You Should have been there......

For fans that love softball and high school athletics, you should have been there.  The umpires from the Luck game were there to just watch.  The umps from our St. Croix game came for the entertainment.  People without kids even came to watch and cheer.  Bad Back Bill almost out yelled Buddy.  It was great... The Hens and the Chicks put on a show... And the two old Roosters are still crowing.  And WCMP radio wants to broadcast the game at St. Croix.  I guess they are trying to boost their ratings..gg

When our first three batters all struck out to start the game, things weren't going too well.  But one inning does not make a game.  Like Yogi Berra said.....90% of the game is half mental...gg  Even though Spooner loaded the bases in the first, the score remained 0-0.

Jamie led off the second inning with a solid hit.  When Carrie placed a perfect bunt, Jamie advanced to third as the shortstop was late covering.  When the throw did arrive, it went all the way to the fence and Jamie trotted in with the first run and some nifty base running.

Spooner started to heat it up in the 3rd.  They took full advantage of three hits, one hit batter and a couple of Grantsburg errors to take a 3-1 lead.  Again, Grantsburg could have folded.  But who gets to play with cards lately, anyway?

In the 4th, Jamie again came to the plate and tripled to the gap in right center for her second hit.  When Carrie put the ball into play, Jamie again crossed the plate cutting the lead to 1.  But, Spooner was on a roll.  In the 4th inning, they put together 4 more hits and collected a walk to again score 3 runs.  The score stood at 6-2...but Yogi's statement kept ringing...  After 4 innings, Spooner had collected 4 runs on 8 hits and were cruising.

At this point, Elise gritted her teeth, spit a few times and shut the door completely.  Spooner would not get a hit in the next 5 innings and they would score no more....

So now let's enjoy the comeback together..(gg)   Katie Kooiker owns this pitcher.  She started off the 5th with a smash to left.  Nell took one pitch and then smashed one to right.  Now Katie is really fast.  The way I remember it...the ball was in the air heading towards third... I think Katie out ran the ball... could be wrong, but she was safe.  When Elise powered the ball to center, Katie tagged and trotted in with our third run of the night.  In the 6th, Katie W tagged one over third that landed fair by less than a foot and she ended up on second with a double.  Whitney came to the plate, fouled off 6 pitches and then drove the ball to short to score Katie and our 4th run.

Going into the 7th, we were still down two runs.  Katie K stepped to the plate and hammered her one more time.... to reach base.  And almost like a replay, Nell followed with a single.  When Elise walked to load the bases, Jamie flew out to right for the second out.  One of the chicks....Carrie came to the plate.  And after a good battle, put the ball into play to short.  The shortstop originally was going to throw to first but then remembered she could get a force at second.  Elise was flying down the base path and was about to beat the toss to second.  So the shortstop took a rushed throw to first and botched it up... Katie and Nell both crossed the plate and the game was tied....and Buddy was going wild. Perdy darn good game!!

We haven't played extra innings for a loonngg time.  In international rules for fastpitch, each inning starts with a runner on second.  In highschool, you just play regular.  In the top of the 8th, Grantsburg went three outs in a row.  In the bottom of the 8th, Spooner did reach 1 runner to first on a walk but didn't score.

So the 9th inning begins.  We needed the Hens to show the Chicks how it was done.  Nell steps to the roost and gets her third hit of the night to start the inning.  And after some more gooooood baserunning, she gets to third.  Now one way or another Susan was going to cry after this at bat.... But, in the true form of a warrior, she laced a shot to left. It came off the sweet spot like a gun.  Nell flew home and the scoreboard looked happy... But, it was not as happy as Susan.... or her mom.  It was a great hit that came to a great player.

In the bottom of the 9th, the first Spooner batter popped up to Megan.  The next batter got a walk.  Elise kicked dirt and promptly struck out the next two batters.... It was over.  There was no fat lady, and we were all singing... It was a great win.

For the night, Spooner collect 6 runs on 8 hits and 6 walks.  Elise struck out 10 Spooner batters.  Grantsburg collected 7 runs on 11 hits and only 1 walk.  Grantsburg did strike out 10 times also.  This raises Grantsburg's record to 11-0.  With the 15 game winning streak attached from last year, Grantsburg has won 26 of its last 27 games....  Impressive....

TWIS:  So have you ever just sat in a car after softball and listened to music?  Have you ever taken a picture of the stars just to see what is really there?  Have you ever heard songs coming from the whistling in the Pines?  Have you ever seen a softball game that good?  I got an email from Lindy...she is going to offer sliding lessons on the weekends...  Missy can't wait to play.... Jocelyn!!!! where are you?  The Alumni game is during practice on the Friday before the tournament starts. Did you see the human drag system after the game?  Look out 01 volleyball team....  When Katie K starts running...can she stop?  Good hitting Katie W.  Stay HOT! Nell.  This catching stuff is really good for Jamie...  atta way Princess!   Oh Byron, you should have been there.... you would have been proud.  Everybody was happy at Mac's.  My pontoon is calling...... blue bottom.... Pines......grassy area on the left...... it makes my toes tickle!gg  The Spooner coach started the game by proclaiming to his players...."Everyone of them can hit"  That would be called a compliment. Here is an interesting stat...  Nell leads the team in average.  If you put Elise, Jamie and Nell's hits together, you get 50.  The rest of the team has 41. We didn't even have any red or blue clothes on for the game... progress.  Perhaps a fire tonight......In my mind, there is one every night.....Enjoy the photos below....Print some out and hang them on your fridge.  See you on Friday Kelcy.  Thanks Yogi for the advice.  These Pirates are tough...  Either way, it was a great game.....winning makes it sweet......very, very sweet!  Enjoy today...we can't predict tomorrow...  Now if you didn't have your speakers turned up for the start of this mess....find some speakers and hit refresh...

B,ICH...