up the game). The pitcher then threw the same pitch that I grounded out to third the previous at-bat, but I took it this time for ball four. We managed to score two runs (I was the second) though I nearly got my head taken off by the throw to the plate. ;)
Summary All in all, I'd say it was a fairly successful start to the season, though I'm looking forward to the first win (hopefully it will come a lot sooner than last season). As I told the team, our number one goal is that everyone finishes the season better than they started. If that happens, I'm certain we'll be in the hunt for the championship.
Score: 5-9, (L, 0-1)
Personal Stats: 1-2, BB, 1 Run
Recap: A lot has happened since the last post, the most important of which being that I was tapped to coach this year. That's right, this is "my" team that we're following this year. This is my second year coaching, with the first one being way back in 2001 or 2002, a team that had some "issues" and wound up winning two games by forfeit victory in the entire season. That was back when the league was still at eight teams and playing at Mason Park, and I was single, hadn't finished my degree, and was still a student assistant. Now we're down to four teams (like last year), playing at the Kids Future Now property (fences to aim at!) again, and I'm of course married, am almost done with my Master's, and work full-time. So hopefully that change is also reflected in the team's performance! :)
As for the team itself, I'm very happy with the make-up of it. As I told them on Sunday, I believe we have the most balanced team in the league. I managed to pick the paper with the one on it at the draft, so I was going first in every round and picked up pretty much everyone that I wanted. We had a couple late adds after the draft as people signed up late, but they also turned out to be people I know. We have three ex-coaches on the team, so there's a lot of experience and knowledge. Every team is maxxed out at fifteen people right now (thirteen made the first game), so juggling the lineup (especially defense) is going to be a challenge. All that setup out of the way, let's get to the game.
I wasn't expecting much for the first game back. It's one to knock of the rust and get things back into playing shape. When I called everyone late in the week to let them know they were on my team, I also invited them to an optional, last-minute practice at Mason Park on Saturday, and half the team showed up, which I think is awesome. We had a great time and got some much needed warm up in. Er, now really on to the game.
We were the home team and took the field first. We gave up three quick runs which I'm going to attribute to rust, as our defense was really quite solid after that through the early innings. I started at short, as we didn't really have a dedicated shortstop, and got the last out of the inning sliding to cut off a groundball and flipping to second for the force out. Our first at-bats were fairly rusty too, though I was batting second and got our first hit of the season, bouncing a hit through the hole between third and short. I got forced at second on ground ball to third for the third out, however.
My second at-bat was terrible. I was first up in the inning and got over-excited, dropping my shoulder and swinging at an inside pitch which resulted in a weak groundout to third. The heart of the order picked it up, however, and put up our first three runs of the season on a string of hits. It was 5-3 at this point (believe it was the bottom of the third), and it stayed that way until the sixth and final inning.
The defenses were both doing very well, and it was a close game. A couple of fielding mistakes in the top of the sixth made it 9-3, and time had been called during the top of the inning so we'd only have one more chance (we typically try for seven innings). We were at the bottom of the lineup, however I'd put Dan (of previous years fame) at the bottom of the lineup for just such an occasion. I was due up fourth, and I managed to get to the plate and took two balls to get to a three and one count (we start each at-bat with a one and one count to speed up the game). The pitcher then threw the same pitch that I grounded out to third the previous at-bat, but I took it this time for ball four. We managed to score two runs (I was the second) though I nearly got my head taken off by the throw to the plate. ;)
Summary All in all, I'd say it was a fairly successful start to the season, though I'm looking forward to the first win (hopefully it will come a lot sooner than last season). As I told the team, our number one goal is that everyone finishes the season better than they started. If that happens, I'm certain we'll be in the hunt for the championship.