The Reds needed just 1 more win to take the championship. We lead our best 2 of 3 series with the Wackers, 1 game to none, as the result of our stunning win the week before when we played them dramatically short handed. No way they could bounce back, especially now that we had our full team and they were the ones short handed, although not by nearly as much as we had been.
Happily the game started off just as I planned it...well, at least hoped it would go. In our very first at bat, Max singled, Adam did the same and Jeff, one of our returning players, slammed a home run to center field. In the second inning the onslaught continued. Anthony, also returning to us, singled and Caruso slammed one to right that looked sure to be a big extra base hit but their right fielder had other plans. Still, we were POUNDING that pitcher. Dennis singled and Chris, welcome back, walked. The bases were loaded and heavy damage about to be done. Tony stepped up and slammed the ball! Great contact but poor aim. It zoomed along the ground right to their shortstop who started a double play.
But we were pounding the ball, no problem...except our pounding stopped there. We, amazingly, did not get another hit till 2 were out in the 7th inning. Nothing at all in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th and even our paltry 7th inning single did not lead to a run. So we had a 3-0 lead and we couldn't add to it. Was it enough?
Nope. Wackers tied us up. And they threatened to do worse. They put runners on base and looked absolutely set to take the lead, maybe a big lead. Except for 1 thing. Everytime they had a chance to score, they hit the ball to Anthony. Big mistake. He's our third baseman. He doesn't like to be challenged. Or maybe he does. Handles them pretty well, I'd say.
Runner on first, line drive to Anthony's left. He lunges and graps it. Runners on second and third, 2 outs, a sharp 1 hopper, again to his left. Fielded cleanly and tossed to first. Second and third and 1 out, a slow roller this time that nets them nothing as Anthony fields it, holds the runner and makes that toss. Next batter? Pretty much the same thing and same result. Inning over.
So we went to extra innings and, in the eighth, Warner lined a hit to right. Anthony did the same and Warner raced to third base. Caruso came to the plate.
Remember my post last week where I mentioned a player who annoyed both teams by switching sides, first from the Reds to the Wackers and then from the Wackers back to us? Didn't mention his name. It was Caruso. And so, in this crucial situation the question was, which team would he again annoy and upset?
The Wackers. He bounced a chopper, just beyond the reach of the pitcher and Warner charged home. The Wacker third baseman was so upset that he muttered under his breath how we had all the luck! Playing against us 6 men down wasn't enough luck for him? I had no sympathy!!
The Wackers trailed now by a run but they had 1 more chance. They got a runner to first but we got 2 outs. Their final batter hit a soft line drive towards first. Initially it seemed like it might go over Max's head, but the ball soon lost altitude. But it also seemed to lose all sense of speed because it took forever to reach our first baseman. Eventually, however, it found it's final resting place in Max's big glove.
Game over! Series over! For the first time since 2008 the Reds are champs! I think there are more championships in our immediate future!
Monday, August 20, 2012
THE GAME WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LOSE
The team gathered round me as we prepared to begin the series that would determine the 2012 championship of our Sunday morning softball league. It was 3 years since the Reds last made it to the finals and 4 years since we'd won it all. So this was a long time in coming, a very big deal to climax a season where we'd had to fight till the very last week of the regular season simply to make it into the playoffs.
But we had made it and then swept to victory, 2 games to none, in the opening round. Now here we were with a chance to be the champs. And so I addressed the team: "Don't worry about today. I really don't think we can win. Let's just do our best, come back next week and try to beat them then.
Not inspiring I know, but true. We were missing half our team. Until 2 guys showed up at the very last minute I feared we wouldn't have a player to cover every defensive spot. Turns out we did but only by utilyzing people in positions they were totally unfamiliar with. One of our pitchers was in the outfield. So was an injured infielder. Our catcher had shown up to only a few games and had told me midseason that his shoulder hurt so badly he should really wait till next year.
Our opponents, on the other hand, had everybody. Their bench was absolutely filled with all their regular players, a bunch of substitutes, family members and fans. It looked like such a fun, happy place as they yelled and cheered and just exuded a sense of confidence.
Damn they pissed me off!
And just to make matters worse, there's a history between us and our opponents, the Wackers. We've met in the finals before with mixed results but a buildup of bad feelings. I suspect they once illegally used a "courtesy runner" to get a speedy guy on base in a crucial situation. In fact he scored the ultimate winning run. Some players have jumped from one team to the other...well, actually one, but he went from us to them and then back to us, annoying, at various times, everyone! Plus I'd tried to get the Wackers to postpone the game for the following week but they, knowing they had the advantage, refused. I don't blame them. I'd have done the same. Still that added to the hard attitude towards each other.
