Tournament time

Well, it's softball tournament time. We started one tonight, even though I am the only person in my immediate family that is in town. I had to stay, my team needs a coach. Natalie is in Stephenville at band camp and Angie and the boys went to see her family in West Texas.

Anyway, on to the game. I could not have been more upset with the draw. We drew Alvord in the first game, which, I assumed, meant that we would have to play every game after this one in the loser's bracket. They beat us badly both times we played them this year, 16-1 and 16-5. But we have a new team. We took the two Decatur team, put them together, using the best players we had and all four coaches. We may be on to something here.

Inning 1. We were the visitors, so we were up to bat. Nicole, from the other team led off. She got hit with the first pitch. As a matter of fact, every girl in our 10 girl line up walked or got hit in the first inning, except for number 10. Mati is a 10 year old we picked up for some strange reason that has not been explained to me yet. Anyway, she struck out. Nicole got caught stealing home. In between, Jaclyn walked and scored. Hailea walked and scored. Brianna walked and scored. Madi walked and scored. Dawn got hit and scored. Sylvia walked and scored. Lety walked. Gabby walked, then Nicole walked again.

Score Triple Explosion(us) 6 Alvord 0. More runs than we scored on them all year, WOW!

Hailea "Inez" McDaniel was pitching for us, and probably will every game. My Haley is at a swim meet. Inez played with us last year on our fantastic tournament run. She walked the first 3, then hit the fourth girl. Then the next girl hit a ball to Dawn at short stop, who threw out the runner at third, barely, but wow. Gabby made a great catch at third. Neither of these girls have played these positions before, but we went over some things before the game, and they did great. Inez walked the next girl, and they scored their 3rd run, the first was walked home and the other scored on the single and the force at third. The next girl hit a good ball to the gap in right center field, BUT, oh yeah, BUT Jaclyn made a spectacular over the shoulder catch for the out. They did score their 4th run on that play though. The next batter hit the ball sharply, STRAIGHT TO INEZ, who promptly threw the ball to Madi at first base for the final out.

What?! How could we be up on Alvord. The great Alvord.

Anyway. Jac got called out on a strike that wasn't a strike, ok, it was, but that's not the point. One out, nobody on. Inez walked. Then on the first pitch, Brianna blasted one to center field, that was caught, and Inez stayed at first. Two outs. Inez stole second on the first pitch to Madi, then Madi doubled her home. Two outs, one in. Dawn then walked while Madi stole third. Dawn stole second. But Sylvia struck out. Ending the inning.

Triple Explosion 7 Alvord 4.

This inning only has two highlights. It went walk, single, walk, walk. Then, on a hard hit ball to short stop, Madi made a great play on the ball and threw out the girl at first. Gabby made an outstanding catch. Maybe the hardest hit and thrown ball I have seen all year. Walk, walk, then Inez decided to try to decapitate their pitcher for some reason. She hit her right were the helmet meets the neck. HARD, but she walked it off. I couldn't get her to admit it, but I think it was on purpose for hitting Nicole with the first pitch. Hard, I tell you. Anyway two more walks and they had scored their 6.

Triple Explosion 7 Alvord 10.

But, wait a minute, hold up. Here we come, we gotta roar back to life right.

Hell yeah. Lety walked, the Gabby singled her to third on the first pitch, or she would have scored if she had time to steal second before Gabby hit it that single. That's a little inside joke for Angie. I hope you read this and get a laugh. Then little Mati showed great poise at the plate and walked. Lety was thrown out at the plate trying to really steal a run the hard way. She stole home as the catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher. Almost!!! If she would have slid, she would have been safe. Oh well, gotta try, right. Jac then singled Gabby home(us 8 them 10), and sent Mati to third and Nicole to second. Inez hit a ball to the second baseman who bobbled it, but managed to get Inez out at first, but Mati scored, Nicole to third and Jac to second(us 9 them 10). Brianna came up, hit a ball sharply to the pitcher, who bobbled it pretty badly, and threw Bri out at first. Ball game!

Alvord 10 Triple Explosion 9.

Dang, we were really close. If Inez could get back to her old self on the mound, I believe we could still win this tournament. Maybe I can coax Haley Denard out of a swim meet. You never know.

Jim