Tale of Two Games, Fall Edition – 9/27 vs. The Pineapples & 10/4 vs dickbat.biz

Both Triffid & Zeb played major roles in our win over the Pineapples: Zeb with a 3 for 3 day including a game-tying home run; Triffid with her usual excellent pitching plus a 2-run double

I’m behind on the game recaps, but in fact our last two games present mirror images of each other, as the final September game & the first in October ended with the same final score: 8-5. Unfortunately, we were only on the “eight” side for one of the two.

Our game against the Pineapples took place on a lovely afternoon with a summer feeling. I’d seen part of two Pineapples games, & was aware of two things: their hitters aren’t exceptional, but they play very good defense. The latter in particular was on display that day.

Lauren hit in tough luck against the Pineapples, but did draw a walk & score a run, & played her usual strong defensive game

After holding the Pineapples scoreless in the first, we got the game off to a strong start as Lauren led off with a walk & Zeb followed with a single. With one out (the first of several the Pineapples shortstop recorded on fine plays), Triffid came through with a 2-run double. Unfortunately, we were unable to add on, & again, their shortstop played a role in this, robbing Bryce on a line shot that seemed ticketed for center field.

In a game where every base runner mattered, Nicole worked two walks, & played solidly at second

The Pineapples took the lead in top of the second, as they strung together two triples & a single; & although we were able to load the bases in the bottom of the inning on a single by Kristina & walks to Emily H & Nicole, we weren’t able to score.

Mark went 2 for 3 with a triple & a big rbi single; he also played a good game at shortstop

Once again the Pineapples put together a rally in the third with three singles to increase their lead to 4-2, & we were unable to score in either the third or the fourth innings. We certainly had our chance in the fourth inning, though the inning began inauspiciously. Bryce led off & smoked a line drive that was ticketed for the right field line, but the Pineapples first base man managed to snag it. At the time I was thinking. “This just may not be our day.” But yours truly followed with a walk, & after Kristina reached on a fielder’s choice, Mark smashed an extra base hit. Mark had an easy triple, but unfortunately a good throw from the outfield & a fine relay from the second base man put Kristina out at the plate on a close play.

Rob had a huge rbi double in the fifth inning; Bryce is in the background, patrolling center--despite being robbed twice, Bryce came up big with an rbi double in the sixth; Nicole at second

We could take some consolation in the fact that the Pineapples didn’t score in the fourth or fifth. In the bottom of the fifth with one out, Cameron doubled, then Nicole worked her second walk of the game. Rob followed with an RBI double, & we trailed by only one run, 4-3.

Emily also drew two walks, including a big two-out at bat in the bottom of the sixth that allowed Cameron to come up with the bases juiced

Cameron had two doubles, including the big 2-run double in the bottom of the sixth

The Pineapples were unable to add to their lead in the sixth, & the bottom of the sixth turned out to be our inning. Zeb led off by smashing a home run to tie the game, then Matt doubled. With one out, Bryce doubled to score Matt. After a second out was recorded, Kristina singled & Mark followed with an rbi single. Emily H then reached on a walk, & Cameron came through with his second double of the day to score both Kristina & Mark. We had an 8-4 lead—& while the Pineapples were able to make things interesting in the seventh, they only could add a single run, & we had an 8-5 win.

Nicole, Emily H, & Kristina during one of our at bats early in the game; we only had 10 at the game, so everyone was in the field!

Our game against dickbat.biz on 10/4 was the first of two consecutive 10:30 a.m. start times against teams ahead of us in the standings. Both Underhanded Compliments & dickbat.biz came into the game with only one loss, but dickbat.biz had given up fewer runs. We were about to find out why they’d been so stingy with runs.

Triffid pitched a strong game as always, & scored a run after notching a base hit in the fourth

Kristina had an rbi single!

dickbat.biz scored two runs in the top of the first, & despite a single by Lauren & a double by Emily K in the bottom of the inning, we were unable to score. Our opponents added a third run in the second, & we were only able to record one single in the second, a base hit by yours truly. Emily H & Kristina were both robbed of hits by fine defensive plays by their shortstop & left fielder respectively, & that was the inning.

Big game for Lauren! 3 for 4 & an incredible performance in left field, denying dickbat.biz of one hit after another

We were able to hold dickbat.biz scoreless in the top of the third, & I want to underline that our fielding was more than solid throughout the game. In addition, it has to be noted that Lauren played an incredible game in left field. She was tested constantly, yet whether the dickbat players hit long fly balls, shots toward the gap, or bloops just past the infield, she proved equal to the test. In my mind, Lauren was without question player of the game.

Mark had a single & played a really solid game at short

In the third, Lauren came up with one out & recorded her second base hit, & Mark followed with a single. Unfortunately the rally died as a second out was recorded & then Emily K was robbed on a good play by their right-center fielder.

Emily H had an rbi single too!

After holding dickbat.biz scoreless in the top of the fourth, we were trailing 3-0. But Triffid & yours truly led off with singles, & then Emily H & Kristina each followed with an rbi single. Sadly, the rally died there, as three consecutive outs were recorded to leave two crucial runners on base. Still, we went into the fifth trailing by only one run!

Emily K went 2 for 4 with a single & a double, continuing her strong hitting in the Fall League

But the fifth turned out to be the inning for dickbat.biz, & when the dust had settled they’d scored four runs to take a 7-2 lead. They held us in the bottom of the inning, with only Emily K reaching on a single, & then added an eighth run in the top of the sixth.

Nicole played sick, & what a gamer she was! Big rbi double during our sixth inning rally, then scored from second on a close play following Lauren's single!

But the Underhanded Compliments played with so much heart that day, & we weren’t about to concede. Yours truly led off with a single—& then two outs were recorded! Things looked bleak, but Steven singled & Nicole smacked an rbi single, & Lauren came through with a 2-out 2-run single to cap her strong performance. The rally ended there, but it was 8-5 dickbat.biz, & after holding them scoreless in the top of the seventh, we had a puncher’s chance.

Steven had a single & scored a run in the bottom of the sixth

It wasn’t to be. We went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning. It was a tough loss, but a loss with no shame in it. We’d played without some of our best players, with only 10 players at the game, & had played a tight game against one of the strongest teams in the league.

Cameron at the plate against dickbat.biz

Next week: 10/11 vs The Syndicate! (weather gods permitting)