Nice win Saturday over the Powder Springs Cardinals. First some “bad” news, then lots of good: We actually banged out more hits Thursday against Hobgood (6) that we did Saturday (5)…though we did bat four fewer innings against Hobgood. We did put the ball in play more often Saturday, and as Coach Frank says, good things can happen when we swing the bat.
I had originally scheduled Nick to pitch the third inning, but I knew he had practiced little if at all in several weeks, so before the game I grabbed him to throw some off the mound. He pitched well, and before the game started I realized his hard-throwing style is better suited to face the meat of the opponent’s order, so at the last minute I made Nick the starting pitcher. He pitched great, throwing two hitless and scoreless innings, striking out three. In the first inning Nick’s only walk came on a full count, as he got the other three batters he faced out. In the second inning Nick worked out of a bases-loaded jam with a big strikeout, on another full count. Nick walked and scored both times he batted, including an exciting romp around the bases when Powder Springs threw the ball away a couple of times on the one play.
Corey had less pitching notice than Nick. He hadn’t practiced much recently, either, and I gave him no warning…just telling him before the third inning that he was the pitcher. He responded like a champion, not letting a few bad bounces rattle him. He struck out two batters in the inning. At the plate Corey led off the game with a single and later walked, and scored both times.
I wanted to get Clay back on the mound as well, and he came back and pitched a scoreless inning. Clay didn’t walk a batter, and with runners on second and third struck out two straight to end the inning. Clay had an RBI double in the first, and walked in the second…scoring both times.
Andrew beat out a dropped third strike in the first, and had an RBI in the second. He later pinch-ran for catcher-to-be David. Andrew caught the second inning, and tagged out a base-stealer playing third base in the third inning.
Christian started the game at second base and got a key out on a ground ball. He also fielded flawlessly in center and right, getting the ball in quickly. Christian lined out to second in the first inning, after fouling off several pitches and working the count full. In the third he walked, and later scored on a wild pitch. I was wrong to come down so hard on Christian for not sliding on the play…I just didn’t want the catcher’s throw to hit him just as he crossed the plate.
Curtis played centerfield and short. He almost made a great backhand play, but the ball didn’t bounce, instead dying in the dirt. He also almost made a great catch of a pop running away from the plate into the outfield, a play which is rarely successful even in the big leagues. Great trys. In the first Curtis hit it hard back to the pitcher and beat it out, and eventually scored. He also put the ball in play in the third, grounding out to short.
David walked in the second inning, played some catcher and first base…almost making a sweet backhand grab of a grounder to his right. He did have two putouts at first base, and threw out a base-stealer at third.
Jake was all over the base paths as usual, reaching base and scoring three times. He singled in the first and reached on an error in the second. In the field he played third and left field.
Joey hit the ball sharply (sorry) in the second inning, reaching base and scoring from second. He walked with two out in the third, on a full count, but was stranded on base.
John Fulton walked in the first inning, and grounded out to second in the third. Playing second base he fielded a grounder and threw out the batter at first.
Josiah reached base both times. In the first he aggressively tried to take second base after the ball sailed past first, but was thrown out on a close play. He walked all the way around the bases to score a run in the third inning. He played left field and first base.
Michael hit the ball both times up, knocking home a run in the first when the shortstop couldn’t handle his grounder. He later scored. In the second he grounded back to the pitcher, but was thrown out. Michael played third base and left field.
Thomas walked both times he batted, which will keep him nestled among the team leaders in on-base percentage. The bases were loaded when he walked in the third, giving Thomas an RBI. He had a tough grounder hit to him at second base. On our field the ball will bounce along several feet off the ground almost all the way to the fielder. Just when the fielder readies himself to catch the ball where the hop should be, the ball hits a sandy patch of dirt and skips low, under the glove.
Will came up in the first and noticed the left-fielder playing shallow, and quickly hit the second pitch he saw over his head for an RBI double. He did the same thing the next inning, knocking in two more runs.
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