There are great games, and there are great games, and there are great games.
After what felt like an eternity away from the game, I was across the bridge in record time and into the heart of Balboa Park, and the MBC Sunday game. From the start, I could tell it was going to be a memorable one. We had a outstanding roster of players, the field was in immaculate, albeit a little hardpan, condition, and the weather as exactly as predicted, muggy, cloudy with patches of sun. By the time AOY 2011 finally showed up and got dressed, we were a perfect 18.
Noah and Satch faced off in a innings-eating grudge match that has been going on for several years now, with about a even split of decisions between us. The scoring started in the first and we see-sawed back and forth through the game. What was apparent from the beginning as well was that it was going to be a bump and bruise kind of day. Greg and Bob took at least three foul tips off the face mask before we had played 2 innings, and Noah had three batters in a row get a piece of him off the mound with come backers.
Elsewhere in the field things were a bit more calm, as the defenses settled down. The middle innings saw both teams get some great 1-2-3 shutdowns, and rallies were stifled with line drive snares and timely K's. The visiting squad was having a field day with Satch for a while, not missing a thing, laying off pitches that I was counting on for swings, and in general hitting the shit out of the ball when the opportunity presented itself. By the time we got into the 7th (which seemed like it was about 4 hours, the first two innings were at least 45 minutes a piece) the homers were trailing by a score of 8-6, having given up the lead on a hit-a-thon rally by the visitors.
Noah and Satch still were battling on the bump, neither willing to go soft into that good night. We had gone from a 9-6 deficit to 9-8, but by the end of the 8th, my arm started to feel like it belonged on a dead man, so I decided 8 innings was better than 8+1 inning too many. I handed the pill to Rojas, who was itching to get a chance at the visitors. Tony did not disappoint, as he and the defense shut down the visitors chance at insurance. Noah, a veteran of many a complete game jogged (limped) out to the mound to close his own game.
Into the bottom of the 9th rode the gallant 9, leading off with Elvin, who had gone from running in circles to running the game in the course of a few innings. He led off with a sharp line drive, as did Richie behind him. They took second and third and were poised for the tie and the win. And wouldn't you know it, Satch got a chance to win the game. And with a swing from the heels, and a long drive to left center, home came the boys of April, and the game was ours.
Deepest thanks to all who played for one of the better MBC games I have had the honor to play in.
Highlights:
* Greg had a great game behind the dish, threw out 4 people, if you include a pickle play on a situation between home and third (missed squeeze sign, Phelps?)
* Visitors had some monstrous hits, Hank had at least 5 hits, John McG hit everything under the sun with authority, as did Phelps.
* Daniel has become a lefty phenom, collecting at least 3 hits from that side. He may never hit righty again.
* Elvin had a rough outing in center field, as he played a little too in and had some balls go over his head. He moved to 2nd base, and promptly made the most (ahem) aggressive 4-3 double play I have ever seen. The ball bounced directly over the base, Elvin blocked it, pounced on it, guarded it like a convict guards his food, against the reaching hands of Richie and threw it to Adam for the 2.
* Mitch scored at least 3 times, and probably had 6 stolen bases on the day.
* Tony had the best avoidance slide of the day, a sort of tuck and roll at second to escape the tag
* Phelps maintains he was safe at second on a steal attempt, we all know the throw beat him, but the proximity of the tag may still be up for debate.
* I caught a line drive comebacker from Bob, and my thumb is still a little sore (Bob likes to know these sorts of things)
* Adam had a stellar day at 1st.
* Our pickle was executed almost perfectly, which is actually saying quite a bit (Elvin, make sure you get out of the base path once you have gotten rid of the ball...)
* I threw two pitches behind Phelps, I wasn't trying to hit him, but I wasn't trying not to either, if that makes sense...or maybe I was trying to hit him?
* I think I was 5-6 with 2 doubles, the only time I didn't get a hit was when I used something other than the Shoeless Joe bat, which some have coined the Table Leg.
* Noah pitched his heart out, a great game!
* Daniel almost had an amazing diving play in left field.
* Hank and Phelps almost/kinda had an amazing collision in the same spot, in any case, Hank came up with the ball for the out.
* The visitors really pounded the third base line for hits all day
* We had a failed safety squeeze play, which is always fun.
Thanks again to all that played!
S. Paige
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