Game 14 - Tue 5.13 - W

Wow! That's all I can say about Tuesday's game. What an amazing win. The Whos were firing on all cylinders, pitching, fielding, batting, running. I don't know what you guys did, but keep it coming, that's the game that I've known these girls could play all along. Congratulations Whos on a well-deserved, if not a long awaited victory.

FINAL SCORE
Whos: 19
Fireballs: 9

RECAP
When the Whos showed up today, they came to play! They really left it all on the field on Tuesday and all the hard work and practice and teamwork finally paid off. We've seen bits and pieces of this game and hints and whispers, but it never came together as it did against the Fireballs. I can't say it enough, everyone came alive and came together and played the best game of the season.

The Whos started the game off with Gaby walking and after Mari struck out and Jade walked, the game looked to be shaping up to be one of our typical games this season - walk-fest, but no one could have guessed how the girls would come alive. Destinee struck out for the 2nd of the inning and Angelica walked to load the bases. A pop-up by Kas looked to end the inning, but the ball was dropped and that's all it took to get the game going. Kas got on base driving a run in and after that the Fireballs couldn't throw a strike to shut us down, walking 2 more. And, with Hylah at bat, the pitcher hit Hylah with the ball bringing in our last run of the inning.

Fireballs taking their 1st offensive turn also notched 4 runs for the inning, but Shelbey was finding her groove and got a strike out. A key play by Kas at short stop to Hylah at home delayed the Fireballs' first 4, but they managed to get them in to tie up the game.

Alison and Gaby walked to get on base, but Mari's bat set the tone for the inning and the game as she hit to the outfield gaining 2nd and driving in the 2 runners. Jade hit a double of her own, but a highlight/blooper reel play at 2nd saw her run out of the lane and get tagged for the out, but not before Mari touched home plate. Destinee walked and stole her way to scoring position and on the next play Angelica hit a ball down the 1st base line that was stopped by the pitcher, who chose to go for the out at 1st, but Destinee crossed the plate for the 4th of the inning.

The 2nd Fireball offense proved to be a quick affair as Shelbey started to pitch like she meant it. Shelbey struck out the 1st batter. The next batter walked and stole 2nd. On the next hit, the ball went scuttling down the 3rd base line and Jade had to clear her plate to charge the slow moving ball. Kas, who was playing short like a champ on Tuesday, was there to cover third, giving Jade the chance to toss to 3rd for the out - great teamwork here. Another play saw a Fireball nearly get tagged out at 3rd, but survived. But another strike out by Shelbey kept the Fireballs scoreless for the 2nd.

The Whos, feeling the rush, came out smoking in the 3rd. Kas hit a double then stole 3rd. Shelbey turned a single into a double after an overthrow. Casey tried her best to hit a pitch, got close, but didn't connect. Hylah hit a double, scoring Shelbey. Alison, with her signature Pete Rose slide into home, was safe this time and Hylah crossed home. Gaby hit a ball and managed to make it all the way around before being thrown out at 3rd, then Mari hit a ball again, but it beat her to first to retire the side.

Jade at pitcher for the first time on the day, made quick work of the Fireball offense striking the first girl out. A pop up to the seam between short, 2nd and left center got a runner on base as the three Who players couldn't decide who should make the play. Don't you just love how courteous these girls are to each other? It warms the heart. Hylah held that runner on 1st as Jade got her arm back and struck out the next two.

Going into the 4th with a commanding lead, the Whos were in new territory. We've given leads up a couple times this season for heartbreaking losses, but this time the Whos, with a gleam in their eye and smelling victory, knew they had to maintain their energy if they were going to keep or extend their lead. Jade walked at her turn at the plate. Destinee struck out for 1. Angelica, her bat finally coming alive in the last couple of games, hit a double scoring Jade. Kas hit a double herself scoring Angelica. Shelbey, hitting a double herself, drove Kas in for another score. Then, Casey walked to get on base putting a runner on 1st and 3rd. Hylah hit for another score with Shelbey coming across. The hits kept coming, mixed in with a couple of walks and a strike out, but finally Hylah and Gaby came home. Destinee coming back around for the 2nd time had the most spectacular out of the season as she hit a line drive to the Fireball at 1st, putting an end to the Who attack. I think
this may have possibly been Destinee's 1st hit in a game, but she hit it like a champ. Good job Destinee!

Jade taking the rubber for the last defensive turn, gave up a few walks. A flubbed steal attempt saw Shelbey tagging a runner out at 3rd, but a base hit by the Fireballs loaded the bases. Another hit added a score for the Fireballs. A walk loaded the bases again, and the Whos started to worry that a seemingly insurmountable lead was starting to shrink. A hit down the 1st base line came straight to Gaby and she managed to make a leaping tag to 1st for the 2nd out of the inning, but a Fireball was able to cross the plate and score. The Fireballs were able to get another couple, for a total of 5, in at the end before Jade finally put 3 together for a strike out to close the game

GAME BALL
For her stellar play on the day and for playing like she meant it all day and not losing focus, as well as providing crucial base coverage for the whole game, Kas got the game ball (I know it was a gift certificate, but I felt weird about this and will rectify the situation with an actual ball at next practice). Thanks for coming out to play Kas and great job!