Calmer Coeds Chat as Rays Roll

...All nine starters reached base, eight collected hits, and seven scored as the Rays rolled over the East Cobb Red Sox 10-2 Saturday afternoon. Will beat out an infield hit in the fourth, and handled his only chance at third base.

...Kara, Sarah Massey, Elizabeth Hanson, and Mary Meder arrived fashionably late, and the crowd braced itself for hilarity to ensue. Instead they acted like the polite young ladies they are, watching the game, chatting nicely with Ceil and others, and having fun in the sun. Later Lucy joined the gang.

...After retiring the Rays in the top of the first, the first two Sox batters got hits and scored, one on a line drive just over a leaping Will at third. After that Rays pitchers Michael and Dustin held the next 18 Sox batters without a hit, striking out seven.

...Down 0-2, the Rays responded by scoring in each of the next five innings. In the second Parker and Dustin singled, and Kyle walked to load the bases. Parker scored on Justin’s grounder, then Richie’s bases-loaded double cleared the bases. Richie then scored on a passed ball. Parker scored again on Dustin’s third inning double.

...The Rays were poised to break the game open in the fourth, but the Sox pulled off the play of the game (sponsored by DJ Hoffer). Richie led off with a single to center, stole second, and scored on Bradley’s second double of the game. Will beat out a grounder to deep short, then Cole’s perfect bunt hit loaded the bases. Parker walked, plating Bradley.

...Two had scored, the bases were loaded, and nobody out as Austin stepped in. He had lined a single to left the previous inning. Now he swung at the first pitch, smashing a low, hot line drive back up the middle. The pitcher snagged the ball in the air, and wheeled to check the runners. Cole dove back to second, so the pitcher turned and fired to first, doubling off Parker. The first baseman then threw across the infield to third, before Will could scamper back…a rare triple play.

...Undeterred, Dustin led off the next inning with a double to right center. Jake singled him to third, then got caught off first. Dustin was able to score in the ensuing rundown. Shaken, the Sox allowed an unearned run in the sixth. Cole took second on an error, third on a wild pitch, then scored on another wild pitch.

...Sundays the Rays play at ten and three, at the East Cobb field three. They’ll be sporting their Carolina blue jerseys. Will is catching in the morning, and might pitch in the afternoon. But beware, unlike the weekday games, admission is charged for these weekend tournament games.