Fall Opener – 8/23/15 vs All My Subs

Opening Day Line-up!: L-R: Emily K: 3B; Kristina: OF; Derek: OF; Triffid: P; Zeb: 1B; Cameron: C; Matt: OF; Justin: OF; John: 2B; Mark: SS

As we approached the opening game of fall season, not only were the Underhanded Compliments about to play All My Subs…for a while it looked as though we ourselves could have used that for a team name (or at least a sort of sub-title.) In fact, up until a few days before the game, it looked like five of our full-time players in addition to all three subs who’d signed on would be unavailable for the first game! That left us with only seven players.

We launched into a recruiting campaign, & were able to find 3 more subs; then it turned out one of the players who thought she’d miss the game was available after all, so going into Sunday, we seemed to have eleven. But one of the subs had to bail out because of a work situation, so as it turned out, we played the game with exactly ten players.

Zeb's first inning homer

All My Subs opened the scoring with one run in the top of the first, but we answered back loud & clear. In fact, after one out was recorded, Zeb, in his return to the team after taking the summer off, blasted a long home run to right field, & Matt, Emily K, & Mark followed with consecutive doubles to increase the lead to 3-1. After the second out was recorded, Triffid began a string of six batters getting hits with a double of her own to drive in Mark. Justin, who was one of the new subs & who finished the day 4 for 4 with an rbi & 2 runs scored, lined a single, then Cameron doubled, Kristina & Derek (our other new sub, who had a great day both at the plate & in the field) singled, & Zeb doubled to end the scoring. We’d sent 13 batters to the plate & scored 8 runs.

Mark went 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored & 2 rbis

However, All My Subs is an experienced team filled with capable players, & they scored five runs themselves in the top of the second to cut the lead to 8-6. But we kept up the attack during our turn at bat. Emily K, Mark & yours truly started the inning off with singles, & then Triffid hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Mark. Justin followed with a single & Cameron drove in another run on a fielder’s choice. Kristina & Derek again had back-to-back base hits & Zeb then smoked a 2-run triple—he had three legs of the cycle in the second inning! Emily K & Mark followed with singles, which brought us to the 9-run maximum.

Big game for Emily K: 4 for 4 including a double & triple; also a walk, 3 runs scored, 3 rbis, & her usual strong play at third base

We led 17-6, & that seemed like a safe enough lead. Also, through 2 innings we’d been able to score almost at will, so we were looking forward to a romp. All My Subs had other plans however, & followed our 9-run maximum with one of their own in the top of the third! Now the score was 17-15, & anyone’s game.

Cameron checked in with 2 for 4, including a triple, & 4 rbis!

Yours truly led off the bottom of the third with a base hit, then with one out Justin also singled. Cameron followed by crushing a ball to center for a two-run triple, though he was thrown out at the plate trying for four—& that was the end of the scoring.

We held All My Subs scoreless in the fourth, & Derek led off the bottom half with yet another base hit. She went 4 for 5 on the day, scored 2 runs, drove in 2 more, & played a solid game in the outfield. After two were out, Emily K (who also had a big day at the plate) hit an rbi triple.

Great debut with the Underhanded Compliments for Derek!

Things remained tight from here on out, & All My Subs actually took the lead, 21-20 in the top of the sixth. But Kristina & Derek once more packed a one-two punch as each singled to start the inning. With one out, Matt doubled Emily walked, & Mark singled. Yours truly followed with an rbi fielder’s choice, & we had a 23-21 lead. All My Subs managed one base hit in the top of the seventh, but the other three batters made outs & the game was ours.

Kristina had a great 3 for 4 day!

Matt was named player of the game as he made some great plays in center field & also went 3 for 5 with two doubles. Obviously there were a number of other worthy candidates as well!

Matt was player of the game based on both great hitting & great fielding!

This Sunday will be another tough match-up: versus The Syndicate!


UPDATE: The game against The Syndicate was rained out, & Underdog is taking Labor Day weekend off. Our next scheduled game is September 13th vs. Yurs Bar. There may or may not be a new blog post in the interim.