Season Ending Defeat

The Longhorns lost their last game of the season Saturday 10 – 8. Will accounted for 7 of the 8 runs…scoring 3 runs and driving in four. He also went 2 for 2 with a walk, and stole four bases, including home.

Powder Springs started a pitcher with a powerful fastball and a wicked curve. Will was the only Longhorn to get a hit off him…and he got two. The pitcher faced 15 batters…John Fulton was the only other Longhorn to put the ball in play.

In the first Christian and David walked, then Will drove them both home. Will hit a line drive right at the right-fielder’s feet for a single. He took second on the throw home, then took third and scored on wild pitches.

In the second the Longhorns scored three runs with two out. Russell and David walked, and both scored when Will hit a sharp grounder past the first-baseman. Again Will took second on the throw, and he stole third base. With two out and the weak hitting Bradford up, Will had been following third-base-coach Henry’s instructions, moving far down the line on his secondary lead off the base. He finally drew a throw to third from the catcher, and Will broke for home, sliding in safely.

Will led off the fifth with a walk, stole second and third, and scored on a groundout.

Will caught one inning, played first base an inning, and played shortstop the other three innings. He made a diving catch of a popup, and tagged out a runner stealing second. No other balls were hit to him.

In 12 games Will led the team in every offensive category except most walks. I track how many bases each player reaches…4 if they score, 3 if stranded on third, etc…Will had 99 “total bases” in the 12 games, scoring 20 runs.

Christian was a joy to work with, from the first practice to the last game. He was always enthusiastic, smiling and hustling. The jump to Pony is tough, and Christian proved he belonged…even statistically. He was third on the team in batting average, hits, times reaching base, RBIs, and runs scored.

Henry showed confidence in Christian by batting him second, as well as throwing him in the fire at the toughest positions…catcher, second, centerfield…even pitcher. Saturday he hung tough on the mound, getting out of the bases loaded jam by only allowing one unearned run…not bad at all. All the boys who came up from Bronco helped make the season more fun and exciting. Will and I had a great time, and Henry is one of the best coaches around.