Elise just invited people for a BBQ

This was a real game. Two teams came together with wonderful talent and desire and they played fastpitch. Hits were made. Double plays were made. Catches were made. Johnsonville brats were being cooked. In some games the pitching shines and in some games the hitting shines… Tonight, it was golden gloves, golden arms and defense that won the game. It was quite a game. On a night when there was baseball in Cumberland, track in Colfax, and memories in Dairyland, the Grantsburg Pirate Fastpitch team wrapped up its first regional championship…. And life was good… sort of.

Cameron came in fresh from a 4-2 victory over conference champion St. Croix Falls. This was not the same team that we had played back in March. They played very well and did everything they could to beat us. Do you think that this pitcher has ever pitched an entire game without striking out one batter? But, the Grantsburg defense shined tonight and the defense carried the offense in its glove during a slow night.

Cameron began the game with back to back singles. When the #3 batter walked, it loaded the bases with nobody out. The infield moved half way in with the plan of taking a force at the plate on a ball hit to pitcher, third, or first. The number four batter grounded to Becky who through to Liz for the force at the plate. Perfect execution. Now the bases were loaded with 1 out. The infield again played the same strategy. The batter hit a sharp grounder to Kelcy at second who flipped to Elise and then on to first. The umpire ruled the runner safe on a very close play and Cameron was on the board with the first run of the night. But again, the execution of the infield was perfect. When the next batter flied to right, the Pirates had escaped with only 1 Cameron run crossing the plate.

In the Grantsburg half of the inning, Liz reached first on an error by the shortstop and advanced to second on Elise's bloop single to center. Both runners were stranded as Jamie flied to center for out #3.

Cameron went quickly in its half of the second. Nell started the bottom of the second with a single to right and then stole second. Susan, Grace and Megan each had a chance to bring her in but Cameron held solid.

In the Cameron third, they picked up 1 hit but didn't advance any farther. Grantsburg went 1-2-3 in its half.

In the 4^th inning, the Comets again singled to left and advanced on an error by the Grantsburg left fielder. When the next batter grounded to Becky, she checked the runner at second, threw to first for the second out and Jamie gunned down the runner trying to get to third. Perfect execution. It was a great double play for the Pirates and lit a little fire. In the bottom of the 4^th, Nell drew a walk and advanced to third on two wild pitches. She was left there when Susan's fly ball was run down by the center fielder.

Cameron came to bat in the 5^th inning still leading 1-0. After the first batter grounded out to Elise, the leadoff batter picked up another single. The following hitter hit one towards the middle but was stabbed by Callie on a nice play. She wheeled and threw to Elise for a force and when Elise tried to turn it into a double play, the retired runner from Cameron remained standing and ran into Elise. Everybody in the entire town assumed that the ump would call interference and declare the runner out at first base. There used to be a rule that you needed to slide when a play was made on you. That rule has been removed…. It used to be there for safety reasons. Karen Sorenson was the ump and if she says so…. It is so. The next batter grounded out to Elise to end the inning. Grantsburg harmlessly went through the bottom of the inning without getting a ball to the grass.

In the evolution of fastpitch, you go from 2.5 hour games to slow pitch swings to coaching points from moms and dads that played 25 years ago to scores approaching 20. You know you have arrived when you score 2 in the 6^th to win by one. Without a doubt, it was a classic fastpitch softball game. Grantsburg came to bat in the bottom of the 6^th still trailing. When Liz hit a line drive…. hopes were refreshed. Then the shortstop caught the ball for the first out. In the next at bat, Callie worked the pitcher for the only walk of the night to place the tying run on first. Elise hit a blooper over third base and the left fielder ran a long way to attempt a catch, but came up empty placing the tying run on second. It was now or never as Jamie stepped into the box. With two strikes, she found the sweet spot and hit a hard grounder towards the middle that nobody could handle. Callie rounded third and coasted to the plate for the tie as Elise advanced to third. The momentum was changing. Nell came to the plate with a successful night already under her belt. She had previously singled and had also walked. She drove the ball sharply to the right center gap. The center fielder made a gallant try but couldn't get it. Elise had scored the go ahead run and we still had two runners on base. Grace proceeded to hit a very similar shot to right center but this time the right fielder came up with the ball on a nice play. But, the Pirates had taken the lead.

Cameron would have its last chance with the bottom 3 batters in the line up. The first batter grounded to Kelcy for the first out. Callie then took over and fanned the last two batters of the game for the 2-1 Grantsburg win.

Game Summary: Cameron came up with 6 hits and 1 walk as they only fanned 3 times. Grantsburg managed only 5 hits and 1 walk, but most significantly they never struck out. Both teams had done a good job of putting the ball in play, but Grantsburg made the plays… Cameron did not.

Grantsburg will advance to sectional play at Fall Creek. The format is to play a 1:00 game with the two winners playing again at 3:00. At the time I am writing this, the opponent is not known. If you go back to my home page and click on the WIAA link for softball, division 3…. They usually have it there by mid morning. I just checked...We play Hurley. On the scoreboard, we will be designate Bigdogs. What should we call them? Ladysmith scouted us last night...must be for next year. They lost. He came early because he thought the game was at 4:30. He was wearing shorts, so he must have had sunshine out east.

TWIS: Well, seniors…. You made your last game on our field quite memorable. Infield… you were GREAT! You turned two double plays and we all thought you would have four.. Nice catch Jamie on the line drive. Nice double play Kelcy, on that line drive. Way to make the grounders look easy, Elise and nice tag on Jamie's scorching throw from first. Becky, you played it exactly right and got the force at home and then started the double play. Callie, great fielding job on the line drive up the middle…it could have been a 4^th double play. Nice diving attempt at the line drive, Nell. And Liz, you are so solid at such a tough position. We are sorry we take you for granted. I watched part of the college world series. The pitcher was throwing 72 mph. The pitch would get to the plate in the same time that a baseball pitcher throwing 106. There can be no wasted time in your swing. It was a good crowd. Missy Olson says hi. John, we are coming to Fall Creek. We delayed practice for some dinner thing and then still nobody came. Great bat work Jamie and Nell. Thanks for announcing , Mike. And Craig… good to have you back in the dug out. We watered the infield all day and it paid off. Thanks Clayton for your work on the field. Should we take a coach, school bus, or limo to Fall Creek? I still think it funny we played Cameron and Somerset to start the season and then Somerset and Cameron to complete the home season. Cameron once scored 36 runs against us. Nice to see all of you fans there. DL. We have cows in our field. Buddy surfs the net. Sena surfs wood lake and sometimes ditches at Clayton. Nice having programs for the game. What color is the softball? Do you know what the COR is? The college world series had a left field fence 10 feet shorter than ours. Today is the last Friday of the school year. Last night was memorable and so is Monday. There is a fastpitch tournament at Cushing this weekend. Lots of burgers last night. Has anyone stopped and appreciated the accomplishments all the athletic teams this year? Sectional play-offs…What fun. I keep checking the entertainment page. It was empty again.