Prowlers 9 E Cobb Titans 0
Saturday 10:30 am
The Prowlers cruised to an easy win in the opener by making all the plays in the field. Batting fifth, Will was the only Prowler to score three runs. He walked, and streaked to third when a pickoff throw went astray. His headfirst slide bloodied his elbows, which got all over the front of his jersey. He scored on Mitch’s double.
Next time he had a great swing, lining the ball to the warning track on one bounce for an easy double. Later he told me he hadn’t connected solidly - had he, it would’ve been an easy homer on field 5's short fences. Will advanced to third on Mitch’s line drive single to left, and scored on an error.
In the 5th Will walked, went first to third on Mitch’s single to right, then scored on a double steal. Twice Will had to follow Jared and Tyler’s twin back-to-back home runs. Both times Will walked and scored.
Will saw lots of action at shortstop. He and second-sacker Parker turned two double-plays, and almost a third. Will finished with five putouts and assists.
After the game we drove in the rain down to Eastside Baptist for Anna’s recital. She had featured parts in two dances, one with “the big girls.” I let Ceil stay with Anna...meaning I had to cut out early to get Will back for game two.
E Cobb Tigers 6 Prowlers 2
Saturday 4:30 pm
The Prowlers had to be back at 2:30 for their 3:30 game, that was delayed until 4:30. Wasn’t worth the wait. They stayed close with the Tigers, one of the better East Cobb 15 year-old teams, for most of the game. Durham threw lots of strikes (47, against 17 balls), but got little defensive support. In the 5th inning errors were committed on three straight plays, twice nixing potential double-plays.
After taking forever for the game to start, the umpire seemed in a hurry...loving the low & away strike call (didn't see an umpire who looked like Steve Hawkin's son). Batting third, Will was a first inning victim. In the third he chopped a grounder the first baseman tried to snag with a running scoop. The ball rolled past, and the second-baseman picked it up and tossed to the pitcher. Will had the throw beat, but had no where to go around the crowded base...so he executed a nice slide into the bag. Given the steal signal, Will was tagged out when the catcher put his throw right on the bag.
In the 5th Will finally stroked grounder in the hole between short and third. The shortstop gloved it on the outfield grass, wheeled, and threw, but Will beat it out by a step.
With my head deep in my trusty scorebook, Audie’s dad Tim had to tell me Will was coming on to pitch the 6th. He allowed no hits or runs in his inning on the hill...spreading out two walks. The defense came alive, keeping the Tigers from increasing the lead.
After the game we met Ceil, Anna, Matthew, & the Millers at California Pizza Kitchen, then went home...not realizing we needed to be at the field in case the Prowlers drew a 9 pm game (they didn’t...though some games lasted past 1 am). Will was exhausted, feeling the effects of staying out late the night before, at Lisa's graduation party.
E Cobb Astros 4 Prowlers 0
Sunday 8:00 am
Since the Prowlers met at 7 am, it gave me time to hit Kroger, where I ran into an old friend. Then us parents checked the weather, quickly discovering the high temperature had already been reached. I was thankful for my jeans, but not so much my decision to go without socks.
Will was inserted into the leadoff spot, meaning he was the first to face a buzz-saw of a pitcher. The tall right-hander allowed a one hit and two walks over six innings. Prowler pitchers Michael and Mitch tried to keep up, and good defense kept Astro baserunners from big innings.
Frustration at the plate continued for Will, though he was able to get his swing ahead of the speedy fastballs. He laced a line drive foul into the leftfield bullpen, before grounding out to short. Later he again was on the pitch, but rotated his body, skying a high foul pop the third-baseman caught.
Playing short, Will only handled the ball twice...the first and last plays of the game. In the first he forced a runner at second. In the sixth he was the relay man, taking the throw from leftfielder Audie and tossing to second to double off the runner. Thankfully, the game ended before the rain set in.
Too late to make the 11 am service, we later napped. Ceil hit Costco, while I put in three needed hours at the office. Matthew and I joined Will at Jordan’s graduation party while Ceil took Anna to shopping. Afterwards Matthew & I walked home, kicking the same gumball a half mile.
And some wonder why we don't have time to plant rose bushes!
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