May First Smryna Win

Tuesday night I didn’t have a good feeling going in to the game at Smyrna. We hadn’t played well there in the past, and earlier this year we lost a practice game to a strong Smyrna team. We were missing Joey, Michael, Jake, Corey, and Clay, and the whole team was sloppy in pregame infield practice.

But when the game started the whole team turned it on, scoring 15 runs on 15 hits.
Leadoff man Russell had his best game of the year with a single and a double, three RBI, and two runs scored.

Will had two long doubles to the left-centerfield fence and two intentional walks…once with a runner on first. He had two RBI and four runs scored. On the mound Will had eight strikeouts in 3-1/3 innings.

Andrew made Smyrna pay for walking Will, with two 2-RBI hits after Will was walked. He finished with six RBI, and he scored from second on David’s single.

David had two hits, a run scored, and an RBI. He caught two innings and played shortstop and third.

Curtis nailed a two-strike pitch into the gap in right-center. As David scored, Curtis raced around second and picked up Coach Bartlett waving him to third. The throw to third glanced off Curtis’ foot and bounded into the outfield, allowing Curtis to circle the bases for an inside-the parker. In the fourth Curtis blooped a popup over the head and just out of the first-baseman’s reach for another hit. He also made a nice catch in center, and played some shortstop.

Nick came up in the first and tripled to the right-centerfield fence. He hadn’t played first since the beginning of the season, but he handled the position like a pro, catching a popup and making a fine backhand catch of a one hop throw from third for the out.

John Fulton hit it hard twice, but both times the defense made good plays to get him out at first. He had an assist playing second and also played left and center.

Christian led off the second with a single, advanced to third on two wild pitches, and scored on Will’s double. He got to pinch-run for the catcher twice, tagged out a runner who had strayed off second, and made a nice attempt playing third base to cut off a slow roller in the hole.

Thomas had his best game of the year, getting two hits and walking, and scoring two runs…both from second. In right field he fired the ball in to try to get the batter out at first. I didn’t think he had a chance, but the strong throw made it a close play. He also played two innings at second.

Josiah pitched a one-run, one strikeout, 15 pitch first inning, before tiring out in the second (too many/not enough pregame tacos?). At the plate he scored three runs, on two walks and a hard-hit line drive single.