"BASEBALL DOESN'T BUILD CHARACTER, IT REVEALS IT."
Game # 4- May 29, 2013 (Rescheduled game from May 21)
Hurtin' Units lose 16-15
Team Record 2-2-0
Tottenham- On game day, I woke up from my pre-game nap, it was actually more like a pre-game sleep (4 hours) and was delighted to look out my front window to see dry ground and clear skies. It had been quite sometime since we had seen such a thing and it meant we were finally going to get to play. It had been almost 2 full weeks since the Units had taken the field. Our last game was way back on May 16 when we beat up the Dusty Cleats by a score of 20-4. The following Tuesday we were supposed to play the Tap Masters, but heavy rain and thunderstorms caused the cancellation of all the games on that night. On Tuesday May the 28th we were scheduled to play the Rusty Rebels, but that game was also canceled due to rain and wet field conditions.
On both the nights of the cancellations, I think it was a good call to cancel, the diamonds were not fit to play on and I would rather be cautious than to see someone get injuried. We all know that the rescheduled 9:30pm game is a pain in the ass, but there was a time, not that long ago when this league played 3 games a night. Three start times that were, in some ways, even tougher... 6:45, 8:00 and 9:15pm. A 9:30pm game once and while is not going to hurt us, a slip and fall on a rain soaked diamond might...
On both the nights of the cancellations, I think it was a good call to cancel, the diamonds were not fit to play on and I would rather be cautious than to see someone get injuried. We all know that the rescheduled 9:30pm game is a pain in the ass, but there was a time, not that long ago when this league played 3 games a night. Three start times that were, in some ways, even tougher... 6:45, 8:00 and 9:15pm. A 9:30pm game once and while is not going to hurt us, a slip and fall on a rain soaked diamond might...
I really didn't like such a long layoff, I like to play, what can I say. It really felt good to be back on the diamond, but I thought the Units could be a little bit rusty from not playing. We were a little rusty from the layoff to start the game, especially batting, but as the night progressed we seemed to get back in to a groove. I personally find I play better, pitch better, when we play several games per week. We haven't played 2 games in a week yet.
The weather at game time (9:30pm) was just okay, there was no rain, but the humidity and temperature was a little higher than I like it. The diamond conditions were satisfactory, the batters boxes were a little sloppy and the outfield was damp. There was also a slight breeze blowing out to left field.
At game time we had only 8 of our own players. Brian, Vince, Ricky Bobby, and Richard were all absent from the roster. I called for 2 subs and picked up Rick Greenfield and Al Bales. Yes another Rick in the lineup, could you imagine if Rick C and Richard were here, it would be Rickdiculous...4 Ricks in the lineup. Thanks go out to Rick G. and Al B. for helping us out.
Jamie had come from the Captain's meeting, but forgot his baseball gear at home, so he played in a suit and tie...just kidding, he played in his jeans... reminded me of Al Hayward...LOL.
There are a lot of strong teams in the league this year and/or maybe the Units are just seeing the strongest of them first. The Tappers have a potent offensive lineup and the defense is not all that bad either. I thought, and so have many others, that the Dogcatchers have a very strong team also.
In the top of the sixth the Units would score 2 more runs, 1 on a homerun in to the tennis courts by Phil G. and the other as Woody would come around to score on hits by Mike O. and Rick G. (sub). The Units would shut the Tappers down in the bottom and take a 1 run lead going in to the seventh.
In the top of the seventh inning the Units first 2 batters would get out, Darrell (Hags) and Jamie would both get hits, but Coxy got out and the batters were left stranded on base. The Units would take a one run lead in to the bottom of the seventh. A one run lead in this league is difficult to hold on to (it was 8-8 after 2 innings) and I mentioned before that the Tap Masters are a tough hitting team. In the top of the inning, the top of the order was coming to bat...Neil P., Tim S., Mark B., Rob R., and Dennis were the top 5 batters coming up...Holy S***.
I would walk Neil P. trying to pitch him inside (ball was a bit slippery on the night) and Tim's hit would force Neil out at second for the first out, Mark B. would then hit another fielder's choice and Tim S. was forced out at second, for the second out. The next batter was Rob (Tumble) R. and I would pitch around Rob (I know how AWESOME this guy is) producing another walk, Dennis P. would be the next batter and hit a short pop fly behind second base, Woody would try for a catch, but just couldn't come up with it (nice try though), Mark B. would come in to score... game tied at 15-15 with 2 out.
With Rob (Tumble) at 3rd base (the winning run) the next batter was Jason. Jason would hit a short liner toward second base and Phil made an attempt to catch the ball, but could make a clean catch, the ball bounced and Phil couldn't get a handle on it to make a throw to 1st, Jason would be safe and Tumble would score from third to win the game.
I must admit, I really enjoyed this game; we competed and we had our chances to win. Considering we have only played 4 games, and the long layoff, I think we played well and we are going to get even better. We have a solid team, and over the next little while we'll see what we are made of. Including last nights game, 12 of the next 13 Hurtin`Units games are going to be played at Keogh Park.
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