Softball+2017-06-18

=Holy Smokes! Chalices Fall, 17-3=

Community Church was no match today for Holy Family, which rolled to an easy 17-3 win over the Flaming Chalices. The game started auspiciously for us: our first 3 batters all reached base, we had a run scored, 2 runners on base, and nobody out. But the game changed rapidly after that: next 3 batters were all put out, we got only the one run and left 2 runners on base. In the Holy Family half of the inning, they scored the maximum 5 runs while we could only record 1 out against them. That set the stage for the rest of the game. Up and down their line up, the Holy Family batters smoked the ball for base hits all over the field. We held them scoreless in only 1 out of the 6 innings they batted.

Meanwhile, on our side, the first inning experience repeated itself in the 3rd inning: first 3 batters get on base, one run scored, next 3 batters make outs, rally ended. In the 7th, our final run scored when Will Bara hit a double down the left field line, and I scored from 1st base. That came with 2 outs, and the next batter flied out to center for the final out to end the game.

Our offensive stars were Will Bara and me. We both had 4 hits in 4 at-bats. I scored all 3 of our runs, and Will batted me in all 3 times. The rest of team had 4 hits. We managed to have a baserunner in every inning but one; however, not enough hits to score more runs. We left 10 runners on base for the game.

On the defensive side, we had some trouble with long and high fly balls hit to right field, where we had less experienced outfielders playing. We didn't make as many plays in the infield as we are capable of, either. Still, we made some notable plays. Vera handled a hot shot at 2nd base, on a short hop, and forced the lead runner at 2nd base. She also took part in an amazing play in the bottom of the 3rd. Two runners on base, and Holy Family's clean-up hitter, a lefthander, powered a high fly ball into deep right. OF Jonah Paden tracked it and appeared to have it in his sights, but it proved to be little beyond his reach and came off his glove onto the ground. Jonah fell down and recovered the ball from the ground. Unable to stand and make a throw, he tossed the ball to fellow outfielder Alan Reece. Alan relayed the ball to Vera. Vera relayed to Will, and Will fired a strike towards P Jeff Nelson covering home. It was a perfect throw, Jeff made the catch and tagged the surprised batter, who made a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to leap out of the way. Score that 9-10-4-6-1: four assists on one play. Overall, we had 13 assists, for 15 putouts, which is a pretty high number for us. I also want to commend the fielding of a newcomer today, Vera's boyfriend, Dakota, who made 2 difficult running catches on fly balls to center field, and capably fielded all the base hits that came his way. LF Bruce Paden also made a nice catch on a long fly ball, for which he had to back pedal and reach up to snag successfully.