Will's May 9th Game

Will’s good-hitting team once again failed to make plays in the field, and lost a five run lead in the bottom of the last inning, to tie the Hobgood Green team way up in Cherokee County last night. The Cougars played with nine players, with three of the team’s best players missing. The umpires were working a game on the adjacent field, so the game didn’t start until 8:30.

Will played a good game. He hit a hard line drive that the right-fielder made a circus catch on. In the fourth he hit a grounder to the second-baseman, who made a normal catch and throw to first, but Will hustled all the way and beat the throw. He stole second base, and scored on Malcolm’s single to right.

The next inning Will hit another hard line drive to centerfield. The outfielder leaped, but could not catch the ball. Will later made it to third before the side was retired.

Will played shortstop the first two innings, but didn’t get any balls hit to him.

He pitched the last three innings and gave up only two earned runs, striking out five. Rain began to fall in the fourth inning, but Will retired the side on eleven pitches, nine of them strikes.
It turned to a downpour by the fifth inning. With the game on the line, and a no balls - two strike count, the cleanup hitter hit a low line shot up the middle, that speared Will in the upper leg. Will fell down in pain, but sucked it up and stayed on the mound.

With two out and the game-tying run on third, Will got the next batter to hit a routine grounder to short. Robbie took a little too much time, and the first-baseman had to stretch to his right for the ball. The catch appeared to arrive a split-second before the batter reached first, but the umpire’s call was safe…tie game. Now the winning run was on third, but Will ended the game by striking out the next batter on four pitches.