Oh So Close

Last week we played our long time rivals The Dukes. This time we came oh so close to sweeping both games from them. However, their number two hitter, after showing little power in his first three at bats, smacked a walk-off two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the last inning to beat us 13-12. Offensively, our entire team did well, with only one batter not getting a hit and 8 different batters driving in at least onerun. Lee was 3 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored; Andrew was 2 for 2 plus a walk; Al Boyd had a two-run homer; and Greg, Dan and Patrick all had doubles.

The second game was more fun for us, resulting in a 16-11 win. We maxed out our 3 home run limit in the second inning, with Al Boyd and Dangoing back-to-back in the first inning, and Dan smacking a grand slam in the second after the Dukes walked Al semi-intentionally. Next to Dan with 5, our big RBI man was our 11th batter, Al Schneider, who was 3 for 3, including a double, and driving in 4 critical runs; batting in the second position, Lee was again 3 for 3, with a double and 3 runs scored; Dan was also 3 for 3 with his two home runs; Greg was 2 for 2 plus a sacrifice for 3 RBI; Dave, Andrew and Mike Chapman were each 2 for 3; this game only two of our batters failed to record a hit.

As with last week, what really contributed to our success in both games was our defense. Ed pitched two excellent games against a very strong team. Our infield defense turned three double plays, two in the second game, one a spectacular 4-6-3 play started by Lee and turned by Jeff
Morris, and the final one a 5-4-3 started by Patrick to end the game. All of our infielders played well, with all four positions busy, and Al Boyd saving several somewhat-errant throws again at first.

We also had excellent outfield play, with Jeff Donald busy all night in left-center, particularly in the second game. Mike Chapman made a tremendous over-the-shoulder catch against the left field fence, and another deep down the left field line. Greg saved a couple of runs in right center with a diving catch to his right on a deep line drive slicing away from him. Dan played a very solid right field, with especially strong throws to the infield to keep runners from advancing on at least two occasions. Overall our team defense was as good as I can remember it being.