Beaver Times 2009 Edition 3

Before diving into the recaps from this week's games, let me quote an email from a guy on the opposition last week that was forwarded onto one of the Beavers.

we played a team that was ridiculous last night

score 15 runs in the first inning we played....we didn't make one error.

on the fields that are right by shaw park tennis courts, one guy hit the other backstop on 3 bounces. Our outfielders were playing in the other infield.

Followed by this...

they were all ripped, baseball pants, each had their own bats / bags

Good stuff! The Beavers are back...or so we thought.

Game 1, week 3 was karma getting us back. As the quoted email stated we were hanging 15 on the opposition just 7 days prior, this game was to be quite the opposite. The wind was blowing in as a storm was blowing through town. Somehow the rain missed Clayton and the games were on. In the first inning both teams went up 1-2-3. Not very Beaveresqe for our opening inning. It marked the first game that we did not score at least 3 in the first frame. In the second Sabo reached on an error that chased Big John in for our first run...and our only run until the 7th. In the field, though, we were playing as well as ever. Sabo fielded up to his nickname, scooping up anything that came near him - to the hole, to the line, charging - whatever, he was there to scoop and throw out the runner. I would take a guess that he had about 8 plays over at the hot corner. On the mound, Keith [still no nickname, but one might have rose to the top at the post game celebration - more on that later] also played an impressive game. Throwing two legit K's in the first 3 innings and keeping the opposition off base in most innings. He even fielded his position with a couple of come-backers.

In the 5th the Beavers were still clinging to a 1-0 lead when the visiting team, Cousin Hugo's, put a runner on second. A fly ball was lifted to left center and Belle took off after it. Now, he claims that he "overran the ball", all I can tell you is that it clanked off the tip of his mitt and fell to the ground, allowing the tying run to score. This was immediately followed by Dupper yelling from leftfield, "that's alright Mobilly, you'll get the next one". Keith shut down Cuz Hugo for the remainder of that inning and the next 2.

The game sped into the bottom of the 7th, the Beavers with only 4 hits so far. It was a amazingly sad display of offense, especially after circulating that email from the previous week. Something changed in the 7th though and the Beavers finally woke up at the plate - Sonoma singled, Big John walked, Dupper singled to load the bases and with none out Tanner delivered the game winning hit. As many baserunners in 4 at bats as the entire game up to that point - the Beavers walked away with a relieved 2-1 victory.

It is an on-going line from our pitchers that they have never allowed an earned run - an obvious jab at the fielding of this team and a glimpse into the ego of our pitchers, this was the first time that I can recall a true 0 ER game. For that, the Beaver of the Game goes to Keith for keeping us in the game long enough to mount that rally in the 7th.

Game 2 started immediately after the walk-off single. This time the bats stayed alive. Though not scoring a run in the top of the first we did load the bases, we were finally hitting again. In the second inning the damn burst open and we batted around, scoring 9 runs. Highlights in the inning were a 2-run HR by Sonoma, 5 straight singles by Tanner, Sabo, Keith, John "Rage" Richmond (making his 2009 debut in game one tonight), and Belle. All of this happed before the first out. Then Rake lined a bases clearing single (it should be a double to whomever was keeping the book). Beavers 9, Cousin Hugo's 0. Again Keith shut down their offense in the second with more spectacular plays from our third-baseman, Sabo.

In the 3rd and 4th the Beavers added on a total of 5 more runs, two off the bat of a HR by Kid. We were back on our game and getting good cuts. I think the wind died down a bit for game two which allowed for the balls to not hang up in the air forever. The Cuz kept pace with us in the 3rd and 4th, scoring 5 of their own - mainly on a handful of singles and doubles. They hit more balls that landed in short center - perfectly placed. Their achilles heal was their base running. Twice a baserunner tried to stretch an extra base. Both times against Belle. The first time was a play at the plate. Belle unloaded his throw for home which was plenty early to gun down their runner. The runner realized this and put on the brakes. Rake cut off the ball before it got to home and ran the runner back to Sabo at third starting the hot-box. We pulled it off to perfection saving a run. Later, a runner was going to third when Belle threw a strike to 3rd freezing the runner between 2nd and 3rd. Another hot-box, another out. Our defense was on for the most part.

In the 5th Tanner grounded out to the secondbaseman, prompting a teammate to yell out, "6 years ago Tanner would have beat that out!", only to be followed by "that's because he was getting laid 6 years ago.". You have to have thick skin to play on this team.

The game went into the 6th with the Beavers leading 14-5. In the Beaver half we plated 6 more, highlighted by an opposite-field 3-run HR by Rake, and capped off by a K by Rage (yes, it was a foul out, but that is a K in our book, Rage).

In the bottom of the 6th we needed to keep them from scoring 6 runs to end the game. Big John found himself in left center and was tested quickly. As only Big John can he was able to snap off a fly ball for the catch. It is not a thing of beauty, but it worked again. Imagine how a frog attacks a fly - that is the best way to describe Big John's catching style. He even told us that when teaching his son how to catch, he specifically told him "not to catch like Daddy" - the best advice you can give, Big John. Sonoma had been picking clovers in right field as not one ball had been hit to him in either game. In the 6th one found him and bounced a few feet in front of him...and skipped under his glove. His reaction was priceless - hitting himself on the forehead before turning and chasing after the ball. After all of the OF hijinx we held onto the victory and won 20-6.

Beaver of the game goes to Sabo and his gold glove night at 3rd. In addition to a stellar defensive showing he also went 4-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs.

At the end of game two a new option for a nickname for Keith came from Jimmy-D. He called to him as "No nick", as in no nickname. Jimmy-D kept trying to get it to stick at the post game headquarters, Kilkennys. Not sure if it is going to stick just yet, but it seems to have more traction than the one that Big John is trying to offer up, "Big Unit" or "The Unit". I am assuming there is a reference in there to Randy Johnson, but yours truly does not see the similarities between a 6'-10" ugly-arse pitcher who throws upper 90s and our pitcher who sets up hitters with a knuckleball. But I refuse to get any further into Big John's head as to the real reason he wants Keith's nickname to have the word "unit" in it...for now, he still remains the enigma.

Next game, May 20 field #6 at 8pm and 9pm. Beavers carry their 6-0 record into the game against Bi-State Meat (huh?)