6 March 2010 - Hot, Dry and Dusty

Roster
Ones: Pitch ChanoPark, Catch Uboat, 1st Ziegler, 2nd Jor-El, 3rd Mick, SS Chris, LF Shane/Voodoo,CF Dumi, CF JC, RF Matt
Twos: Pitch Rickey, Catch HiTea, 1st Upton, 2nd Geok, 3rd Indiana, SS Ripken, LF Rugburn, CF Bumblebee, CF Cool Papa, RF H/Sin

Box Score
Twos: 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1
Ones: 3 1 2 3 2 1 0 0 X

Final Score
Ones 12 : Twos 6

Highlights
Top 1: Chris-Ziegler 6-3 dp
Bot 1: Ziegler long solo HR into left-center-field
Bot 1: Rickey gets unassisted dp at first
Top 2: Chris-Ziegler-Mick, 6-3-5 dp, force out at 1st, and bullet throw from Z to mick to tag Geok running into 3rd.
Top 4: ChanoPark steps in to replace Uboat on the mound. Proceeds to pitch 5 & 2/3 shutout innings before allowing a HR to rugburn in the top of the 9th.
Bot 5: uboat 2RBI HR, 'ohshit' moment over Bumblebee
Top 6: JC-Chris-Uboat relay to beat Rugburn's monster hit to homeplate.
Top 9: Rugburn finally gets his monster HR.

Another week of no rain meant the field was dry and dusty. I was half-expecting to see tumbleweeds drift across our outfield. We seriously need a little rain, not too much, maybe a Wednesday or Thursday downpour to moisten the ground.

Upton did it again. He brought another new body to the field. He is amazing. If we could give an MVP for recruiting, it would go to Upton. It's going to be just awful to lose him in May. We definitely need to start planning his farewell party. We have to reinstate the Yard rule, just for him.

We numbered 22 by the 2nd inning, so both teams played with a rover, pitched and caught, and had to sit one out every inning. I honestly don't remember the last time we had such consistent numbers so many weeks in a row. I'm not complaining, its fantastic.

No rain does mean the field is properly hard, and tamped into a nice flat surface with an even bounce. Infield work meant a quick predictable hop into the glove with plenty of time for the throw, but the outfield had to work harder as the ball would take off like a bullet when it hit the ground.

Like the last 2 weeks, lots of double plays from both infields. The quick ground allowed plays to be turned fast and nary a ground ball made it out into the outfield. ChanoPark dominated the Twos from the mound, and from the moment he stepped in for Uboat to the long homerun from Rugburn in the 9th, he did not allow a single run. That's 5 shutout innings. For Saturdaysoftball, that's no mean feat. Worthy of an MBP award. No doubt his defense tightened around him, but his wiry pitches induced many a groundball and infield flyball.

It was the textbook relay in the 6th that sealed ChanoPark's victory. Rugburn hit a liner into right centerfield that took off like a bullet. It should have been a homerun, but somehow JC snatched the ball before it could get behind him. Fired a bullet to Chris who relayed it to Uboat at home to tag Rugburn out. It was textbook and perfectly executed, and morale-sucking for the other team. Rugburn had no chance. He did finally redeem himself with an even more monsterous hit in the 9th, same spot, but further. JC had no chance to get the ball this time.

Another great game. Looking forward to next week.

Game 2
Ones: 2 3 1
Twos: 2 0 4

Final Score
Ones 6 : Twos 6 (Tie game, 3 innings)