Softball Update, 11-1-09
Opponent: Green
Score: 11-6 (W, 6-1, 3-1 in Division)
Personal Stats: 2-4, 2 2Bs, 1 Run, 3 RBIs
Season Stats: 19-27, 6 2Bs, HR, 3 BBs, 11 Runs, 17 RBIs
Recap: It's been a busy week, so a late update and probably a little shorter than usual. It didn't help that for some reason the early game we played this week was DEAD. Just not a lot of people around, little energy, little excitement. The first inning started with their leadoff hitter flaring a ball into right center. It dropped and he was already on third, scored by another fly ball to right center that was caught, followed by two quick outs. Scott singled to bring me up in the bottom of the first, and after a quick ball, I was talking to Brian (who was kind enough to emergency umpire for me after a miscommunication with another ump), and I turned around to see the ball already being pitched. I swung at it on instinct (should have taken it), and hit it off the inside of the bat for a pop out to short. We hadn't played this team before, but found out quickly that their pitcher pitches quickly.
My team had my back though, and another "moment," single, 3 run HR, single, 2 run HR, single, single, fielders choice, single, single brought me up with the bases loaded and two outs. Their coach made a crack about my being able to make the first and last outs of the inning. Already up 7-1, I was not very selective and grounded a ball to second to end it.
The next two innings were remarkably similar, and in actuality all three initial innings started the same way for them, with a triple. Three outs quickly followed, however, and after such a hot start, our bats were silent for the next couple innings. Going into the bottom of the fourth, the Green team had built a nice picket fence on the score board and only trailed 7-4. We were just coming around to the top our lineup and needed to score some runs. The last batter flew out to left to start the inning, but Scott followed that with a single. I came up for the third time (though the first time since the first inning) and managed a double (honestly don't remember where, it's been too long). A single and a sac fly later, and we'd scored two more runs to go up 9-4.
Good timing, since the other team scored two runs in the top of the fifth to bring it to 9-6. A quiet bottom of the fifth, and a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, was followed by the last bit of fireworks in the bottom of the sixth. Belen ripped a single over the pitcher up the middle to start it off, then a fly out to left brought Scott back up again, who singled for the the fourth time in four at bats. I followed it up with another double to score them both, and two pop outs ended the inning. We were up 11-6, but had to hold them in the top of the seventh. The game had flown by, with many quick innings, so we were well ahead of schedule.
The top of the seventh opened with a shot to deep right. I was playing right center and positioned myself deeper than the right fielder because their number two hitter was up. I took of on seeing it head out to right and realized that I had a shot at it if I jumped for it. A half-dive, half-tumble later, I caught the ball and hit knee first, leaving a nice divot in the damp ground (luckily it was damp and gave easily, I don't want to know how that would have felt on harder ground). Two fly outs to left later, and we had secured our sixth win.
Summary: We are now guaranteed at least a tie for the best record heading into the playoffs, with one week remaining. I have mixed feelings about this, as historically the team with the best record has not fared well come playoff time in Softball leagues. I have every confidence that this team has the ability to win it all, however, and would not trade it for any other one. Next week we play the top seed from the other division in our last regular season match up, game time 1:00 pm.
Score: 11-6 (W, 6-1, 3-1 in Division)
Personal Stats: 2-4, 2 2Bs, 1 Run, 3 RBIs
Season Stats: 19-27, 6 2Bs, HR, 3 BBs, 11 Runs, 17 RBIs
Recap: It's been a busy week, so a late update and probably a little shorter than usual. It didn't help that for some reason the early game we played this week was DEAD. Just not a lot of people around, little energy, little excitement. The first inning started with their leadoff hitter flaring a ball into right center. It dropped and he was already on third, scored by another fly ball to right center that was caught, followed by two quick outs. Scott singled to bring me up in the bottom of the first, and after a quick ball, I was talking to Brian (who was kind enough to emergency umpire for me after a miscommunication with another ump), and I turned around to see the ball already being pitched. I swung at it on instinct (should have taken it), and hit it off the inside of the bat for a pop out to short. We hadn't played this team before, but found out quickly that their pitcher pitches quickly.
My team had my back though, and another "moment," single, 3 run HR, single, 2 run HR, single, single, fielders choice, single, single brought me up with the bases loaded and two outs. Their coach made a crack about my being able to make the first and last outs of the inning. Already up 7-1, I was not very selective and grounded a ball to second to end it.
The next two innings were remarkably similar, and in actuality all three initial innings started the same way for them, with a triple. Three outs quickly followed, however, and after such a hot start, our bats were silent for the next couple innings. Going into the bottom of the fourth, the Green team had built a nice picket fence on the score board and only trailed 7-4. We were just coming around to the top our lineup and needed to score some runs. The last batter flew out to left to start the inning, but Scott followed that with a single. I came up for the third time (though the first time since the first inning) and managed a double (honestly don't remember where, it's been too long). A single and a sac fly later, and we'd scored two more runs to go up 9-4.
Good timing, since the other team scored two runs in the top of the fifth to bring it to 9-6. A quiet bottom of the fifth, and a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, was followed by the last bit of fireworks in the bottom of the sixth. Belen ripped a single over the pitcher up the middle to start it off, then a fly out to left brought Scott back up again, who singled for the the fourth time in four at bats. I followed it up with another double to score them both, and two pop outs ended the inning. We were up 11-6, but had to hold them in the top of the seventh. The game had flown by, with many quick innings, so we were well ahead of schedule.
The top of the seventh opened with a shot to deep right. I was playing right center and positioned myself deeper than the right fielder because their number two hitter was up. I took of on seeing it head out to right and realized that I had a shot at it if I jumped for it. A half-dive, half-tumble later, I caught the ball and hit knee first, leaving a nice divot in the damp ground (luckily it was damp and gave easily, I don't want to know how that would have felt on harder ground). Two fly outs to left later, and we had secured our sixth win.
Summary: We are now guaranteed at least a tie for the best record heading into the playoffs, with one week remaining. I have mixed feelings about this, as historically the team with the best record has not fared well come playoff time in Softball leagues. I have every confidence that this team has the ability to win it all, however, and would not trade it for any other one. Next week we play the top seed from the other division in our last regular season match up, game time 1:00 pm.