We played one hell of a game this weekend and it was timely to say the least! The league has had 5 teams in it every year I have played. Well this year, we dissolved one of the old teams and added two new teams. Both the new teams are pretty decent and one, the team from Ravenswood, put together a team that can win it all. Going in to the weekend, they were in first place with a 4-0 record and had won all 4 games by 10 running their opponent. For me, this was a game where the defending champs needed to send a message and boy did we ever!!!
We managed to sneak in a run in the top half of the first thanks to a throwing error, then I went down on strikes as I looked at a for sure ball 4. When I went out the next inning, I told the ump: "You know you missed ball 4 on me, but I won't give you shit if we get that call today." The ump just laughed and it turned out to be a good thing I know how to work them later in the game!!!
Our pitcher was on his A game Saturday and managed to strike out 8 of his first 9 outs. He did give up a run in the bottom of the 3rd thanks to a fluke triple and a seeing eye single on a great pitch. He continued to pitch well keeping us in a 1-1 game until the top of the 6th. Our lead off hitter that inning is 42 and runs like he has a car tied to him. He swung at strike 3, the catcher misses it, then throws it wild and somehow, Chris beats out all the commotion to get on! The next batter strikes out, so we have 1 down with a runner on first and the top of the order coming up. Our lead off guy walks, then our #2 hittter (the pitcher) goes down swinging on 3 straight pitches. Runners on first and second, two outs and I'm coming to the plate. First pitch is an inside fastball that I nearly tore the cover off, foul ball. I knew he was going to throw me a breaker and he did, but he hung it and I hit it to left center for a double. We are up 2-1!
We shut them down in the bottom of 6, then stole an unearned run from them in the 7th after a double from my SS, then an over throw as he stole 3rd on a passed ball. That run came in huge in the bottom of 7 as the lead off hitter tripled, then a sac fly brought him in to score. However, my pitcher buckled down to get strike outs 11 and 12 to seal the deal! The final pitch was his 6th backwards K and it was on the same pitch I got rung up on in the first inning. All told, of the 6 backwards K's, 4 were on pitches low and away. I hate to strike out looking, but if it means my pitcher gets that same call all day, then I'll take it!!!
Season Stats
PA: 14
AB: 9
H: 5
2B: 2
HR: 1
RBI: 5
Runs Scored: 5
K: 3
BB: 4
HBP: 1
BA: .555
OBP: .714
Slugging: 1.11
Runners attempting to steal: 2
Runners thrown out stealing: 1
Team Record: 3-1
Runs Scored: 24
Runs Scored Against:16
