Spring Game 5 April 19 vs The Syndicate

Bryce continues his domination of the Irving Park Spring League!

An ideal April day—sunshine that looks ahead to May & June, & high blue skies. On the hillside overlooking the field, a group of people sitting on a picnic blanket playing ukulele. They are watching the game prior to ours & saying how hard it is to tell which team is winning; odd observation, because that game actually isn’t close at all.

Cameron was rocking the fright wig!

But for those on the hillside on their lawn chairs & blankets, it’s a lazy day straight out of the height of spring. & then down on the playing field, us playing a game. It’s softball after all on a beautiful day—how serious can it be?

Gustav moved to the lead-off spot & came through with a 2 for 3 day

But our game is against The Syndicate, last year’s Spring League champion. After two games in which we dominated weaker teams, we’ll be put to a test. Last season in our inaugural run in the spring league, the Syndicate beat us 28 to 5. We’re a better team now, & we enter the day in second place, a half game ahead of The Syndicate. So the relaxed sunny day fades into the background behind the tension of a contest.

Matt scoring in the first - Emily H coaching 3rd Base

Indeed, we start strong: With one out in the first, Matt doubles, Emily K singles, & Zeb singles to drive in Matt. Then Bryce smashes a 3-run homer deep to right field, & we’re on top 4-zip. But in the bottom of the inning, The Syndicate comes back to tie. Each team scores one run in the second. Jessica singles, reaches second on an error by their shortstop, & Emily H sends her home with a single. We don’t score in the 3rd, & they take a 6-5 lead on a solo home run. Both teams go scoreless in the 4th, but in the 5th we put up a three-spot to take the lead: Cameron doubles, Jessica singles, & Mark drives in Cameron with a base hit. Then with two out & two on, perhaps the highlight of the day—Hayden singles to drive in two runs! We lead 8-7. The Syndicate does score on in the bottom of the inning, but we’re holding on by one run.

Zeb at the plate!

The 6th looks to be a big inning. Emily K leads off with a single, & this is the start of a 4-run frame; triple by Bryce, then consecutive singles by Harrison, Colin, & Cameron. We go into the bottom of the 6th with a 5-run lead.

Harrison at the plate - big hit in the 6th!

Sadly, it was not to be. The Syndicate scores four in the bottom of the 6th, & we go down 1-2-3 in the top of the 7th. In the bottom of the inning, their first three batters reach, & the game is tied with none out & runners on first & third. The next batter hits a deep fly ball to left, & despite Matt’s catch & strong throw, the runner from third scores easily.

Emily K has been a hitting machine this season!

The team played with so much heart. Despite us coming out on the short end of the score, Colin is named player of the game in his return from a leg injury that had kept him out our first four games. Not only does he chip in with two hits, he played a great game in the field, starting two key double plays from his shortstop position & flagging down a foul ball behind third base! Hayden’s big hit was a joy, & Jessica had a solid 2 for 3 game. Bryce continued his onslaught on the league with a homer, triple & double, & Emily K also kept up a string of base hits—she has been an on-base machine so far this season & a great addition to the team.

Hayden's big hit was a highlight of the season!

It’s almost evening now. Everything is a bit more subdued. A game—not a serious thing, but also something that can break a heart just a little bit as the shadows lengthen on a perfect Spring day.

 

Player of the game, Colin - great to have him back!