Game # 19– August 12th, 2025
Hurtin' Units vs. The Brew Birds
Hurtin' Units win 15-11
Team Record – 10-9-0
Coventry Park - It was 7:50 pm, and the Units only had 4 players at Coventry #3. I was beginning to get a little worried. I went back to my WhatsApp to make sure I had sent the correct time to the team. Yep, 8:00 pm at C# 3, Lou the umpire and I were watching the pathway looking for any sign of a white shirt in the distance. Finally, several white jerseys could be seen walking the pathway. 4 more Units' players made it to the diamond by 8:00 pm. The Units started the game with only 8 Unit players on the field. We borrowed a catcher for the first inning and played with 3 fielders. Fabio arrived in the first inning, and Matt showed up for the second. I knew Matt would be coming in hot, and Fabio is usually tight for games.
The weather for this game was still stinky hot; during the day, it was over 30 degrees. There was a brief shower around 5 pm, but it did not produce enough rain to fill a coffee cup. The grass on C #3 is turning brown, and when Pete was hammering the bases in, with a 5-pound sledgehammer, and nothing was happening, the ground was so dry.
I mentioned at game time we only had 8 players to start, Fabio and Matt were a couple of minutes late, and Mike Di and Mike G. were both missing for this game. Mike Di. Showed up to watch, but was a little beat up from the weekend tournament and took the night off. The umpire for this game was Sweet Lou, and the scorekeeper was Laura C. The Units were the home team.
In the top of the first inning, the Units with only 3 outfielders, the Birds went down quickly, in fact, 1, 2, 3. In the bottom, the Units were not much better, we managed to score a single run on a Kevin C., in the park homerun. In the second inning, the Birds led off with Vaters, and when the third out was recorded, the Birds had scored 5 runs. In the home half, the Units went down 1,2, 3. Change 'em up, boys, 5-1 for the Brew Birds.
In the third inning, Units slowed the top of the order down again. Cam and Matt got out, Vaters got a double, but Whitey flew out to end their half. In the bottom, Matt got out, Jimmer flew out to Vaters, and with 2 outs, Harley got on with a single to start a 6-run rally. The Units would go through the order before the third out. The Units take the lead 7-5.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Birds made a little push, sending 8 batters to the plate. Matt, Alex, Danny and Shawn would come in to score, making the game closer. In the bottom, the Units would lead off with Jimmer lining out to Vaters (again), but Harley would get on again with a single, Brad, Mike B, and Kevin would all get singles, but only Harley and Brad would score. The score after 5 complete innings, Units 15, Brew Birds 11.
The sixth inning was called the “ Open Inning”. Franco led off and got out, Brad W hit a single, Cam did not bat due to an injury, Matt lined out to Kyle at short, and Vaters hit a towering blast into the misty night sky, which Kevin C caught to end the game.
This game was a full team effort; everyone on the Units contributed to this win. Fabio made a difficult shoestring catch on Dan C and went 3 for 3, Kyle played his best defensive game at short ( that's sayin' something, because he's been good all season), Mike B., is finding his game after missing a bunch of games this season, Kevin went 3 for 4 with a homerun, but the guy who stood out to me in this game and made a huge impact was Harley S. (the Shermanator). Harley started the game at second because we were short on players (he didn't see any action, but it shows his versatility). He then went to catch, where he caught 2 big foul tips, for 2 huge outs. When batting, he went 3 for 3 at the plate and scored 3 runs in the game. Great game, boys!!!
The next Hurtin' Units' game is Tuesday, August 19th, vs. The Meatballs.
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