Softball+2017-07-23

=Holy Family Runs Over Short-Handed Community Church, 21-4=

Well, at least we didn't forfeit. We had 8 stalwarts (Nick, TJ, Will, Jeff, Jean, Vera, Mark S and me) show up in the blazing heat this Sunday afternoon. The Holy Family team had 12 players, so they loaned us 2 volunteers: Alan and Susan, who both played outfield. It wasn't enough to overcome an impressive Holy Family hitting attack that scored in every inning, including two 5-run maximum innings. We didn't help ourselves by making a record 9 errors in the game. The 21-4 result exceeded our previous worst defeat of the season, also to Holy Family, 17-3, on June 18.

We scored most of our runs early, as is our pattern. Four hits in the 1st inning, from TJ Stankus, Alan, Jeff and Jean produced our first 2 runs. In the second inning, a 2-out rally -- with hits by me, Nick and TJ -- produced our 3rd run. Nick tried to score from 1st base on TJ's hit and was thrown out at the plate by a good relay from the HF 3rd baseman. Our last run came in the 4th inning. We loaded the bases (Susan, me, Nick) with just one out, and our 2-3-4 hitters coming up. TJ lofted a fly ball to right center that was caught, scoring Susan and allowing Nick and me to advance one base each. With 2 runners in scoring position, Will hit a line drive to center, but the outfielder made a long run and rolled to the ground as he made the difficult catch. We had a lot of hits during the game - 15 in 28 at-bats, but could not string enough of them together to get more runs. Hitting leaders today were Jeff, 3-for-3; Jean, TJ, Mark Smith and me, with 2 hits each. TJ also led the team with 2 RBIs.

Defensively, as I mentioned, we made a larger number of errors than usual. We also missed reaching balls that were tantalizingly close. Two or three fly balls to the outfield were catchable, but fell in between outfielders. Our borrowed player from HF, Alan, was the outfield star, catching 3 fly balls hit his way. One other highlight was throwing out a HF runner at the plate. On a long fly ball to left center that fell in safely, TJ relayed to Will, who fired to Mark S, who put on the tag before the speedy runner could cross the plate.

Holy Family hit many difficult ground balls that eluded our infielders. Jean, our first baseman, did not take a single throw from an infielder the entire game. That was partly a result of our infielders booting some balls they should have handled, and partly because Holy Family had the lead-off batter on base so many times that we had many opportunities to force out runners at other bases besides first base. Jean's only put-out was on a fine play tracking back to catch a high popup at the edge of the infield dirt near the foul line. Despite no put-outs at 1st base, we managed 5 infield assists, all on forceouts of lead runners at 2nd and 3rd bases. Will caught several line drives and pop-ups, finishing the game with 5 put-outs, while Vera at 2nd base made 4 put-outs, and I made 2 put-outs playing 3rd base.

The game began with clear skies and very hot temperatures. By the end, it was much cooler thanks to dark storm clouds overhead. We ended the game prematurely in the bottom of the 6th, due to lightning strikes in the distance, when we had 2 runners on base and no outs.