Hanging Tough with the Ladies

Or, the Game 6 Report.

So we are playing the Red Sox again, the team that put a pretty good whooping on us last game (that is, if we actually kept score, because everyone knows we are in this for fun and no one, especially not the coaches, keep a mental tally of how many times they scored runs vs. how many times we got three outs).

We had a decent player on the mound, albeit one that gets distracted easily. I got smart and had him and the catcher throwing the ball in warm ups, thinking they would have plenty of opportunities to try and make a play at the plate. They did, but the pitcher decided that he would throw it to the first baseman instead and did a very good job. We didn't coach him to do that, he just took it on himself. What am I supposed to do, tell him not to do what he is supposed to be doing?

The problem with the Red Sox is that their players are very fast. I am sure they have some slow ones, but their pitcher both times we have played them has outrun most of the other players on the field. They got three outs in 6 batters the first inning, but we batted around +2 the second and got our seven runs.

Defensively, we made some great plays. The pitcher/first base combination got two or so, and that doesn't include one that should have been an out but was not called that way. Luke played third and got three outs, but on one, our left fielder ran into the girl running to third. Luke was already at the bag when the collision occurred, but interference is interference. Luke could not figure out why she was safe and the ump, the Red Sox coach and I all told him he did a great job. The girl left from being shook up on the play and the official ruling was no out, but they would also not count any runs, either. Luke took it upon himself to cover most of the field and almost got an out at home. Next Saturday he is pitcher, so that will be fun!

The Red Sox have some really good coaches and they play very disciplined. This is the group that when the coach says "Red Sox," they all yell "Ready" and get down in ready position. They throw the ball most of the time and their coach plays one base and stop. I told him they played great and we enjoyed playing them.

We still have a parent/part-time base coach who yells. A lot. He is pretty encouraging to all of the players (including theirs) except his child. Sort of falls into that how much leeway should you take to tell a parent to not yell at his child... If I do this next year, I will hand pick coaches and have a meeting with them to say here is what we will - and will not do.

All in all, it was a great outing. I am proud of the team for playing hard and they are having fun. I get a sense that the parents are enjoying the process, too. That makes it nice.

(It was 2-1, in case someone is keeping track besides me!)