TALE OF TWO TAPPIES. 

Game # 26

September 8, 2022

Hurtin' Units vs. The Tap Masters

Hurtin' Units lose 17-16

Team Record- 15-9-2

Keogh Park- It was a beautiful September evening for baseball, the stands were filled to capacity and the long awaited rematch between the Tap Masters and the Hurtin' Units was on the diamond. The Units and the Tap Masters played in the Unit's game # 1 back on May 17^th and the Units defeated the Tap Masters 28-5.

At game time, the Units had a full squad, all dressed in red and yellow, probably one of the rare nights when everyone was there. Great night for a team picture, and so it was done. It was also a good night to pour out a shot of Sambuca to celebrate a fun and positive season. We had also arranged to have a pizza and wings night back at the Legion following the game.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This game was looking a little bit like the first game in the early innings, the home team Units took to the field and the Tap Masters went down quickly sending only 4 batters to the plate. In the bottom of the inning, the Units would send 7 batters to the plate and 3 would come around to score. At the end of the first, the score was 3-0 Units.

Over the next two innings, the Units shut the door on the Tappers, allowing no runs. The Units were shut down in the 2^nd inning, but stormed back in the 3^rd to score 5 more runs. In the top of the forth inning the Tappers would get on the board with a monstrous homerun by Jason C. over the right field fence in to the tennis courts. In the bottom of fourth inning, the high powered Units would add to their lead and put up another 6 runs. The score at the end of 4 complete innings was an impressive 14-1 for the Units.

Although it looked like the Units had this game wrapped up, the worst of times was about to rear it's ugly head and teach the Units a bit of a lesson. That lesson is that it's not over until it's over.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Tappers would score 4 more runs, but the Units would put another 2 on the scoreboard. The Units still had the game in the bag...Right????

In the top of the sixth inning, the Tap Masters would score a single run, but hold the Units off the scoresheet for the only the second time in the game. No big deal, the Units got this, the score was 16-6 going into the open inning. “Alright boys it's 1,2,3 and it's back to the Legion for wings, pizza and beer with 3^rd place all wrapped up in a pretty little bow. We got this.”

In the top of the open inning, the Tap, Tap, Tap Masters came a knockin' and would send 15 batters to the plate before the diamond dust settled. The Tappers would score 10 runs before the Units recorded the first out, pounding the ball all around the park, Units couldn't make a catch or get a force play, it was like a force that would not stop coming. After the first out the game was tied and the Units took a deep breath, the next batter Jason C (remember that guy that hit the solo homerun way back in the forth inning) would get on base and come around on a single by Mike. The Units would get the next 2 batters out to end the inning. “Holy CRAP what just happened?”

In the bottom of the out inning, the Units now trailing by a run and probably shocked by what just happened went down like a sack of potatoes. The Units would send 3 batters to the plate and 3 batters walked back to the dugout. 3 up, 3 down and that's the ballgame folks.

"It was the best of times it was the worst of times.”- Charles Dickens.

UNITS LOSE, UNITS LOSE in the tale of two Tappies.

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I got to than I have ever known.” - Charles Dickens- A Tale of Two Cities.