Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Game 3: Up to Old Tricks

Thank you to those that came out to brave the September heat for an early game. We had a nice group of fans there cheering us on and that has been one of the best parts of this young season so far. We have had great attendance at the games, and I can only hope that it continues.

Once again, we played pretty well in the defensive part of the game. The outfield made several nice running catches, and the infield even turned a double play the conventional way. We had a few problems with some throws, but all were made with great effort, I hope that effort is sustained throughout the season.

As far as hitting is concerned, we had another pretty good game. We set the bar pretty high with our 22 runs in game one, then followed that with 4 hard earned runs last week. We were somewhere in between this week, with several hard hit balls right at defenders as well as the other team making some nice defensive plays to kill rallies. Josh crushed a ball over the left fielder for a 3-run inside the park home run, which has become the norm (not to put any pressure on Josh or anything). We were also more aggressive on the bases than we have been in the past which was a lot of fun and allowed us to get a few more runs across the plate.

Nathan and Matt both did well on the hill this week, but this was probably the best hitting team that we have played all season. They hit the ball well throughout the game, and particularly in the inning that they put 9 runs on the board. We had avoided the big inning up to this point in the season, but it came back to get us this week.

Without that inning, there might have been a different outcome to the game. We played well and put runs on the board throughout the game, but allowing the one big inning put us in a tough spot. Although we have done it before, it is never the goal to go into our last inning down by 9 as we did in this game, but we scored a few more runs and gave it a shot. Now that we have completed the first three games, we have a good idea of how our season will end, since we face the same three teams to complete the season (baring reschedules due to rainouts). Although we didn’t come out on time on the scoreboard, we had a good time and played hard. Either way, this was much more like the softball that I am used to seeing/playing. With a couple more hits, and the elimination of the big inning against us, we should be ready for these guys the next time we play them.

Final Score: WPC 8 vs. Lumberjacks 14

We have another early game next week, and I hope that many of you will come out to join us again. We will be playing the Britt Rice #1 (don’t know if it is the same team from last season or not) team at 6:15 on Field 2, so bring your sunglasses as the seats face the setting sun on that field.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Game 2: I Thought We Were Playing Softball?

First of all, I would like to extend my thanks to those who came out to the game last night. Since it was a later game, there weren't as many families there, but it was still fun to hear the cheers coming from the stands. I hope that the trend continues as it has the first two weeks. We enjoy having people in the seats rooting us on.

The worst part, for me, about playing softball is having to wait a week between games. I know I was looking forward to this game and another chance to have a ton of fun with fellow brothers in Christ. And, that is just what happened.

We played another good game defensively, as we played an entire game pretty much error free. Michael, in what is probably his last game for a while, had a nice running catch coming over from right-center to catch a ball in deep right field at a very important moment in the game. Josh also hauled in a couple of well hit balls in key times. I think we are starting to get some confidence in the field as we have now had two really good games in the field.

On the offensive side of things, we didn't quite match our output of last week, but that would be rather difficult to do week-in and week-out, but we were pretty steady the whole night. We just missed a couple of key hits, and weren't quite able to push as many runs across the plate as we would have liked.

As was the case last week, Nathan did another tremendous job pitching. He came close to snagging a screamer back to the mound, but it was hit so hard it didn't stay in his glove, but we were still able to get an out on the play rather than having it go into center for a clean hit.

There were no big innings for either team is this game, and was unusual considering how pretty much all of our games have gone before. It made for a tightly fought contest and a lot of good fun. Each team scored a run here and there, as I think the most runs scored in an inning for either team was 3, which I wouldn't consider a lot of runs in an inning of softball. We went into our last at bat needing 2 runs to tie, but knowing a couple of extra would be nice since we were the visiting team again. We managed to get a couple of guys on, but not without getting two outs. So with two outs in the top of the inning and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Jim Bob, who had hits in each of his previous at bats of the night was at the plate. We thought for sure we would get the 2 runs we needed to tie and keep things going. Not to put pressure on Jim Bob, but he had hit the ball well each time up, and we were confident that he would do the same again. However, he never got the chance as the opposing team intentionally walked him to load the bases. On the next pitch, the ball hit the corner of the plate and scooted past the catcher, allowing us to get a run home and leaving us down by only 1, but it was called strike two. On the next pitch, Nathan hit a solid grounder up the middle, but the shortstop, who had made several plays throughout the night, may another and got Nathan by a step at first to end the game.

The reason for the title of this post, for those of you that weren't there, comes from this, the final score of the game: WPC 4 vs Covenant Family 5

I think that is the lowest scoring softball game I have ever seen to been part of, but it certainly was fun being in a close game like that. I would have preferred that it had the same outcome as last weeks game, putting another win in the books, but I certainly would not want to give back the fun and fellowship that we had last night on the field in favor of a victory.

I hope to see you all out there next week as we get back to the early start times. We play at 6:15 on Field 1 at Veteran's Park against the Lumberjacks. Let's have some fun...again.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Game 1: Good Start, Better Finish

What a game! Thank you to all of the people that showed up to cheer us on from the stands, as well as to the guys that came out to play on the field. I know, for me at least, it was a lot of fun having the earlier start time so the families could be there. I hope that trend continues throughout the season.

After a pretty long lay-off between seasons, we managed to put together one of the best games we have ever played as a team. We played very steady ball through the first several innings putting up six runs before our last at bat, but thanks to the only error of the night by a certain shortstop that will not be named, we found ourselves down by 1 going into what would be the last inning.

Being down by one going into the last inning isn’t the best position to be in, especially when you are the visiting team and know the other team will still have another shot. We went into it wanting to at least get the one run to tie and hoping to get enough to hold in for the win. Thanks to a lot of good hits and a miscue (I think only one) on the part of the other team, we almost batted around twice in putting 16 additional runs on the scoreboard before getting three outs. In the bottom of the inning, they got a runner on, but Kyle, playing his usual stellar third base, caught a liner and double up the runner at first to end the game.

Speaking of great plays, although he risked a collision that would not have gone his way, Brian made a spectacular diving catch on a liner up the middle which he, playing 2nd base, caught the ball on the shortstop side of the bag. Thankfully Andrew went up when Brian went down. Also to be noted is that Nathan made his first start on the “mound” this season and did an outstanding job, although he seems to like the pressure situations. The first two innings ended with the bases loaded, but he didn’t allow a run in either.

This was an excellent way to start off the season. We played well, we had a blast, and we ended up winning the game as well. Not a bad start at all.

Final Score: WPC 22 vs. O.D.B. 7

I hope that you will all come out to join us again next week as we hope to build on our good start

it’s alive, It’s Alive, IT’S ALIVE

The blog as well as the 2007 Fall Softball Season are starting back up. After pretty much being non-existent last season, I am hoping the blog can return as the source of information for the softball team.

Coming shortly will be the summary from the first game of the season.