WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER...

HURTIN' UNITS VS. DUSTY CLEATS.

Main street in Tottenham following the Hurtin' Units win...

Game # 12-July 16, 2014

Hurtin' Units win 20-16

Team Record- 1-11-0

Keogh Park- If there is any team (or team captains) that can sympathize with the season that the Hurtin' Units are having, it would be the Dusty Cleats. They have been there, done that...

In 2010, the Cleats had a rough season with a 3-23-0 record in a 26 game schedule. Now Luigi, that's a tougha season... Every team, if they stay in the league long enough, will go through the highs and lows of winning and losing seasons.

2011 Dusty Cleats.

In 2011 (a year later), the Dusty Cleats would dominate the league with a 22-2-0 record (24 game schedule). The Cleats would play in to August without a loss and on the afternoon of August 15, 2011 the Cleats had 19-0-0 record. On the evening of August 15th the Dusty Cleats streak finally came to an end. It was game #21 for the Hurtin' Units and game #20 for the Cleats, it would be a see-saw battle until the final out, and when the diamond dust finally settled, the Hurtin' Units would be victorious by a score of 15-14. The Dusty Cleat's quest for a perfect season would come to an end.

Flying high, after the win.

The Cleats would go on to lose 1 more game that season, but they would win the league championship and would go all the way to the playoff finals, only to lose a tight battle against the Grisslies by a score of 7-5.

On July 16th, 2014 the Dusty Cleats and Hurtin' Units would again engage on the field and another streak would come to an end. The weather for this game was decent; temperatures in the mid 20s, overcast, non threatening skies and a slight breeze. Units were the visitors in this 8:15pm game and Roman was the umpire.

We had great support from everyone.

At game time, the Hurtin' Units had 11 players dressed in the Black and Gold, the only missing player was Don C. 

The Units had the first at bat and we got off to a good start scoring 2 runs in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, it looked like the same old story repeating itself, as the Dusty Cleats scored 7 runs and the Units could not get 3 outs. 

Everyone made a contribution in this game...

Dwayne started off the top of the second inning, got on, 

but was forced out at second when Rick hit in to a fielders choice. Esau, Bill and Mike all 

got on base, Bill (Dwayne running) was forced out at 2nd base. Rick, Esau and Mike all came around to score on hits by Clayton and Dave. With Clayton and Dave on base, Kevin came up and hit a towering homerun to the right side of the diamond, in to the tennis courts. Jimmer would fly out for the 3rd out of the inning. The Units would score 6 runs... In the bottom of the inning, the Units would hold the Cleats to only a single run. At the end of 2 innings, the score was 8-8. 

Gettin' the monkey off our back or
gettin' the stink off our monkey...
either way it's a win.

In the 3rd inning, the Hurtin' Units would be held off the scoreboard and would allow the Cleats to score a single run in the bottom of the inning. 

In the 4th inning, the Hurtin' Units would score another 4 runs. Bill (Rick running) would come around to score on hits by Mike and Clayton; Kevin would advance the runners with a single, and with the bases loaded, one out, Jimmer came to bat. Jimmer would hit a double over the head of the left fielder and Mike, Clayton and Kevin would come in to score... In the bottom of the inning, the Units would shut down the Cleats, with only 5 batters coming to the plate. 

In the top of the 5th, the Units were shut down... In the bottom of the inning, the Cleats bats roared to life again, the Cleats would score 6 runs. The score at the end of the 5th inning was 15-12 for the Dusty Cleats.

It was a  battle to the finish.

In the top 6th inning, the Units would score another 3 runs. Mike started off the inning with a single, Clayton followed with another single, Dave would hit in to a fielder's choice forcing Clayton out at second. Kevin came to bat with Mike and Dave on base; Kevin hit another homerun in to the tennis courts scoring all base runners... In the bottom of the inning, the Units would shut down the Cleats, with only 5 batters coming to the plate. At the end of 6 innings the score was tied 15-15.

Kevin hit 2 homeruns and lead the Units to victory.

In the top of the 7th inning (open inning) the Units would score 5 more runs. Dwayne, Esau, Mike, Clayton and Dave all came around to score. Kevin got an intentional walk in the inning, probably because of the 2 homeruns hit earlier in the game... In the bottom of the inning, Matt F. hit an in the park homerun, Calvin S. hit a single and that would be all the Cleats would get. The next 3 batters would get out, the last out a pop fly to Dwayne at 3rd base for the Hurtin' Units first win of the season. 

It would not surprise anyone if I was to say that Kevin C. lead the Units to this victory. Kevin hit 2 homeruns, went 5 for 5 at the plate, made numerous great catches in the field and scored 4 runs in this game. Kevin lead the way, but everyone on the team made contributions. Dave scored 4 runs and went 4 for 5,  Clayton went 4 for 5 and Mike went 4 for 4 and both scored 3 runs each, Dwayne, Esau and Rick all scored runs in the game. Every player on the Units had at least one hit.
  

This win was cause for celebration.

There was definitely a sigh of relief when Dwayne made the final out of the inning. The smile on the faces of the Units players following the victory was a welcome site to see. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!

I'm looking forward to the next game.