Mark’s (Mostly) Softball Blog

Balls of Fury took the field Wendesday night for the fifth game of the Summer I season and cruised to a 15-4 victory.  In the first inning we gave up one run after yours truly flubbed a call on a simple pop fly (a theme for the night) but answered back in the bottom of the inning with six runs to take a lead we would never give up.  In the second the defense bailed me out again after another flubbed pop up call as we held our opponents scoreless and then scored a couple of runs to make the score 8-1.

The third inning saw the defense shine some more as Jason started catching everything hit close to him resulting in another scoreless inning.  In the bttom half of the inning we plated 3 more runs to extend the lead to ten.  In the fourth inning the defense came through for one more scoreless inning and the bats kept ringing out hits as we scored 3 more runs to make the score 14-1. 

In the fifth our opponents found their stroke with a double and a single followed by a home run to score 3 runs to cut the lead the 10 before recording three straight outs to end the inning.  We scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 15-4.  Another scorless inning in the sixth by our defense, when no one would let me call a popup in the infield any more, sealed the game for Balls of Fury.  The win marks the ninth straight going back to last season and makes the record 5-0 for the Summer I season.

Up Dawg managed to hang on for an 8-6 victory over their friends Yabba Grabba Brew Monday night.  Our opponents started off the game with a leadoff double that they managed to turn into the first run of the game.  We managed to answer back in the bottom of the first with two runs of our own to take our first lead of the game at 2-1.  In the second the defense held our opponents scoreless and we managed to score 2 more runs to extend the lead to 3.  In the third inning, both team’s defenses were spectacular as both sides went 3 up and 3 down.

In the fourth inning, our defense continued to excel marking the third straight inning without giving up a run and in the bottom of the fourth inning we managed to place three more runs on the board to make the score 7-1.  In the fifth inning the defense continued to shine as we recorded the fourth straight inning without giving up any runs.  In the bottom of the fifth we managed to push across another run to extend our lead to 7 with two innings left to play.

In the sixth inning, neither team was able to score any more runs so our opponents came up for a seventh and final inning.  Finally our opponents bats started to come to life as the put up 3 quick runs before recording their first out of the inning.  After another out they put two more runs together before we were able to record the final out of the game with the final score of 8-6.  The win puts the Up Dawg record for the Summer I season at 2-2.

On Wednesday night Balls of Fury took the field looking to move their record for the Summer I season to 4-0.  The first inning was a bit rough as our opponents put up a couple of runs quickly but we were able to answer back with 3 runs to take a 3-2 lead after one inning of play.  In the second inning our opponents took the lead back with 3 runs but we managed to scrap back with two of our own to tie the game at 5.

In the third inning our opponents took the lead with two runs in the top half of the inning but our biggest inning of the night came in the bottom half of the inning as we put up 4 runs to take the lead 9-7.  In the fouth our defense held our opponent to 1 run to cut the lead in half but put up two of our own to extend our lead to 11-8.  In the fifth inning we gave up a run but failed to score in our at bat to make the score 11-9 going into the sixth.

The sixth inning was Sandra’s inning both in the field and at the plate.  After giving up a couple of runs to tie the game, our opponents got runners to 2nd and 3rd with two outs and were threatening to take the lead with a deep drive to left.  Sandra turned her back and started running backwards fearing the ball was past her when she stuck her glove up in the air and caught the ball to record the final out of the inning.  We came up to bat with the score tied at 11 and time running out in the game.

Yours truly drew a lead-off walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs.  Jeff came through with a single that allowed me to score and Teri moved to third.  With a minute left on the clock Sandra came to the plate and delivered with a single that scored Teri and allowed Jeff to move to third as the clock ran out on the game.  The final score ended up being 13-11, the win makes the Balls of Fury record 4-0 for the Summer I season and runs the winning streak to 8 straight going back to last season.

Playing softball on Monday nights is usually a great way to start the week, with two possible exceptions, Memorial Day and Labor Day.  The City Park’s and Rec department doesn’t recognize either holiday as far as softball scheduleing goes and thus we usually end up playing on both holidays.  This Memorial Day was no exception as we took the field to complete the first half of the Summer I season.

