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| From Beaverball |
Beavers took the field first and quickly took care of the visiting Sportsman's Park top of the order. Highlight of the inning was the big lefty grounding one to Big John (filling in at 1B), Vajohnna snapped at it, fielded in cleanly and was even able to get to the bag for the out.
Rake slid into the leadoff spot while the team awaited Deuce and the beer rations for the night. A lead off single was flared to right. Sabo hit into a FC, Kid singled him to 3rd. Up stepped Dupper. Dupper lifted a flyball to left center for a SAC fly (1). One-nothing, Beavers.
In the top of the 2nd PT must have been throwing some nasty stuff. He was able to record 2 strikeouts - looking - back to back. Sportsman's Park, still scoreless.
Beavers rallied in the 2nd. Big John walked Santo singled, Belle singled to load the bases. Gee singled in one run, Deuce hit a SAC fly (2) to score another and move Belle to 3rd. PT then hit a SAC fly (3) to score the 3rd run of the inning. Beavers up 4-0.
In the top of the third Sportsman's Park capitalized on some shotty defense on the infield. Between Kid not getting down on the ball, and Rake coming up to early on a grounder, runners were in scoring position. Kid is still blaming his fear of another black eye on why he does not get in front of grounders anymore. However, this has nothing to do with his lack of flexibility as the ball went under his outstretched arm (to his side). The damage was limited to 1 run.
The Beavers were up to their same shenanigans in the 3rd. Sabo walked, Kid crushed a double down the rightfield hill, setting the table for Dupper. Another SAC fly (4). Beavers regained their 4-run lead.
Throughout the game Misty was acting as documentarian and snapping photos of all of the Beavers at the plate and some doing other things. All the pictures can be viewed on Rake's Picasa album. A player on Sportsman's Park asked her why she was only taking photos of the Beavers. She had them sold on the documentary angle. I guess that is what you can call the Beaver Times. Back to the action.
In the 4th the Beavers struck again. Belle and Gee led off with singles. PT stepped up with a runner on 3rd and lifted a SAC fly (5). Jimmy-D then launched a deep fly to left, catching the left fielder (and most of the Beavers) off-guard. Jimmy-D easily had a double, but was wanting more. He tried to stretch the hit into a triple and was thrown out at third. May I recommend a slide next time, Jimmy? After a lesson or two from the "Gee School of Sliding" you may have made it in there safe and kept the rally going. Beavers up 7-1.
Rake led off the 5th with a smash to center. The left center fielder chased it down to rob Rake of a hit (and his best hit ball in weeks). Sabo picked up the slack and singled, Kid singled him to 3rd...all set up for Dupper, again. This time, instead of lifting a SAC fly he topped the ball and drove it into the ground to the left side of the infield. Kid was retired at 2nd on the force, Dupper legged out the throw to 1st to save an out and grab the RBI. 8-1 Beavs.
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| From Beaverball |
In the 6th Sportsman's Park started hitting. There were moments when it looked like the Beavers might come unraveled. Though they had scored in every inning, the 7-run lead did not feel all that safe. We have seen games go bad before. PT's pitching and some improved defense held Sportsman's Park to 2 more runs. It was 8-3 going into the bottom of the 6th.
This game just had a good feeling about it from the get-go. Beavers were light, having fun, not thinking too much about the outcome. The bats were alive and they kept hitting in the 6th. Big John, Santo, Belle, Gee all singled to start the 6th. Deuce then walked in a run as well. PT was up for the 3rd time with a runner on 3rd. So far, he had no official AB. He was 0-0 with 2 SAC. Again, PT lifted one to left. Another SAC fly (6). Jimmy-D, working on a nice night at the plate himself, did the same for another SAC fly (7). Rake then lined a ball at the 3B that was too hot to handle, but not far enough to score Deuce (though you should be running on contact with 2 outs, but I digress). Sabo then stepped up and lined a single up the middle to score Deuce and end the game with a 10-run mercy rule. Beavers win 13-3.
It was an odd stat night all the way around. 5 Beavers did not record an out (not counting SAC). Four Beavers were credited with only 1 official AB and 1 beaver had 0. Three Beavers went 3-3. The most interesting stat is this. Eight of the thirteen runs the Beavers scored, did so on an out; 7 SAC plus one FC. So while the timely hits may not have been there, manufacturing runs definitely was happening.
After the game, and shortly after we ran out of beer the Beavers decided to make a run for championship of Shaw Park vs. playing next week at Fenton. Rainouts have caused the two leagues to overlap and the 6:15 game at Shaw and the 6:30 game at Fenton are conflicting. Maybe, Fenton will give us another Bye, I doubt it though.
Beavers play the semi-finals at 6:15 next Wed, then if/when they win Championship is at 8:30.
Beaver of the game is difficult to narrow down. With 5 "perfectos", three of which are of the 3-3 variety and one of the 0-0 variety the choice is difficult. Though I hate to do it this way, the award needs to be shared this week.
Kid 3-3, 2B
Belle 3-3, 3runs, RBI (raised his avg over 50 pts
Gee 3-3, 2runs, RBI
PT 0-0, 3SAC, 3RBI, 3 Strikeouts pitching (should have been a 4th, but another bad call by the ump on a foul robbed him)
Bravo Beavers!
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