The regulars were all back, as were some new guys and we ended up with about 27 players. That is how it seems to be these days. No complaints other than it would be be nice to have steady attendance rather than this feast and famine situation.
It was sunny-ish when we got there, then it got foggy and chilly and humid, and then the sun came out again and we were bathed in its warming rays to the end of the game. The band was out in less than full force, but made with the nice music and BBQ sausages as usual.
Sonny started for the visitors and Satch for the homers, and right off the bat (ha) the visitors pounced on my pitches, and I could not get an out to save my life. Two runs scored before I was even warmed up. Luckily, that was the only two that they would get from me. My defense settled down and was locked in.
Sonny did well for a guy with a giant knee brace on, and kept us in check for the the first several innings. We got a runner to third once, that was about it. So we settled for trying to score a run, and finally in about the 4th inning, we did. One run.
I wrapped up after 5 innings, having downshifted into maximum efficiency, my pitch counts for the last three innings were 4--6--7. Not too shabby. I did not strike out a single batter the whole game, but my defense was solid as rocks, including one master Charlie D at 2nd base with a little flair and panache.
The hard part about having 13 players is that you try to be a good guy and take your turns sitting out, but everyone else is also trying to sit, so you start to think that you have, even though you ended up playing outfield because no one else would. We came back over the top in the 6th inning, with new meat Dave on the mound, and took a 3-2 lead. Phelps and Mitch came in to hurl for us after that, and pitched well, but the visitors refused to go quietly though and the game was knotted at 3's before too long on a great opposite field RBI by Anna.
A huge batting roster makes for a long wait in between at bats, so I think it was about the 5 inning before we all got our 2nd at bats. Hitting for both teams seemed a little awry, and when anyone did get into one, the outfielders were placed perfectly. A nice tight game.
We went into the 8th raring to go, and engineered the game-winning rally, moving runners along and taking advantage. The tying and go-ahead runs in place, we coasted into the top of the 9th with nary a whimper from the visitors for a narrow win, 6-5.
What's that, extra innings?
Something seemed off to me when the plan was being hatched, and that was the homers were getting an extra at bat but they also seemed to be leaving, which didn't bode well for the visitors getting their extra inning. I kept asking how we were going to do this, and no one listened. Of course, we also strung together the biggest rally of the day in the 9th as well, scoring about 6 runs, including a bases-loaded double.
So by the time the 3rd out was recorded, half of our team had their street shoes on. Most of the visitors—besides McG who called bullshit on the whole thing— didn't really care to have their extra turn, and we called the game.
Let it be know that we the remaining homers were willing to play that inning, but the visitors chose to eschew their hitting rights.
Highlights
* Great to see everyone out, keep it up!
* Mike Naldony gets the hustle award for almost beating out a throw to first while wearing shin guards.
* Anna with the clutch hit to the hole on the right side
* Gabe blasted one to center field
* The visitors turned two double plays
* Greg tried 3 times to steal 2nd, and was thwarted by foul balls
* I hit a ball really hard to left field that Jacob was right on, so much so that it hit his glove, knocked his hat off and fell to the ground
* I also rocketed a ball to Jacob at SS, which he absorbed with his abdomen, he might have a bruise today....
* Mitch was a stalwart at every position, all day
* Along with a nice put out, Charlie's productive out placed our tying run on 3rd with one out, nice!
* A routine ground ball in which the throw is a scud in the dirt or airmailed over the first baseman will now be known as a Mission Baseball Double
* We had a couple of foul balls that looked as though they might squib back into play
* Naldony also tracked down a long foul ball behind the plate
* The knuckleball, change up, and curve ball were all working for me—I got 5 outs with the knuckle, Greg has never called it so often
* Phelps at 1B was warming up the infield with Alejandro at 3B, who always takes warm-ups seriously. Three times Phelps threw a slow roller to practice his barehand throw (all three throws were wide). Then first batter of that inning, JT, hits a slow roller to 3rd! As Alejandro was about to field it, Phelps yells... Barehand! Alejandro nails the throw!
* New guy hit the highest infield pop up we have seen in a while
* Sean caught again, and Phelps was pitching, a lefty battery, love it!
* Cap tip to Charlie and Tristan for holding up their end of the bargain as the fresh recruits
* JT brought out a glove that was so old it was eligible for AARP benefits and discounts
* A big thanks to all the visiting team pitchers that took it easy on Charlie, he makes me get a verbal confirmation from every new pitcher that they will take it easy and not drill him in the face with the high heater. I am not sure why my kids think the MBC is a bunch of savages....
