Beaver Times 2010 - Edition IV

After a rainout of the games scheduled for May 12th, the games scheduled for May 19th were not looking too possible either. Rainy day, followed by rainy day finally gave way for 2 straight days of sunshine. Somehow the ground soaked up all of the inches of rain and the field was in great shape for the double header on the 19th.

The night's opponent was another new team; the Bucks. The Bucks entered the night 2-2 in the young season, the Beavers were off to a 3-1 start. Two no-shows for the Beavers left the club with 2 less pitching options as Big John and PT both were out. The Beavers were the visiting team in the 1st game and came out flat. Going down 1-2-3 in the first and trying to put something together in the 2nd. With runners on first and second Gee singled to left center (virtually hitting it to the opposite field for Gee) Mobilly was then gunned down at the plate as he did not have a good jump on the hit. Luckily The Bucks were not ripping the cover off the ball either. After 2 innings it was 0-0 and quite the sleeper.

Tanner led off the 3rd with a single and it appeared he might be stranded there when the bottom of the order could not move him around, then the top of the order began to hit. Deuce lifted a ground-rule double down the hill and Sabo singled them both in for a 2-0 lead. Mobilly, on the mound, kept the Bucks bats silent with another shutout inning in the third as he switched from side to side of the rubber and varying his pitching style with nearly every pitch.

Mobilly led off the 2nd with a double which prompted a "way to pick up your base running" from the Beavers bench. He was moved the third by Dupper and driven home by a Sacrifice fly by Rake for a 3-0 lead. The Bucks started to take advantage of the Beavers slow start. They chased around 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th. This game was way to close for what it should be on paper. But, since we play on dirt and grass, that did not matter.

In the 5th Tanner got on base again with a double and scored on a singe by Santo. Going into the 6th it was a too-close-for-comfort 4-2. Then something changed. It's hard to say what triggers a huge change in momentum. Maybe the beer was kicking in. Maybe the Beavers were just beginning to forget their 9 to 5 and start relaxing, maybe everyone just needed a swing or two to get ready for the night...but it was time to hit.

The Beavers batted all 11 guys in the 6th. A barrage of singles and doubles. Singles by Sabo, Kid, Mobilly, Rake and Jimmy-D. Doubles by Gee (now being called Glee by Kid), Tanner and Santo. Most of the inning was made possible by a mental mistake by the Bucks SS. A grounder up the middle with Rake on first. The SS bobbled the ball temporarily, but still had time to beat Rake to 2nd by a step opted to just throw to first for the PO. The first baseman expected the FC and second and was no where near 1st. That E opened the flood gates for 4 additional runs in that inning for a total of 6.

After the Bucks scored one of their own in the 6th, the Beavers kept the hitting up in the 7th. Hitting around was not enough in this frame. The first 8 hitters all reached base safely. Singles by Sabo and Kid were chased around by a HR by Mobilly. A triple by Dupper was scored easily on a HR by Rake. Singles by Belle, Glee, Tanner and Deuce were then plated by doubles by Kid and Mobilly (his 6th RBI in 2 innings). Dupper then tripled for the 2nd time in one inning (maybe a Beaver record). Rake then drove home Dupper again, this time with a single. At the end of 6 and 1/2 the Beavers were now up 23-4.

Dupper took the hill to close out the game and allowed 3 runs, but not nearly enough to make this game interesting in the box score.

Beaver of the game goes to Mobilly for his 5-5, 6RBI, 2 doubles, 1 HR and 6 innings of 3-run pitching. Honorable mention goes to Rake 3-4, 5 RBI, 1 HR and Tanner 4-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI.

Effort of the game goes to Gee who while playing first base came in on a low looping foul ball. Determined to at least make the play look like it was close, Gee dove headlong for the ball (basically after the ball landed). Missing the catch, but providing plenty of entertainment.

Game two started slow. The first inning there was nothing happening for either team. Again a goose-egg for the Bucks in the 2nd inning. For the Beavers Sabo led off with a single, Kid did the same...and with the entire bench harassing Mobilly about his ridiculously tall black socks Mobilly shut the peanut gallery up with his 2nd HR of the night. Some of the comments which were caught were "does Michelle know you have her knee highs on?", "Michelle will be pissed that you are stretching out her stockings" and "Your mascara is running too". Good times. Good job in answering, Mobilly. Beavers were up 3-0.

The Bucks cut the lead to 3-2 helped by the juggling error by Rake at 2nd base. A potential DP ball was hit to SS, on the flip to 2nd Rake bobbled the ball, not once, not twice, probably at least 3 times plus. Similar to a hacky sack...but falling to the ground in the end.

The game would not be close for long. For the 3rd time in the 2 games the Beavers batted around. Again the 1st 8 Beavers reached base. Primarily singles and doubles...the Beavers were slowing up on the bases and not taking the extra base as this was becoming a blow out quickly. Beavers went out to take different positions in the field. At times it looked like a little league practice with everyone playing out of position. At this time, the team was relaxed and in control. Then the Beavers are like this, they are hard to beat...and sometimes hard to score upon.

The Bucks scored one lone run in the 4th and the Beavers hit around for the 4th time in the 4th. Singles, doubles, errors (which were mounting for the Bucks) kept scoring more Beavers. Perfectos for the night belonged to Santo (3-3), Kid (3-3) and Dupper (3-3).

The game was called by the mercy rule after 4 innings at 17-3.

Due to performance under pressure of the bench, I will award Mobilly the Beaver of the Game for game 2 as well. (2-3, HR, 4 RBI and reached on an error).

Play of the game happened against the Beavers in the 4th inning. Santo led off with a single, Jimmy-D then grounded a ball to the 3rd baseman. He threw to second for the FC, but the ball deflected off his glove and went to the SS who was backing up the throw. The SS, then threw back to the 2nd baseman to still force out the pokey Santo. So if you are scoring at home that out was recorded 5-4-6-4 FC.

Next game is May 26th at 8pm vs. Ivey-Selkirk. This team took the year off last year and seem to be formidable again this year. It should be a good match up and hopefully the Beavers will show up and hit like the did in the 2nd half of both of these games.

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