What followed has been called many things over the past few weeks. Meltdown. Fiasco. Shitshow (best described by entry #1). Meanwhile, several us took an additional kick to the nuts as the Caps pissed away a 3 games to 1 lead. That brings us to Volume I.
Vol. I: The Barefoot Beatdown (L 8-16)
We arrived at the field in a bit of disarray as the decision to double the amount of teams on the field seemed to result in 1/2 the parking. Of course once we got to the field the disarray didn't get much better as we were missing an umpire and trying to prevent everything we owned from blowing away.
Things still didn't improve once we actually get on the field. The Caps were still down 1-0 and then we went down even quicker -- 4-0 after five batters. Luckily Seal pitched his way out of a jam to limit the damage.
As I was scrawling out a lineup as quickly as possible it seems I accidentally dialed some of the right buttons. Mark led off with a walk, Jason added a single and two batters later Andrew drilled a 3-run homer into the night. That cut the lead to 4-3 after the first.
After reaching home, Jason noted that pitcher was perhaps out of shape and that we should work the count and wear him down. He was too tired to even put on shoes for goodness sakes!
It was a good strategy, as the team earned a franchise record six walks. The only problem was that we didn't realize the barefooted pitcher had an ulterior motive for pitching shoeless -- communicating with an evil gopher below the field that kept bumping our pitches outside at the last minute and moving the ground so our bunts rolled foul. And people say we should be cutting the Parks department budget? I'd like to hear what they say about these gophers and their willy-nilly abuse of kickball fields.
Nonetheless, we made a pretty good comeback effort. In the fourth, Ron walked, Angie doubled, Jeff singled and Mike tripled before Nate, Megan and Allie walked. We were down just 11-8 after 4.
However, all these walks and runs meant we only got to play five innings and a few sloppy plays allowed them to score five runs in the top half. Mark and Becca got on base to start the bottom half, but we could not mount a full come back.
I probably have to take some responsibility for this one; Andrew had suggested at the bar before the game that we not make any throwing errors. I can't believe I forgot to relay that coaching strategy!
Vol. II: Punched like Snookie! (L 4-15)
With our long first game we had to quickly move over to Game #2. Our opponents were already on the other sideline distracted by beating up the beat. I thought that was a good sign, and I was also hopeful that the coach was distracted too -- just listen to the choice words he had about the umpire, some of their other games and his gas for that evening.
At the beginning of the game, it seemed things were going our way. Andrew doubled in Mark and Becca in the first, then Katie and Jeff added a pair more in the second for a 4-1 lead.
Of course as his been characteristic this season the bottom dropped out and they scored nine runs in the second. They plated five more unanswered and all the Tan Gents, Orange Juices and DJ Douchebags in the world couldn't stop it.
Vol. III: 'A' for Effort, 'L' for Loss (L 6-12)
Last week we took to the diamond looking to earn our second straight win against the Brew Crew. We came as close to perfect attendance as we have all year and were ready to do two things: Drink beer and play kickball. And the beer was almost gone.
Unfortunately, it seems we didn't run out of beer soon enough because we fell behind first again, trailing 2-0 after the first half-inning. We loaded the bags in our half of the first but could only muster a Seal sac fly that scored Pat.
We held them in the second, then Jeff (a career 1.000 hitter against Brew Crew) led off our half with a hit before tagging up and scoring on Angie's sac fly to short.
Unfortunately, we trailed the rest of the way. We came back from down 7-2 to within 7-6, but a disastrous seventh inning left us a 12-6 loser. Here are some highlights to feel good about though:
• Mike scored in the fourth to start the comeback.
• Pat got a hit, run and RBI on a play in which he was robbed by their first basemen in a Web gem. He also made a sick catch in left and didn't even complain that he may have torn a ligament while doing it (I'm referring to the catch, jeez, dirty minds).
• Becca was a perfect 3-3 at the plate
• Mark also netted two key hits and made his mound debut allowing 2 runs in 2 innings
• Seal had a sac fly and nearly dropped an extra base hit into left
• Katie played through pain and held the defense up in the infield
• Jeff followed last year's 4-4 against the Brew Crew with a 2-2 night with a pair of lead off hits that led to 2 runs scored. He also applauded Allie's use of spirit fingers after Angie secured a catch
• Crook couldn't get his liners to the right side to fall, but he did bring back the Red Bull and Vodka tradition
• Wanner made the sick aforementioned catch and also had a hit, run and RBI
• Ron knocked in the run and also stayed on top of the cooler situation
• Andrew was RBI'd out from the previous week but he still made some good catches at first base
• Megan had a pair of good kicks up the middle, she just couldn't catch a break and get a drop
• Nate possibly gave himself scars for life (ask to see them! Only $5 per peak) but it was worth it because he slid safely into third and home on back-to-back plays.
• Allie was not able to score like she usually does, but she did go 2 for 2 at the plate
* Jen held down defense at the hot corner and behind the plate; plus she did a clutch job of getting us good tables at Taps!
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