Eagles See Red
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
West Torrens Div 1
0 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 5 10 10 3
Northern Dist Div 1
0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 4 7 6
A late surge by the Eagles saw us defeat Norths at Walkleys Reserve on Sunday. The bats never woke up against their LH starter who was probably a little better than expected. His stats certainly suggested so with 13k’s and only 3 hits over 6 innings. However erratic pitching was his downfall with an elevated pitch count seeing him leave the game after those 6 digs. But the lack of adjustment by the Eagles hitters before he was done was still frustrating. Against better quality pitching we still need to put the ball in play to at least apply pressure to the opposing defence.
The boys led 2-1 middle 6 courtesy of an Adam ‘Is it footy season yet?’ Spence RBI in the 2nd and the Norths battery sharing 2 wild throws to plate Moose Falls in the 5th. Early Norths baserunning threats were hosed down by slick picks from Rexy at 2b and 1b and 3 consecutive donuts to begin the game.However after Dutchy Holland saw red allowing Oswald on board, Rexy clearly exceeded his pick off quota for the weekend with the 3rd pick in under 4 seconds going wild to let L.H.O 180degs to 3b. Big hitting Drew Miller then bounced a hard grounder to 1b and despite playing shallow RF Tibbo still used the opportunity to dispense with the 1B glove and attempt to utilise long gone catching skills instead. The result being an RBI PO3 and stitches tattooed on the wrist.
The Reds got going bottom 6 with a HPB to L.H.O which incensed the little man despite being a 2-2 change piece. An (un)intentional walk to Miller and a base hit to Whelan not only plated L.H.O but led to a mini circus in the Eagles infield with 2 wt’s resulting in Miller also scoring. Result: Eagles down 3-2 going into top 7.
Not to be found in the Joe Torre managers handbook was the Norths LH starter moving to 2b to begin the 7th. It may have been described a masterstroke if not for 3E’s executed the first 3 times he touched the ball. Adding insult to injury a TBone liner almost castrated him and resulted in the plating of T Fiebig to tie the game. Although juicing the sacks the Eagles didn’t convert again but the shift in momentum had begun.
Steve-O took over hurling duties bottom 7 and immediately took charge retiring the next 4 and inducing a GBDP to end the 8th. Previously, in the top half of the 8th a lead off thumbs WTP to RF for David ‘Wags’ Forbes, a HPB to Spence and consecutive sacs to Jesse Grey Guns Duval and Angry Adam Lewis resulted in another run. Clearly showing he has no concept of the discipline required to be a HR hitter, a laced double to Moose off the LF fence resulted in another.
Top 9 a sea of green including singles to Bone, Moose and DF, a double to Spence and a HR to the short RF porch to Tibbo resulted in a further 5 crossing the dish. The result beyond doubt Steve-O commenced bottom 9 with the spirit of the season in his heart, offering a first pitch kris kringle to Miller that was duely launched to the same part of the field as Tibbo’s previous HR, although juuuuuuuuust a little bit deeper. Christmas cheer completed, the next 3 were sat down in order and the game was over.
An at times topsy turvey game to round out a rocky first half that sees us at 6 and 6. However there’s no doubt the boys are looking positively to the second half and a run at the playoffs. If we continue to keep the defence sound, the pitching strong and increase our application and output with the sticks we will see action in March.
On a final note thanks to the big ginga ninja TBone for his help over the last 2 weeks. His big bat, solid glove and presence in general were a huge help to the 1′s and 2′s. I hope some of our players learned from his example of controlled aggression and passion for the game. Good luck in the June draft and we hope to see you back at the Lockleys Dome soon Bone.
