THE YOUNG AND THE REST OF US...

HURTIN' UNITS VS. THE DOGCATCHERS.

Really, Really Hot!!

Game # 16- July 17, 2013

Hurtin'Units tie 14-14

Team Record- 8-7-1

Keogh Park- On what was the hottest day of the year, we get scheduled a 9:30pm game. When I first looked at the schedule and saw this game time, I groaned a little, knowing that I would have to get up early the next morning, but with the temperatures where they were, I'm almost thankful for this time. The temperature at 4:00pm on game day, according to the Weather Network, was 30 degrees Celsius and with the humidity it felt like 38 degrees. There was zero breeze and it felt hotter!!

Speaking of hot, I'm sure most of you have had a chance to view the disgusting video in the last posting. I can't imagine grown men dancing around half naked, I certainly don't want to watch such a thing. I voiced my opinion in the last posting and since then the persons involved have changed their ways. Shortly after I voiced my concerns the same group went out and made another more respectable video. To view the new video, click on the link.

http://www.jibjab.com/view/Z8dIGmuaTyek5I1Zz9R1Aw

Now wasn't that better...It's hard to believe it's the same guys.

This game was our second, this season, vs. the Dogcatchers. In our first go round back on May 14, 2013, the Units second game of the season, the Dogcatchers squeaked out a 15-14 win. Our first of 5 one run losses on the season so far. 

In the first game we witnessed Brad Young crank a homerun out in left field at Coventry # 3 diamond. " I guess he liked the pitch" I thought. Now... his homerun was wind assisted and it did hit the top of the fence so you know... okay let's face it, this guy can hit a baseball. Oh yea, he can catch, run and knows this game really well, but can he hit an in the park homerun??? 

I know that our boy Phil G. (a.k.a. Philly cheesesteak) can. In fact Phil G. hit 2, not 1, but 2 in the park homeruns back on May 14th, so we know we got that in our back pockets if we need them... Homeruns back on May 14 - Brad Y- 1,  Phil G.- 2. 


I mentioned the weather was hot for this game against the Dogcatchers. We played at 9:30 and it was still stinkin' hot; All of the players were glistening with sweat (kinda like the video in the last post) and our garments were soaked. I can't imagine what it was like playing at 7:00, when the sun was still out and baking the players like they were in an Easy Bake Oven.
  

Time for the injection...What part is the knee?

At game time we had 8 Unit players at the park. Missing from the roster were Mike (had the goo injected in to his knees), Jamie (slept in from his pre-game nap), Ricky Bobby (was at Blue Mountain skiing, just kidding, he was enjoying some family time) and Ricky L. (was still under the weather). We called for a sub and Cliff Tucker was assigned the task.

The game was fun considering how hot it was. I was perusing the T.O.T standings prior to the game and realized that the Dogcatchers and the Hurtin' Units have the same record, at least we did at the start of the week. Remember we won against the Woodys earlier in the week and that wasn't reflected in the standings that I was viewing.

So with the two teams so close in the standings, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see a tie. The Hurtin' Units first tie of the season. I mentioned in a previous posting that the Units have had 2 ties in each of the last three seasons. I suppose we are due for one more before the season ends.

The first game we played against each other was 15-14 score in favor of the Dogcatchers. 

Who wants some Sambuca?

The Units were the home team in this game. In the top of the first inning the leadoff guy, Brad Young flied out to Richard in left field, and then the second batter also flied out to Richard, it was looking like the Richard G. show out there. The next five batters would hit and four would come around to score, before Randy (Cowpie) would fly out to (yea, you guessed it) Richard in left field. In the bottom of the inning, the Units would send 7 batters to the plate and score 3 runs. Not too bad, we're still in it right?

In the top of the 2nd inning, the Catchers would score 5 runs and in the bottom the Units only managed a single counter. The score after 2 innings...Dogcatchers 9, Hurtin' Units 5.

"If a fairly batted ball is to be declared an infield fly the umpire shall call: "INFIELD FLY, IF FAIR, BATTER IS OUT" for the benefit of the runners. Failure to make the call does not preclude the batted ball from being an infield fly. The ball is alive and if the runners advance they do so at their own risk and are in jeopardy if the ball is caught. The ruling is the same as any other caught or dropped fly ball. A foul ball is not an infield fly and if the ball falls untouched to the ground in fair or foul territory prior to first or third base and subsequently rolls into foul territory, it is just a foul ball."

In the top of the third inning, the Units caught a bit of a break. I include the rule about the infield fly because it played a role in the 0 run inning for the Dogcatchers. Larry T. lead off the inning with a walk (what can I say, he's not a swinger), followed by Big Bad Brad with a single, and with runners on first and second, the next batter (Jim) popped up to second base, the Umpire yelled " Infield fly, batter is out if fair". 

Infield fly, batter is out if fair.

Darrell was playing second and casually waited for the pop fly (which was in fair territory) to come down, the ball hit the side of his glove, off his head (just kidding about the head) and hit the ground. The batter was automatically out, but for some reason the runners on the bases started to go...Brad was tagged out and then Larry was tagged out. Triple play and the Units were out of the inning. In the bottom of the inning the Units would score 2 runs and inch a little closer. 

In the top of the forth inning, the Dogcatchers would tack on another 2 runs. In the bottom of the inning the Units would storm back with 4 runs and leave the 5th stranded at third base. At the end of 4 innings of play the score was 11-10 for the Dogcatchers. 

In the top of the fifth inning, Brad lead off with a double and with a bit of hitting behind him came in to score. That would be all the Dogcatchers would score in the inning. In the bottom of the inning the Units would score 3 more runs and take the lead for the first time since the first inning. 13-12 for the Units.

Homerun make me tired and thirsty.

In the top of the sixth inning (the open inning in this game) the Dogcatchers would come out and score again, this time 2 more runs. In the bottom of the inning, we were down by a single run, I (Jimmer) was the lead off batter and hit a to right center field, the ball hit the ground and got by the fielder, rolled to the fence, I chugged around like the little engine that could, to score and tie the game...14-14 with nobody out.  

The next batter was Cliff who hit a single, who was forced out at second on a single by Darrell. The next batter was Coxy, who hit a single and brought Darrell around to third... tying run on third with one out. The next batter Brian flied out and Darrell was unable to tag and come home. 2 out and Phil (Cheesesteak) was the next batter, Phil hit a ground ball to the second baseman who threw to first for the final out and a 14-14 tie. 

I mentioned earlier that it was the Richard show, the lad was definitely having a busy night in left field and in the one of the later innings, he made an amazing catch at the fence to keep the game close. Woody also made a great catch in center field; a line drive I really thought was going to the fence, Woody came across the center field (like a gazelle) and made a highlight reel catch.  

It was an in the parker homerun... ran like a gazelle. 

This was fun game and I thoroughly enjoy playing in games like this. The Units showed they can come back if they get behind in on the scoresheet. 

Great work Units!!