After a few years' absence from the Empty Pitchers' schedule, the retooled Remainders gave the Pitchers nearly all they could handle in Week 5, even if the final result - 2 wins for the Pitchers - remained the same.
The Pitchers got off to their usual slow start in a 9-3 Game 1 win, hitting into a variety of fly outs in the early innings and finding themselves up by only a run heading into the 5th. A single by Sam, followed by the 1-2 punch of Greg and a resurgent Katie set the stage for a clutch 2-out, 2 RBI double from Brian in his much-delayed 2012 debut. A third run would later cross on a single from Brooke.
After giving up a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, the Pitchers got back to work quickly in the 6th, scoring another 4 runs, with the final two coming on a 2-run, inside-the-park home run from Greg that killed any hope of a Remainders' comeback.
Game 2 was a 3-2 nail biter, that saw a reprise of the Pitchers' ice-cold offense and the return of David to the mound following his player loan to a team in Japan. Thankfully, he picked up some tips on throwing the Gyroball while in the Far East, and was able to bookend the Remainders, giving up only a run in the first, and a run in the seventh, and luring the their lineup into posting goose eggs in the frames in between.
The Pitchers eked out just enough offense to get the win, with Sam (walk) and David (single), coming home in the first on a double from Greg. Julie would score what turned out to be the winning run for the Pitchers in the 6th, using her patented combination of guile and determination - getting on base with a walk and crossing the plate following back-to-back singles from Greg and Stacey, and a sacrifice out from Brian.
Post-game happenings: Speaking of being strangers in a strange land, following last month's foray into an all-they-could drink brunch, the team changed it up again, enjoying a tentative first round of drinks at Keg 229 while waiting out the close of college football at Jeremy's.
While the Tater Tots and Kona bucket both get a strong thumbs up, this reviewer will hold off on issuing an official grade - the temperature of both food and drink was surprisingly unregulated by a Styrofoam vessel, the on-tap Narragansett Light was $6.50 a draft (confusing to this native RIer, who is only familiar with 2-for-$5 Tall Boy offerings of the beer), and pricing info from the barkeep on the pour-your-own table taps was much, much too vague in response to myriad lines of questioning from a clearly-salivating Murph.
Really, it should be considered nothing short of a rousing success that the Empty Pitchers managed to field a full team following a deluge of early-Sunday texts, and still get a 16-6 and 8-4 doubleheader split against Team TAP. Thanks to everyone who was able to show (and did their best to bring in recruits), to Sam for picking up the pieces and assembling them into a lineup in my wedding-related absence, and to Val for making the trek down to the Oval (though in fairness, she did get to enjoy the scenic pigeon's-eye view of the field from the train).
On his bye week, Tara's ringer Reggie Bush Rob impressed the team with his roped line drives aimed straight at the heart of the Coleman Oval fence, as did Katie, who broke through with Nicole's baby green bat to have a 4-7 day and raise her batting average to its highest point of the season. Greg managed to chip in with 7 hits of his own on the day, and in his debut at catcher, Matt kept the TAP players honest at home in Game 2, excepting of course for the 70-pound female player who took him down in a play at the plate.
Looking at the rout that was Game 1, particularly the 10(!)-run third, one has to wonder where exactly the wheels fell off in the Game 2. (Stat-padding the game book in the coach's absence? Perhaps. The more likely reason? Playing to the level of our opponent. Yet again.) But no matter, next week will bring the woeful Remainders to cure all the Pitchers' erratic offensive woes and propel us into the playoffs.
Game 8 Box Score 10/14/2012 TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FINAL TAP 0 0 1 3 1 3 0 8 EP 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 4
PLAYER AB R H RBI BB AVG 'On the Day' Matt OF 4 1 1 0 0 .600 (4-8) Tara P 4 1 1 1 1 .294 (2-7, walk) Greg OF 4 0 3 1 0 .810 (7-8) Stacey 1B 4 0 0 0 1 .353 (3-7, walk) Rob OF 4 0 1 1 0 .500 (4-8) Nicole OF 3 0 0 0 0 .190 (1-7) Felix OF 3 1 1 0 0 .421 (2-7) Katie 2B 3 1 1 0 1 .267 (4-7, walk) John 3B 3 0 2 1 0 .567 (5-9) Sam SS 3 0 2 0 0 .731 (4-7)
2B - John (2), Sam (10)
Game 7 Box Score 10/14/2012 TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FINAL EP 2 0 10 0 0 2 2 16 TAP 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 6
PLAYER AB R H RBI BB John SS 6 3 3 3 0 Katie 2B 5 2 3 0 0 Greg P 4 3 4 2 0 Stacey 1B 4 1 3 2 0 Sam OF 4 1 2 4 0 Nicole C 4 0 1 1 0 Felix 3B 4 1 1 1 0 Tara OF 4 1 1 1 0 Matt OF 4 2 3 0 0 Rob OF 4 2 3 2 0
2B - John (1), Greg (4) Sam (9), Rob (1,2); 3B - Greg (1)
Once upon a time, nearly three softball weekends ago, the Empty Pitchers defeated the woeful Hot Cousins in a doubleheader, by scores of 13-5, and 12-2. What made the twin near-mercy wins all the more impressive was the Pitchers' stacked 6-lady lineup.
It was a cold and rainy afternoon, and my text message inbox was full of questions as to whether or not we would be playing. When the Empty Pitchers assembled on the field, at 10 minutes past the appointed hour, I looked at the ragtag bunch in front of me, and asked the question: "Oh, crap, which one of you bitches ladies is willing to pitch today?" Tara stepped forward, parting the lightly falling mist, and said she would take the ball and the mound, promising only that she would try her best.
And lo, what a glorious try it was! Playing the softball game of her life, Tara stymied the Cousins over 7 full innings in Game 1, giving up only sporadic runs and walking none. Early in the game, in the dark days when the outcome was still uncertain - the Empty Pitchers rallied behind Tara - with Brooke nabbing a line drive in right with runners on in the 3rd to kill a key rally, Murph legging out a double to start the 3rd, and the Pitchers' offense coming alive to pile on in the 9-run 4th. A slightly-concussed Rubock was all over left, making the ugliest of his ugly catches in a key spot in the 5th and posting a huge stat line at the top of the order - 3 for 3, all for extra bases, with 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. And a walk for good measure. Oh, how a little bit of a head injury went a long way at the plate that day!
In Game 2, Tara again headed to the mound to soldier on for another start. With the Empty Pitchers sporting a 6-woman, 4-man lineup all the while, the Cousins had the gall (the reprehensable gall!) to contest having a female in both the pitcher and catcher positions. While the ump said he'd allow it (other lady duos were already in the outfield and infield), Tara said no matter, I shall move to 3rd base and finish fully emasculating these pathetically Lukewarm Cousins by making plays from the hot corner. And it was so.
In the shortened second game, with Greg on the mound, the Pitchers got plenty of offense going early, with Greg, Sam and Matt all collecting three hits to burnish their stat lines. Damian scored 3 times at the top of the order, and made a nice play in the 2nd, hurdling a slow-diving Rubock in shallow left-center to cleanly make a catch on a sinking Cousins' line drive.
The Pitchers would go on to celebrate Brooke's birthday in style at Jeremy's, with all the sliders, baked goods and fireworks she could dream of. The end.
