11/10/24 GGP

Back at the other field at Golden Gate Park, which I prefer from a pitching point of view.  The mound is more tapered, and someone has added clay recently, which makes all the difference.  The sun is a little blinding in the winter, but it sure didn't feel like winter yesterday.  Probably about 67 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, no wind, amazing.  

We also had 22 players out, so maybe our summer doldrums are finally over, now that it is not remotely summer anymore.  

This was one of my two guaranteed games of the year: my birthday week and Father's Day.  No need to dwell on that though, it was a great birthday present though.  Sean was pitching for the visitors and Greg started for the homers.  We eked out a run in the first, on the back to back doubles of Aiden and Sean.  That seemed like all the impressive hitting I saw for the game.  

The homers were baffled by Sean, and even if they got on base, he picked off at least two people. Greg bowed out for Dave, and then Diego, and then Brian.  The entire homer pitching staff was throwing inside and high, they hit us at least twice, and came close about 5 more times.  We stayed with Sean for the first 5, then Satch came in for 4 and then Aiden for the bonus inning, since the game had gone so quickly, it wasn't even 4pm when we were done!

We picked up a couple more runs along the way, and the homers kept not.  I know for myself, I was not throwing anything impressive, but they were popping up and grounding out a lot.  All their hard hit line drives were right at someone, that's the way she goes sometimes.  We were not that much more impressive, but our pop ups found spots to land.

Even with the extra inning, the score was the same as it had been in the early innings, and it ended in a 10-inning 3-0 win for the visitors.

Highlights:

* Great group of players, a good time had by all

* Greg and Tony were on opposing teams, something that has not happened in several years.

* Marci came out and showed us how it is done

* I hit Dave right in the middle of the spine, which I felt bad about, since he wasn't the guy I wanted to hit in retribution

* John McGrath took a pitch right in the elbow and needed to waive his batting turn, he came back to smack a sweet line drive hit

* My weakest swing of the game resulted in my only hit

* Greg came up big with a perfect hit over third base

* Brian Phelps is still pitching lights out ball

* Our Yucatan contingent continues to play great ball

* Matt hit a frozen rope to center with me on first, and I don't think I have ever been fast enough that I would have made it to second safely.  Still felt bad about it though

* The homers turned a very nice double play

* My pitching count by the inning was: 8, 6, 5, 15.  Not too shabby.

* Connor was almost fooled more than the runner on a Sean pick off throw

* Greg *almost* had an amazing diving catch behind the dish

* After commenting that Santos plays about 150 feet deeper than he should, I hit a towering drive that he barely had to move to catch.  

* Anna made an amazing over the shoulder catch at first base for a third out!

* We heard that Bob had 30" of snow this week, bummer