What a blast!  Really!

The first inning wasn't too bad.  Two of the first three batters struck out, the other got on base.  Ds' buddy hit a really high fly ball, which was fielded, and we were out.  The opponents scored two points in the inning, no major damage, but it wasn't the big inning our boys probably hoped for...the previous game, almost all of their scoring was in that first inning.

In the second, ds was up, and walked.  He stole second and third, and another of his buddies smacked a solid single toward center.  The batter made first, and ds scored.  Ds has his very own signature slide...the "Kangaroo Slide"!  It was hilarious!  He ran like mad for home, and just a little ways away, should have slid.  His slide was a big hop, leaning back as he rose and landing on his rear with feet on the plate!  My friend coined the phrase, and all I could do was laugh.  The baseman stole second, and third, but no one else scored in our half of the inning. 

Bottom of the second,  the other team got 3 more runs, the score now 5 to 1 in their favor.  When our team got back up to bat, the previous pitcher for the opponents faced a couple of batters, then the coach made a change.  Pitch counts matter in the minors, and apparently the boys pitching have a limit of how many pitches in a given number of days.  In order to keep their best pitchers available for future games, coaches must pay attention to the pitch counts and not exceed the limit.  This was the reason, most likely, for the change...keeping their best pitcher ready and useable for Wednesday's game. 

Back to the action.  The boy who was last in the batting order got a solid hit.  Our boys rallied big time that inning, and when the smoke cleared, we'd been through the entire batting order with a current score of 8 to 5.  WOW!  The details are foggy, but I'm pretty sure ds struck out this inning.  The opponents scored 2 more, the inning finished 8 to 7.

 The same youngster led off the fourth inning with another hit, this time, a home run!  Way out there, JUST inside the first base line.  WAYYYY out there!  The homerun is really what deflated the other team.  Their crowd quieted, and their team's faces said it all.  We scored two runs this inning, and the other team did not score.  We had a pitcher substitution (this was our third pitcher of the game), a less experienced pitcher.  Coach's wife held her breath.  I prayed throughout the next two innings, "Jesus, let him shine!"  HE DID!  They didn't score on him, and though there were some tense moments, that youngster shined!  It was great!

We were at bat in the 5th, and ds got on base, stole 2nd and 3rd, and took off like a shot when a team mate sent the ball sailing into center field.  Who would have expected the centerfielder to catch that one.  He did.  Nice job!  But ds had already crossed home plate, headed for the dugout.  Uh, oh, everyone was yelling, "GO BACK!"  The centerfielder was apparently so shocked from his big play, that he didn't throw the ball.  This Mommy was on her feet, jumping up and down, yelling, "GO BACK!"  Amazingly, he made it!  Oh, my nerves!  He would have been the third out, but scored shortly thereafter, again with his signature slide.    11 to 7, the other team got up to bat.  One on base and one at bat, the game was called at the 2 hour and 15 minute time limit.  We beat the number 3 team!

The next game is Wednesday, and the boys go up against the season's top team.  The number 2 team defeated them Saturday!  It's so fun!  Whoever wins that game will face off on Friday, and possibly Saturday to determine the league champs.  We shall see how it turns out!