Matthew’s Rock Hounds won an exciting game last night, 18 – 12. The lead went back and forth throughout the game.
Matthew had another fine game, again getting a hit every time up, and he also got a runner out playing third base. This earned him the coveted gold star. Keeping score, I also earned a star. Here’s the recap…
The Hounds scored four in the top of the first. Matthew came up with one out and three runs already in, and a runner on first. He hit the first pitch hard up the middle for a base hit. Big hitting Scott came up next and grounded the ball to shortstop. I was watching the shortstop catch the ball, then I glanced over to see how Matthew was doing. He had fallen to the ground on his way to second, his helmet falling off. Later he said he had stepped in a hole. He got up and proceeded to second, but the shortstop was able to beat him to the bag for the out.
The Bats also scored four in the bottom of the first to tie the game. The top of the second was amazing. The Hounds leadoff hitter James singled on the first pitch. Then Stephen, the next hitter, popped up the first pitch he saw, and the third-baseman caught the ball in the air. Of course James ran to second as everyone yelled for him to return to first. When the third-baseman’s throw to first was wild, James continued to third. This gave the Bats time to recover the ball and complete the double play. Next up was little Matt Smith, who popped up the first pitch he saw. This pop was also caught in the air. Three pitches, three outs.
In the bottom of the second the Bats again scored four runs to take the lead 8 – 4. With one out in the inning and two runs in, runners at first and second, the Bats batter grounded the ball to third base. Matthew easily fielded it and stepped on the bag for the second out.
The Hounds scored four in the top of the third, to tie the game eight all. Matthew came up with no out and nobody on, and hit the ball hard up the middle. The ball would’ve gone into centerfield, but it hit second base. Scott came up and popped the ball high in the air, to deep second base. Matthew took a couple of steps off the bag, but didn’t run, waiting to see if the ball would be caught. When the ball bounced Matthew took off for second, but the Bats were able to pick up the ball and step on second before Matthew could advance.
The Bats could retake the lead in the bottom of the third, but they failed to score. Then the Hounds scored five in the top of the fourth. Matthew came up and grounded the ball down the third base line. This hit would’ve continued into left field, but the ball hit the third base bag. Matthew advanced to second on a single as the fifth run of the inning scored.
The bottom of the fourth was when I earned my star. As usual, I was sitting in the stands “quietly” keeping score and also logging the coach’s “star chart”, so the coach could quickly recap the game afterwards and hand out stars. Both these tasks kept me paying attention and jotting things down most of the time. With a runner on first and one out, the ball was hit to Matthew at third. He fielded the ball, but didn’t have a play, so he held the ball, holding the runners at first and second. The next batter doubled to drive in the 3rd run of the inning, placing runners at second and third.
The next hitter grounded to the first-baseman. Christian made a nice play, fielding the ball and stepping on the bag for the second out. Then he threw home, not in time to get the runner scoring the 4th run of the inning, but it held the other runner at third base. But the scoreboard showed five runs had scored, so the coaches began to herd the players off the field. I sprang into action, alerting everyone that only four runs had scored. Everyone returned to their positions, and the next Bat batter also grounded out to first, ending the inning with only four runs in. The Rock Hounds led by one run, 13 – 12, and everyone was congratulating me!
In the top of the 5th all seven Hounds hitters got hits, and the first five bathers scored. With a six run lead, the River Bats could not catch up because of the five run rule, and the game was ended.
We stopped on the way home to eat at Moe’s. The Rock Hounds play the same team on Saturday at nine.
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