Softball+08-16-2015

=Chalices on Short End of Slugfest, 16-12=

The Community Church slugged it out with St. Paul AME/Christ United Methodist for 4 innings, but ran out of gas, falling by a score of 16-12 last Sunday. The Flaming Chalices had a total of 12 hits, including 2 doubles and 2 home runs. We scored all 12 of our runs in the first 4 innings, 10 runs in innings 3 & 4. After falling behind 3-0 in the 1st, the Chalices got back 2 runs in the 2nd on a home run to right field by first-time player Quinton Adams. After AMECM scored 4 runs in their half of the 3rd inning, Community Church came back and scored 5 runs to tie the game in the bottom half. Singles by Kalil Kaizen, Matt Nelson, Will Bara, Mark Bruhn and Quinton, plus an error, produced the runs. In the 4th, AMECM also scored 5, but again, the Chalices came back with 5 runs of our own. Bruce Paden started off the inning with a double to right field, advanced to 3rd on a ground out and scored on another ground ball. A couple of opposition errors produced 2 more baserunners, including Vera Smith, who scored from 2nd base on Kalil's single to left. The final 3 runs scored on Matt's home run to right field, driving in Tiffany and Kalil. The next 2 innings were scoreless for both teams. In the 7th, the AMECM big hitters came to the plate, and they delivered, including a 2-run home run, hit over the left center field fence, first time I have witnessed such a feat in several years. They tacked on 2 more runs on a big triple by one of their less imposing hitters. The Chalices were unable to muster a single hit in the bottom of the 7th, and so the game ended with an AMECM victory. Our 12 hits today were evenly divided among 6 players: Kalil, Matt, Will, Mark B, Quinton, and Bruce. Matt and Quinton each drove in 3 runs. Kalil, Matt and Jeff each scored 2 runs. Defensively, we played decently against a team that could hit the ball hard. We made our first double play since June 28, when Bruce caught a line drive in center field, and threw to 2B Vera Smith (via P Jeff Nelson) to double up the runner who did not return to 2nd base. Two newcomers joined the team Sunday: Quinton Adams, 16, with some previous baseball experience, and Tiffany, friend of Vera, with previous softball experience. Welcome aboard. With most of our regulars, and a cameo appearance by veteran Bruce Paden, we had a good turnout with 12 players.