In the first inning we were able to score one run on the strenght of Mike’s leadoff double but we gave back 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 3-1.  In the top half of the second we were able to score a couple to tie the game up at 3 before giving the runs right back in the bottom of the second to make the score 5-3.

In the third we put together a 4 run inning that gave us the lead by 2 but timely hitting by our opponents tied the game at 7.  In the fourth we started to pull away as we put up 6 runs and gave up only 1 to make the score 13-8.  In the fifth inning we were able to put up another 5 runs as we kept hitting and running to push our advantage to 10.  In the last of the fifth we held on defensively resulting in the final score of 18-8 and the win evens the Up Dawg record at 2-2.

Balls of Fury took the field Wednesday looking for the third straight victory to start the Summer I season.  The late game started poorly as we were unable to score only one run and we gave up two to put us down 1 run after the first inning.  In the second inning we put together three more runs but gave up two to tie the score at 4-4 after two innings.

In the third we managed to put up two runs to make the score 6-4 before giving up three runs in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 7-6.  In the fourth the bats continued to produce as we put up 3 runs to take the lead back.  The defense held in the bottom half of the inning giving up only 1 run to make the score 10-8.

The fifth inning saw more offensive firepower as we put up 4 runs highlighted by triples by both Devin and Mike as we pushed our lead to six.  We gave up two runs in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 14-10 after five.  I pleaded for a bit more cushion for my pitching and the team delivered with 3 runs in the sixth and final inning to push our advantage to seven.  In the bottom half of the inning our opponents put runners on 1st and 3rd with nobody out when the defense came through recording three straight outs without letting a run score, making the final 17-10. 

The win puts the Balls of Fury record at 3-0 for the Summer season and marks the seventh straight win in league play.

Up Dawg came into the game last Monday looking for their first victory over Foul Balls this year but fell short again 13-11.  The game started off well enough as we placed 6 runs on the board in the top of the first but we were unable to capitalize on the advantage as we gave up 5 in the bottom half of the inning.  In the second inning both teams failed to score and the bats continued to be silent for Up Dawg in the third inning.  Our opponents came through with a couple of runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead 7-6.

In the fourth inning we were able to scoot a run across to tie the score at 7 before giving up a couple of runs to make the score 9-7 after four.  In the fifth the bats came back to life with 4 runs to take the lead back 11-9 before we gave up four more in the bottom of the inning to make the score 13-11.  We took the field in the sixth to try to win the game but the bats failed again as we were unable to score and fell 13-11.  The loss makes the Up Dawg record 1-2 for the Summer season.

Balls of Fury won again Wednesday night with a 13-7 victory in a seven inning contest.  Hitting first, we managed to put up a quick 3 runs and gave back only 2 to hold a one run lead after the first inning.  In the second inning we were able to push another run across to tie the score before giving up 1 run to make the score 4-3.  In the third inning we went down quickly failing to score a run for the first time in the game.  We gave up one more run in the bottom half of the inning to put us down 5-3.

In the fourth the bats came back to life as we scored three runs to take the lead back before giving up two runs in the bottom half of the inning as we trailed 7-6.   In the fifth we continued to hit well as we put up two runs to take the lead back 8-7.  In the bottom of the fifth the defense held our opponents scoreless highlighted by a sliding, rolling catch by Jeff from right center field.  In the sixth inning we managed to put two more runs across the plate to extend our lead to three while in the bottom half of the inning the defense continued to shine holding our opponents scoreless.

For the second straight game we found ourselves facing a 7th inning with time left on the clock and for the second week in a row Mike came through with a two run triple as the highlight of a 3 run 7th that extended our lead to 6.  Then in the bottom of the 7th the defense came throw again holding our opponents scoreless for the third straight inning to seal a 13-7 victory.  The win makes the Balls of Fury record 2-0 for the Summer I season and represents the 6th straight win for the team in league play.

