Patrick's Post Game Wrap - July 23rd, 2008
Game Summary
As “the other” Patrick’s softball team made a hasty exit from the
Men’s Division II Tournament, the responsibility of returning softball
glory to Patrick’s on Third once again fell on “The” Patrick’s
Softball team. The task was
daunting as they faced top ceded Flame Bar II, who entered the game with a
record of 16 wins and only one loss on the season.
Capturing a win was made even more difficult as Patrick’s, for
the second time in three weeks, failed to deliver a single extra-base hit
(the Tom Lippert home run watch now stands at 10 games).
However, with aggressive base running and solid defense,
Patrick’s was able to play “small ball” and in the end, prevailed
with a 9-6 victory over Flame Bar II.
Defense was the name of
the game as several players turned in spectacular plays.
Jamie Williamson fired a ball from his right field position over
the outstretched arms of cut-off man Jayson Koopmans and before Schmeze
could yell “hit the cut-off dumb ass,” the ball came into third base
four steps ahead of the runner and Rocket easily applied the tag for the
out. Rocket also snared
numerous hard hit balls to the “hot corner,” to the surprise of all,
including Rocket. But perhaps
the clutch plays of the game came from Chaun “Foxy Coxy” Cox who made
a difficult catch next to the back stop fence and then in the third
inning, delivered a bases loaded, two-out single that scored two and would
give Patrick’s a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game.
When games are on the line, Championship teams can rely on clutch players to dig down deep and find that little extra within them that allows them to raise the level of their game. Such was the case Wednesday night when Rob “the Rocketman” Moline delivered a 1-for-3 performance at the plate, raising his batting average to within 4 percentage points of Bill Arthur (.320 vs. 324). You can’t stop him; you can only hope to contain him.
Key Stat
Patrick’s
softball is undefeated this season when Bill Arthur does not play.
Coincidence?