After several humdrum games without much action, Will’s team had an exciting come from behind victory last night against their friends on the other Mt. Paran team. Will has stepped up his play in the last few games, and played a key role in the win. He was the starting pitcher and pitched the first 3 innings, allowing only one earned run, striking out 5, and throwing about 60% strikes, including over 70% first pitch strikes.
Batting second, Will blasted a long fly ball to the centerfielder in the first inning. The runner at second went back to tag up, and could’ve made third easily, but for some reason didn’t run. The next time up Will hit a hard ground ball past the second-baseman for a base hit. The centerfielder misplayed the ball, and Will hustled to second. When the throw in got away from the second-baseman, Will continued on to third.
Robbie, the next batter, lofted a fly ball into short right field. Will correctly went back to tag, but since it was a good player making the catch, with his momentum bringing him toward the plate, I thought it best that Will hold at third. But he tagged up and hustled home anyway, sliding home safe on a close play. The next batter Jared flied out to end the 4th inning, so it was good Will scored when he did. It was the first run his Cougars scored since the 1st inning, bringing them within 2 of tying the game.
Will played third base in the top of the fifth. A runner took third when the pitch got away from the plate, and the catcher threw late to third. As the runner was standing up from his slide, Will pretended that the ball had gone past him into left field, taking off after it…then quickly turned around, almost tagging out the confused runner, who barely stepped back on the bag.
Will played shortstop the last 2 innings, catching two critical popups. He also made a perfect eye-level throw to 1st after catching a grounder, but the first-baseman failed to catch the ball.
The Cougars found themselves down 8 – 4, with 2 out in the bottom of the 6th…with the #12 batter in the order up. The sun was setting, and the thought was that the Angels would win if they got one more out. But Russell singled to center, driving home run number five. Corey doubled, driving home Russell.
Desperately wanting to extend the game with a hit, Will worked the count to 2 and 2. But then he swung and missed a pitch in the dirt…strike three, game over. But the pitch got away from the catcher, rolling to the backstop. Will tore off and was safe at first. Corey scored on the play, and Will represented the tying.run on first.
Will stole second. Then Robbie singled to left, and Will played it save, holding at 3rd as the throw quickly came home. This allowed Robbie to head to second base. When the ball got away from the catcher, Will charged home to tie the game. But when the throw to 3rd bounced past the third-baseman, Robbie scored, giving the Cougars the lead.
Adding salt to the wound, our babysitter Jared hit the ball just over the right-fielder’s head, the ball glancing off his glove for almost a spectacular catch. Jared motored around to 3rd, and continued home when the shortstop didn’t handle the throw in from right. Then Malcolm hit a line drive to center. The fielder moved left to cut it off, but the ball took a bad bounce back to the right, and it rolled to the fence. The fastest player on the team, Malcolm easily circled the bases for a home run.
The Cougars had scored 7 runs with 2 out, to go ahead 11 – 3. Since it was the last game, they played the top of the 7th inning. Worried about defensive lapses and weak pitching, I knew the game wasn’t in hand. But Will caught a pop at short, and Garrett made 2 nice plays at second, and the Cougars had their win.
Coach McElwain had ordered pizza to celebrate the end of the season, and gave a speech to the team and parents. After he finished, no one noticed Will sneak behind him…Will dumped the ice bucket on his head!
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