I talk about it a lot but it really is true that the most amazing games we have tend to be smack dab in the middle of winter. It was glorious outside, 66 degrees, hot in the sun, and we had about 27 people show up to play. They all came out of the woodwork, other than Don, who must have known that we were overstaffed, and was absent from his usual late arrival.
Sean started for the homers and I started for the visitors. I felt good, the sun was hot at times, and it had been a minute since I had pitched. Note, I said I felt good, but I sure wasn't pitching good. I think that every person on the home team had at least a single off of me. I don't know how the score stayed as low as it did, because I was getting teed off on. Gabe counted his first and second career hits off of me, and everyone else just added to their pile. I guess it was the day, as Sean also was giving up some hits, and the game was really evenly matched. So much so, that the score was either tied or with a one run differential all the way to the extra inning that we had to play.
I started to bear down a little more as I warmed up, and with the help of some stellar defense from infield and outfield, I was able to stymie the attack. I bowed out after 5 innings, with the score knotted at 4-4. Mitch came in and did a great job of pitching the remainder of the game. I sat out at least 3 innings, which probably also helped my team's defense. Sean stayed in a bit longer, and then handed the game to HR, who looked like he has been working on his curveball and his form, both looked excellent. Greg came in for the final inning and well, tough luck.
We played through 9 innings and were left with a tie ball game 6-6, so into extra innings we went. We were able to score 2 runs on the mighty wallop of Stoner, who smoked a ball into the gap and eventually also came around to score. The homers seemed to deflate a bit in the bottom of the 10th, and were quickly extinguished.
Final score: 8-6, visitors.
Highlights:
* Thanks to everyone that came out
* Nice hitting Gabe!
* Powell accounted for several of our runs
* In honor of the Man of Steal, Mitch completed a perfect Ricky run: single, take 3rd on play at first, score.
* Johnny Bartlett came out, this looks to be the beginning of the next chapter of Johnny's baseball career, and I am here for it!
* Javier made several important catches in the outfield, he didn't look confident doing it, but he did it
* Play of the game may have been Zach's diving grab in left field, amazing!
* I knew I was in for it, when lead off batter Tony lined my first pitch down the right field line for a easy hit
* Gabe's throws from SS rival those of Shawon Dunston, and its little unnerving not knowing if the 1st baseman is going to catch the ball, or if it is going to take your head off
* Greg almost took off my foot with a solid comebacker, I got my shoe and my glove out of the way....
* Lynch made a snare on a line drive that would have taken his head off if he hadn't caught it, instead, a much needed double play
* Gaspar was smoking the ball
* Stoner treated us all to the patented Stoner Slide Catch.
* I will have to go back into the archives to find the last time I struck out Lattig.
* Anna had a nice hit that turned into a double and eventually a run scored.
* I got into a pitch Sean left up in my first at bat and hit it to the right center gap, and rounding 1st I saw HR fumble it and thought, What the hell. I made it to 2nd just ahead of the throw, and I had to slide which is never good but miraculously, was safe. With each play afterwards, there was a bobble or a issue that made my running advancement decision murky. But, I eventually scored our team's first run.
* Thanks to Greg, McG, Gaspar, Mike N for catching duties
* Two of the strangest ground balls, Lynch had one at third base that went from big hopper to worm burner, and one to Powell that never lost contact with the grass after impact.
* Apologies to Mike N, who I tagged with a 1-2 fastball in the rear parts
* Muchas gracias a Erasto, Santos, y Javier por un gran partido y a Carlos por venir a pasar el rato.
* After years of no contact, we had SF Park Rangers check permits TWICE in one day! Obviously it's part of the new mayor's promise to crack down on....illegal recreation? A bit of a buzz kill to see a guy with belt full of beat-down equipment walking over to you unsolicited on a Sunday afternoon, but, hey, that is why we pay for permits.
* Apologies if I missed any big plays, there were so many people to catch up with, the game became the background for a while.