Doubleheader Game One: Will Shuts the Door

The Saints won both games of a Saturday doubleheader against the Powder Springs Marlins, the team who had recently snuck away with a win in the game called by lightning. My recap did not capture the bad feelings that came away from the game. Had the roles been reversed the Saints would’ve also taken their time and consulted with the umpire, but I’m hopeful that had this happened at Mt. Paran the outcome would’ve been more pleasant. It appeared that the umpire only called the game after the Powder Springs coach had told him to.

For the day Saturday Will reached base in all four of his plate appearances and scored three times. He had two doubles and two RBI in Game One.

Everyone was talking about Will’s second-inning play at shortstop. A fast runner hit a grounder in the hole between third and short. Will’s only play was to dive at catch the ball. Later Ceil told me it wasn’t an unnecessary dive like some players make, that the dive had to be made in order to make the play. Will then bolted to his knees and whipped a throw Curtis at first in time to nail the runner.

The Saints scored 3 runs in both the first two innings, and Will was brought in to pitch the last four innings. He struck out 9 of the 17 batters he faced, including three in each of the last two innings.

At the plate Will hit a first inning grounder past the third-baseman into left field for a double, driving home Curtis. He stole third base and scored on a wild pitch. In the third inning the same thing happened: Will doubled to right-center to drive home Curtis, and again took third and scored on a wild pitch. The Saints won 8 -2, so Will accounted for half his team’s runs.

The Saints won both games despite the absence of Christian, Coach Chris’ son, who plays pitcher/catcher/shortstop. The meant Will, Tanner, Colin, and Will Gray took turns at pitcher, catcher, infield, and sitting out…meaning the defense was always lacking one good fielder.

Adding to the Marlins frustration were two runners picked off base: In the third the Saints catcher whipped a throw to first to nail the runner. The next inning while pitching Will picked a runner off first.