Christian Park Softball
Welcome to the CP's longest game. I think in the 6+ years I've been watching my kids play ball, I have never seen a game go 9 innings. I’ve had some long games with short innings, but never anything like last night.
Lawrence came to our park to play against the Rangers and it started off well with a quick first inning and then we all settled in for a long game.
Amanda M started us out behind the plate, catching for Melissa. Amanda seemed a little off tonight, I'm not sure what's up with that, and we’ll have to talk. Dena switched up and Peyton took to pitching about half way through the game. Lawrence seemed to be able to hit well off both girls, I was told later I should have pitched Dena with the slow pitch. Oh well.
The Rangers started off a little sluggish and by the 3rd inning the Lawrence team was up. Realizing we were here to play ball our Rangers started kicking in.
TT in right field caught a beautiful fly ball and then Brittany followed her up was another at second. Brittany then smacked the ball when she was up to bat.
Courtney was playing tuff at 3rd base and caught everything our catchers were throwing to her. Miss "Bubby-a-lewy" has great improvements in her batting this year and it showed in this game.
Mariah on first made several “no problem” plays at first. Amanda C and sister Belinda protected the outfield with style. Amanda C does and excellent job of keep the team chattering. Her enthusiasm goes a lot further than she thinks. Jessica start out on short and backed up 2nd from the outfield as well.
Everyone hit the ball, except Ashley. I think she’s little afraid of the ball and unsure of whether it’s a ball or strike. I’ve had other players like this and it just takes time and patience, and practice.
Tying up the game in about the 6th or 7th, there team would score, and then we would power right backing tying it up. They would get 3 up and 3 down, and we would follow right long. Finally, in the 9th inning they managed to score two runs on us. Melissa smacked the ball and made it on base. TT followed up by moving Melissa around to 3rd. On the next batter, Melissa made it in. We needed just one more run. Unfortunately the pitcher and darkness got the best of us.
Later after the game I found out that the final pitcher on the Lawrence team had pitched 6 innings the night before, technically making her an illegal pitcher. Pitchers pitching 5 or more innings must have a day's rest. (The only exception is a double header on the same day.) Every game we learn something, from now on we'll be checking the other coach’s pitcher logs.
Girls you played long and hard. You never gave up. Good job!