Sometimes a baseball game can be compared to a prize fight, that is, a punch and a counter punch. Sunday afternoon at NS the Blue Thunder and Black Sox put their gloves on and went to battle. The Thunder scored 2 in the first with the Sox responding with 1 in their half of the inning. The Sox tied it in the second but the Thunder came right back with a run in the top of third. The Sox plated 3 in the bottom of the third to take a 5-3 lead. The Thunder created a little thunder of their own by scoring 4 runs in the fourth to take a 7-5 lead. The Thunder put down the Sox in the bottom half of the inning and the Sox returned the favor in top of the fifth. The Sox added a run in the bottom of the fifth. The Thunder proceeded in the top of the sixth to get that run back and again lead by two. The Sox struck for 3 in the bottom of the sixth to once again take the lead. Ansel, leading off the seventh, ripped a clean single. Lofreddo, after throwing a huge number of pitches and doing a proud workman's job on the bump for the Sox, was replaced by Caputo. Josefski sacrificed Ansel to second, and after a flyout Giannelis hit a scorching ground ball that ate up the Sox shortstop, Musella, allowing Ansel to tie the scoring run. In the bottom of the seventh Ansel strikes out the first Sox batter and then Caputo works a walk. On the first pitch to the next Sox batter Caputo steals second. After a discussion the Thunder decide to intentionally walk Hauser. Stanley comes to the plate and drops a Texas leaguer in between the second baseman and right fielder of the Thunder. Musella comes to bat. One out, one run down, bottom of the seventh. What to do? Why not the most exciting play in baseball, the suicide squeeze. Musella, a great bunter, turns and places the ball down the first baseline and Caputo crosses the plate. Final score 10-9.
As I looked at the scorebook each player on both teams contributed a positive contribution to their respective team, whether it be a hit, a sacrifice, a run, a putout or an assist. I know it has to be a hard pill for the Thunder to swallow right now but when one has a little time and distance away from the game I think both squads can enjoy the battle they were part of.
Leading the way for the Thunder was Brown with 3 hits and 3 runs, Gianellis 2 runs, LaFlamme 2 rbi, Ansel 2 hits and 2 runs, VanGelder 2 hits and 1 rbi, Martin a hit and rbi, Eplite a hit and 1 run, Herrieux 1 hit and 1 rbi, and Josefski a run and 2 sacrifice bunts. Martin, Gianellis and Ansel showed great grit on the hill. For the Sox, Hayner went 3 for 3, scored 4 runs and 1 rbi, Lennox 3 hits, including a 2bagger, and 3 rbi, Stanley 3 hits, including a 2 bagger, and 2 runs, Solomon 2 runs, Aiello a run and a hit, Caputo winning run, Musella game winning rbi and Hauser 1 hit and 1 rbi. Lofreddo carried us through 6 and Caputo picks up the win.
Don Wixon is being extremely modest, not even mentioning himself. Don had the two biggest hits of the game, a two out two-run single in the third, and a back-breaking two out 2 run double in the 6th. (yes, I said a double!) Great game Don.