So I expected to lose, the Wackers expected to win and that's exactly what happened...at first. In fact, in the very first inning, a Wacker lofted a fly ball to our pitcher turned outfielder who misplayed it into a 2 run homer. See what I mean? No chance. They added runs in the second and third, we answered back with nothing and trailed, 4-0.
We were down and they should have beaten up on us from there but we wouldn't let them. We had our pride and good pitching and a few of our guys made some good defensive plays, like our injured infielder in the outfield. The Wackers couldn't score anything more and we scratched out a run. It was 4-1 going to the sixth. The Wackers threatened but we turned a double play and raced off the field. Our turn but time was running out.
But time was not working entirely in our opponents favor. Their pitcher was getting tired. He showed it by walking Adam on a 3-2 pitch. Warner singled to right. Dennis walked on 4 pitches. Bases loaded! Diaz singled in a run. Now we were within 2. Was it possible?
Didn't seem so. Our pitcher playing the outfield popped up. Our injured catcher lofted a fly to left center for the second out. But daringly maybe crazily our runner at third was tagging up, trying to score! The Wacker outfielder, taken a bit by surprise, hesitated then unleashed a throw high over the catcher's head. Warner was safe at home with our 3rd run and Dennis rushed from second base to third.
Tieing run just 60 feet away and to the plate came me. I'd already had a hit in the game but this one would be huge. We would tie up the game. I noticed the shortstop playing me too close to second base, leaving a very inviting opening between him and the third baseman. The pitch came in and that's where I hit it, solidly into left field. The game was tied.
Tied? The game was tied with 1 inning to go? Is this possible?
It was. We got the Wackers out in their half of the 7th inning, but only just barely on a close and disputed play at first, leaving 2 disappointed runners on base.
Now it was our turn. With 1 out Max and Adam both singled. Two on for Warner and he wasted no time, driving a hard ground ball past the desperately lunging first baseman. Max flew around third base as the Wacker right fielder rushed in for the ball, picking it up and hurling it towards home as Max headed there. The throw was a little weak and faded to the catcher's right side. Max dove to the plate on the catcher's left side. The catcher reached forlornly for the ball as Max slammed his left hand squarely in the middle of the plate.
Safe! We'd won! I did not see that one coming. Now we need just 1 more victory and we'll be champs.
I don't believe in jinxes or bad luck or the wrath of the Baseball Gods, well, or God for that matter. Now we are SUPPOSED TO WIN!!
But we had made it and then swept to victory, 2 games to none, in the opening round. Now here we were with a chance to be the champs. And so I addressed the team: "Don't worry about today. I really don't think we can win. Let's just do our best, come back next week and try to beat them then.
Not inspiring I know, but true. We were missing half our team. Until 2 guys showed up at the very last minute I feared we wouldn't have a player to cover every defensive spot. Turns out we did but only by utilyzing people in positions they were totally unfamiliar with. One of our pitchers was in the outfield. So was an injured infielder. Our catcher had shown up to only a few games and had told me midseason that his shoulder hurt so badly he should really wait till next year.
Our opponents, on the other hand, had everybody. Their bench was absolutely filled with all their regular players, a bunch of substitutes, family members and fans. It looked like such a fun, happy place as they yelled and cheered and just exuded a sense of confidence.
Damn they pissed me off!
And just to make matters worse, there's a history between us and our opponents, the Wackers. We've met in the finals before with mixed results but a buildup of bad feelings. I suspect they once illegally used a "courtesy runner" to get a speedy guy on base in a crucial situation. In fact he scored the ultimate winning run. Some players have jumped from one team to the other...well, actually one, but he went from us to them and then back to us, annoying, at various times, everyone! Plus I'd tried to get the Wackers to postpone the game for the following week but they, knowing they had the advantage, refused. I don't blame them. I'd have done the same. Still that added to the hard attitude towards each other.
So I expected to lose, the Wackers expected to win and that's exactly what happened...at first. In fact, in the very first inning, a Wacker lofted a fly ball to our pitcher turned outfielder who misplayed it into a 2 run homer. See what I mean? No chance. They added runs in the second and third, we answered back with nothing and trailed, 4-0.
We were down and they should have beaten up on us from there but we wouldn't let them. We had our pride and good pitching and a few of our guys made some good defensive plays, like our injured infielder in the outfield. The Wackers couldn't score anything more and we scratched out a run. It was 4-1 going to the sixth. The Wackers threatened but we turned a double play and raced off the field. Our turn but time was running out.
But time was not working entirely in our opponents favor. Their pitcher was getting tired. He showed it by walking Adam on a 3-2 pitch. Warner singled to right. Dennis walked on 4 pitches. Bases loaded! Diaz singled in a run. Now we were within 2. Was it possible?
