Ray vs #1 ECB Astros: Moral Victory?

The ECB Rays qualified as the eight seed in bracket play in this weekend’s East Cobb tourney, granting them the privilege of playing perhaps the top team in the country, the mighty East Cobb Astros.

....Our guys comported themselves quite well, despite being spent from playing three games in the previous 24 hours, and two in the last eight. No team in this tourney had lasted more than three innings, or allowed less than 16 runs. Even without four players, the Rays bested this.

...The boys played a little tighter than usual, perhaps trying a bit too hard. Michael was sent out to pitch first, “holding” the Astros eight batters and four hits an inning…three and four runs. Will ran down a fly ball in deep left, and charged a single so hard that the Astros third-base coach Guerry Baldwin held the runner at third.

...The Astros starting pitcher hailed from Massachusetts, pressed into duty since the guy from Florida couldn’t make the trip. The New Englander retired the first seven Rays batters, before Greenwell reached first on a strikeout/passed ball. Then four more Rays were put out. Will pulled a grounder into the hole, that the third-baseman snow-coned with his outstretched glove. His throw to first beat Will by a half step.

...Will came on to pitch the third, and retired the side without allowing an earned run. As he strode to the mound, I wondered if he would throw at the first batters’ head. He did, but not on purpose. Pumped, he often missed high in the zone. An error, walk, and fielder’s choice put runners on second and third.

...I sat behind the plate with many of the other Rays parents, mostly since this was one of the few shady spots. A great view of the pitch coming in.

...Will fired to the number two hitter in the order. The 2-1 pitch was lined right back at Will. My mind went immediately to the game several years ago at Hobgood Park, the one time a line drive came back and struck Will while pitching.

...This time Will somehow contorted his body completely horizontal, in midair. The line drive struck off his glove, deflecting all the way to the second-baseman RT, who threw the batter out at first. From midair, Will fell straight down onto the mound. The game was stopped, and the umpire waved the coaches out to check on Will. But it was evident that he was ok, and the game continued.

...The top of the fourth was possibly the Rays last bat, and they still had yet to earn a base hit. Jake grounded out and Richie struck out. But Bradley reached first on a swinging dribbler down the third base line, then Will’s chopper in the hole got past the second-baseman into right field. Two straight hits, before Dustin blooped out to second.

...In the fourth the number eight batter, looking for a hit, bunted down the third base side. Will made a fine play fielding the bunt, and throwing out the batter at first.

...One of the TEN starting pitchers had the task of working the scoreboard. He was quizzed the whole time by our manager’s wife, and some of the other Rays parents. Here are some more fun facts about the Astros…

...Several of the Astros are from other states, and stay with teammates or at the on-site house. One of the 16 year-olds already has full scholarship offers from several schools, including Tech, Georgia, and Clemson. There are 28 on the roster, and they have at least four uniform sets. Mrs. Parker said that once Coach Baldwin recruited three new players, so he immediately cut three other players.