Balls of Fury opened the Summer I season in impressive fashion with a 16-7 victory Wednesday night.  The game started off in impressive fashion as we scored 5 runs even if I did fly out to end the inning with the bases loaded.  We gave back 2 runs in the bottom half of the inning to end the first up by 3.  In the second inning we failed to score as we went down 1-2-3 but the defense only gave up one run in the home team’s half of the inning so we lead 5-3.  The third inning was equally dismal hitting wise as we were unable to score any runs but the defense didn’t allow any runs which allowed us to maintain our two run lead. 

In the fourth inning the bats came back to life as we scored a couple of runs but my inability to pitch for strikes bit us a bit in the bottom half of the inning as we gave the two runs back to make the score 7-5.  In the fifth inning the bats continued to come back as Mike hit a triple, followed by Kate’s triple, followed by Jason’s home run to make the score 10-5.  We gave up two in the bottom half of the inning before Q turned in the defensive play of the year.  On a grounder to the shortstop, Q, bad shoulder and all (ask him for the story, its a doozie) fielded the ball, somehow, behind his back, between his legs and then had the presence to make the throw to first in time to record the out.  After 5 the score was 10-7.

In the sixth we continued to hit well as we put up two more runs to extend our lead to five.  The bottom half of the sixth went quickly as the team defense was stellar, inspired I am sure by Q’s defensive prowess the inning before.  The game moved quickly so we had to play a 7th and final inning.  I told the team the way I was pitching I needed some extra insurance and Sandra provided the first run of the inning on Devin’s smash hit.  Tara got on with a single that put runners on the corners with no outs.  Then Mike came through with his first home run of the season, a 3 run shot over the fence on a ball that was never to be seen again.  The four runs would be more than enough as the defense was solid in the bottom half of the inning as our opponents got runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out before we recorded the final two outs.  Final score of the game is 16-7 and puts our record at 1-0 for the young Summer season.

Balls of Fury dominated a rematch with our league’s only undefeated team in a rainout delayed game Wednesday night.  As the visitors we had to bat first, and maybe it was the beer, or the nice weather, but bat we did.  We had 18 batters come up to the plate en route to scoring 12 runs to start the game off right.  We gave back 3 runs in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 12-3 after the first inning.  In the second inning the bats slowed down a bit as we managed to only score 3 runs and our opponents started to find their bats a bit as they put up 5 runs to make the score 15-8.

In the third inning the defenses showed up for both teams as neither side was able to score any runs.  In the fourth inning we put up 2 more runs to extend our lead to 9 before our opponents scored 3 to make the score 17-11.  In the fifth we refound our first inning magic as we managed to bat around the order again and put up 8 runs to make the score 25-11.  In the bottom of the fifth our opponents started to rally getting their first 8 runners on base before we recorded an out.  Everyone buckled down after getting that first out and though we gave up 7 runs, we took advantage of their agressive base running to end the game at 25-18.

The win makes the Balls of Fury record for the Spring Season 5-3 and secured a second place finish in the league.  This was also the first time our opponent had lost during the season.  Our opponent had given up a total of 27 runs through 6 games prior to us hanging 25 on them last night.  The 12 runs in the first inning were more runs than they had given up in any of the six previous games.

Balls of Fury ran their winning streak to 3 with a 17-11 victory last Wednesday night.  The first inning started off well enough as we managed to hit enough to get a 3-2 lead.  In the second inning our opponent took the lead back with 7 runs to take a 9-3 lead.  In the bottom half of the inning we answered with 7 runs of our own, including Mike coming through with a 3 run homerun to take the lead 10-9.  In the third the defense held our opponent scoreless and in the bottom half of the inning we scored 4 more runs to extend our lead to 5.

In the fourth inning we gave up two runs to reduce our lead to 3 before we scored 3 of our own runs in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 17-11.  In the fifth both teams were unable to score the run and with time running out the defense held the opponents scoreless for the third inning of the game to secure the 17-11 victory.  The win makes Balls of Fury record 4-3 on the season heading into a rainout makeup game this week.