Didn't seem so. Our pitcher playing the outfield popped up. Our injured catcher lofted a fly to left center for the second out. But daringly maybe crazily our runner at third was tagging up, trying to score! The Wacker outfielder, taken a bit by surprise, hesitated then unleashed a throw high over the catcher's head. Warner was safe at home with our 3rd run and Dennis rushed from second base to third.
Tieing run just 60 feet away and to the plate came me. I'd already had a hit in the game but this one would be huge. We would tie up the game. I noticed the shortstop playing me too close to second base, leaving a very inviting opening between him and the third baseman. The pitch came in and that's where I hit it, solidly into left field. The game was tied.
Tied? The game was tied with 1 inning to go? Is this possible?
It was. We got the Wackers out in their half of the 7th inning, but only just barely on a close and disputed play at first, leaving 2 disappointed runners on base.
Now it was our turn. With 1 out Max and Adam both singled. Two on for Warner and he wasted no time, driving a hard ground ball past the desperately lunging first baseman. Max flew around third base as the Wacker right fielder rushed in for the ball, picking it up and hurling it towards home as Max headed there. The throw was a little weak and faded to the catcher's right side. Max dove to the plate on the catcher's left side. The catcher reached forlornly for the ball as Max slammed his left hand squarely in the middle of the plate.
Safe! We'd won! I did not see that one coming. Now we need just 1 more victory and we'll be champs.
I don't believe in jinxes or bad luck or the wrath of the Baseball Gods, well, or God for that matter. Now we are SUPPOSED TO WIN!!
Monday, August 6, 2012
STRANGE TIMES AT SECOND BASE
Second base is exciting. Half way home, a mere single is often all it takes to allow its occupant to score. Unlike boring third base where, after a hit, you can pretty much walk home, from second you have to sprint. Even that may not be enough; scoring from second, in the end, may require your best slide or even a head first dive to get safely across home plate. Love that base!
And that's just offense. Defensively, second is where double plays are made and they are rarely easy. Second basemen must take the toss from a fellow infielder, touch the bag, dodge the incoming runner, turn to first and deliver a throw strong enough to beat the batter, now desperate to avoid the humiliation of having hit into a rally killing, pitcher's delight.
This season my Sunday Softball team, the Reds, has had great play at second base. We've turned double plays game after game after game. Our second baseman has just been the best. Till the playoffs began yesterday. That's when strange things began happening.
Early in game 1 our opponents, the Westies, had 2 outs, a runner on first when their batter hit a weak grounder to short. He flipped the ball to our second baseman for the out. Easiest of plays. The runner from first ran hard and futilely. He was clearly out but slid into second anyway where he made contact with our second baseman. No big deal. Happens all the time. Just baseball. No harm, no foul.
Our second baseman became enraged. He threw the ball down at the prone runner. Everyone ran out on the field. Players yelled, players pushed, players sought to calm things, the umpire threw our second baseman out of the game.
Why did this happen? I have no idea. Weird.
In the second game we had a nice early lead when our opponents put 2 runners on base. The next batter grounded the ball to our second baseman who had returned to the field after his first game banishment. Fielding it he decided to tag the runner. Sensing this the runner stopped. Not a surprising tactic but it seemed to befuddle our guy. He stood there for a few seconds just stairing at the now unmoving runner, then, finally, after giving the matter some thought, began walking slowly towards him. So the runner reacted by taking some steps in the direction of first base. This totally unsurprising move seemed to further mystify our player.
I watched in amazement. All he had to do was flip the ball to second where our shortstop awaited a throw. How could this simplest of plays be taking so long and becoming so complicated?
Finally our second baseman came to his senses and threw the ball to second. But by then the Westies' lead runner had arrived at third base, rounded it and decided to rush home. Our shortstop, seeing this, became eager to catch the throw and then nail the runner at home. So eager, unfortunately, that he came off the base before the ball arrived. Safe there! His throw home got away from our catcher. Safe there! And with the ball rolling, the runners each moved up another base. One run home, runners on second and third, no one out. Soon a missed throw at second base and a dropped pop up continued our worst inning of the season.
Mystifying! Weird!
And just as strange, we won both games because of what happened at second base. In game 1, the player who replaced our ejected guy had a big single to help score our first run and then hit a massive home run. In a 3-2 victory he acccounted for a crucial 2 runs. And, in game 2, with 5 runs in, with our 4 run lead turned to a 1 run deficit, with the bases loaded and 1 out we were well on our way to getting blown out. Till a grounder to third, a throw to second where our second baseman caught it, stepped on the bag, avoided the hard charging runner, pivoted and made a perfect throw to first for the double play, twin killing, pitcher's delight. Behind by just 1 run after that horror show? It was almost like, psychologically, we were still ahead. Soon a 2 run homer put us ahead for real and for good.
And, in the 6th inning when we needed another insurance run to make us feel safe? It was our second baseman who knocked it in.
Very strange!
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