The Softblog

I don’t think we could have had a better start to the softball season than our game 1. The Home Team (Andrew, Chae, Chris, Kelli, Lisa, Michelle, and Lauren) battled against the Away Team (Amy, Dan, Marcie, Nora, Nate, Sharon, and Sean). Andrew started the game sharp with two quick strikeouts and then a pop-up to shut down the Away Team in the first. Perhaps energized by their ace’s dominant performance, the Home Team kept the momentum going with 4 runs, though Nate answered back with two strikeouts of his own in the inning.

In the second, the Away Team started off with an out at first, but then a solo home run by Nate jump started the offense! Sharon and Sean both reached base and Dan brought them home with a bases-clearing triple. Marcie’s sacrifice saw to it that Dan was not left stranded and the Away Team tied the game. The Home Team quickly broke the tie, with two doubles in the second inning and a total of 3 runs to add to their score.

With an invigorated spirit the Away Team batted around twice in the third and got 8 runs to overtake the Home Team and establish a comfortable lead. Sean’s homer knocked in 3 runs and most of the team got at least one RBI. The Home Team was unable to answer back, scoring only a single run when Lauren hit in Lisa to avoid a zero on the board.

With another home run by Sean and 4 RBIs in the fourth inning it looked like the Away Team was on their way to an easy victory.  But in perhaps a game-changing twist of fate, Nate, relegated to third base as Sean took over pitching duties, bobbled the ball on a play to first resulting in the two runners being safe and unleashing a torrent of runs. With amazing hitting by the whole team and home runs by both Chae and Lisa, the Home Team had added whopping 9 runs by the time the dust had settled!  With the score at 17-14 in their favor the pressure was now on them to keep the lead.

They did a fine job of it in the 5th only allowing 2 runs, but when their turn came to bat they could only produce 2 runs themselves. With a solo home run by Nate and yet another home run by Sean hitting in Sharon and himself, the Away Team started the 6th off strong but could produce no more than the 3 runs. Sean’s crafty sinker kept the Home Team off the board in the bottom of the inning as he induced grounder after grounder.

With the last inning upon them, the Away Team could only get one run with Nate again blasting one out of the park. The score was now 22-19 in favor of the Away Team and this was the last chance for the Home Team to come back. In spactacular fashion, Lauren got on base, Andrew hit her home with an amazing triple, and then Chris tied up the game with a home run! The Home Team was unable to plate any more runs and regulation ended in a tie, 22-22. Given the option between playing extra innings or going to Roggie’s, everyone agreed that a tied score was a great way to start the season and all were very ready to drink and relax!