Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Last bats or just getting started? (9/2)

Two of our 2nd Round matches head into the third inning, providing the possible last bats for two of our tournament teams. The third game is just now entering the bottom of the first after a delayed start. Gustav may be pouring down outside my doorway here in southwest Arkansas, but the skies are clear on the scratchoff ballfield!

This is the 100th anniversary of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," so everyone please stand and sing along:

Katie Casey was base ball mad. Had the fever and had it bad; Just to root for the home town crew, Ev'ry sou Katie blew. On a Saturday, he young beau Called to see if she'd like to go, To see a show but Miss Kate said, "No, I'll tell you what you can do."

"Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back, Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

Katie Casey saw all the games, Knew the players by their first names; Told the umpire he was wrong, All along good and strong. When the score was just two to two, Katie Casey knew what to do, Just to cheer up the boys she knew, She made the gang sing this song:

"Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back, Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, your out,
At the old ball game."

Now, Let's PLAY BALL!


Round 2 Match 1 - Chris(M) is up to bat in the top of the third with the scored tied 3-3. Since it was a holiday weekend, I'm extending the allotted time to choose the batters here.

Chris(M), play your pick six to see what they can do in the third inning: 13, 14, 16, 17, 21, 25, 26, 30, 31


Round 2 Match 2 - Madding brings his batters up to the plate here in the third inning, where he has a 3-1 lead over Dayf. He is ready for action, telling the local sports reporter, "Let the scratchcard dust fly!" He brings in Number 4 (Yadier Molina) to start off the inning. Dayf's pitcher throws the ball across the plate for a strike. The batter gets hold of the next pitch, but he sends it foul into the crowd. Molina is behind in the count 0-2. As the next pitch comes in, he swings, sending the ball to the center fielder for an easy pop fly out. That's the first out of the inning as Number 30 (Mark Mulder) makes his way out of the dugout. The pitch is a bit outside, but the batter gets just enough of it to send it deep into the right field corner. He crosses first, rounds second and slides into third just ahead of the fielder's throw! He's got a triple. That brings up Number 14 (Ken Boyer) with a man on and still two outs away from the end of the inning. The pitcher looks over the situation, checking the runner and taking his sign from the catcher. He throws. The batter swings and knocks the ball up the middle but the shortstop makes a diving grab and throws the ball to first for the second out.

The Cardinals call up El Dorado, Arkansas, native and Hall of Famer Number 20 (Lou Brock). The pitcher tosses up the first pitch. Brock swings and hits it foul. The next pitch misses the zone and the count is evened up 1-and-1. Brock looks ready for the pitch. Here it comes... He smacks the ball hard, but it bounces hard to the third baseman. Brock is no match for the defense as Dayf racks up the third out.

Dayf manages to keep the Cardinals on hold, but he still trails 3-1 as his team comes up in the bottom of the third. Will Madding's Cards put up a strong enough defense to win the game, or will Dayf take a cue from the Orioles/Rangers game last round?

Dayf, since you've got last bats, you get to use all of the remaining batters as long as you stay in the game! Here are your players: 02, 09, 15, 23, 26, 31, 32


Round 2 Match 3 - Erin's Orioles barely get out of Round One and they are thrust into Round Two, trailing by a run behind ChrisB's team. She sends her girls up to the plate here in the bottom of the first. She looks over her roster, and selects Number 4 to lead off. The batter swings at the ball and sends it up the middle for a base hit. The girls have become accustomed to playing catch-up, and Number 22 is hoping to do that and more here. ChrisB watches as his pitcher sends in the next ball. The batter swings and misses. The next pitch gets the batter swinging as well, and she falls behind 0-2. The third pitch produces the third strike and that batter takes her seat in the dugout. The Orioles pick Number 11 to come into the game. The batter swings at the batter's toss and she drops this one into deep left field for a stand-up double! The Orioles have two runners on and one out. Number 13 walks to the batter's box and gets ready to face the pitcher's arsenal. A base hit here ties the game. The pitcher misses his mark, and Number Thirteen cracks this one into a galaxy far, far away! This one is GONE! A three-run homer puts the Orioles ahead 3-1 in the first.

With one out and two batters left to go this go-round, ChrisB hopes his boys can stop Erin's girls. Out of the dugout next is Number 21. She adjusts her helmet, takes a couple swings and gets ready for the pitch. Here comes the pitch... BAM! Back-to-back home runs as the batter sends this one out of the park! The girls came to put on a show, folks! They like that four-run mark as we've seen from them in the previous game. 4-1 with just one out. What is Number 3 gonna do here? The pitcher takes a cleansing breath, draws, and pitches. KAPOW! The batter sends the ball flying! The right fielder starts running. This one is gonna be close! The fielder grabs the wall and leaps up. HOLY COW, what a grab! That's a web gem there, folks!

The Orioles lead 4-1 with two outs in the bottom of the first.

Erin is still up to bat, so she can select six batters to see if can widen the gap even further: 01, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32


Okay, let's try another trivia question, only this time only readers that have never participated in the current tournament are allowed to answer! The question: Only three Indians have ever been selected as league MVP. Who are they and when were they the MVP? Remember, respond to this post with your answer, and if you've played (or are playing) in the tourney, you'll have to sit this one out...

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