GRANTSBURG 1 - SCC 0
During this time of exceptional softball players from Grantsburg, SCC has also had exceptional softball players. The coaches and players from SCC have had great success in the last couple of years. For them, It is too bad that they were in this region. Because, they really are one of the best teams in the state. Congratulations to Jimmy and his team. It would have been nice if we could have met in a state tournament setting. I guess it is just part of how tournament brackets work.
I have seen a lot of softball games in the last few years. This was one of the CLASSICS. BOTH teams battled. BOTH teams made plays. BOTH teams hit the ball. In the end it was Grantsburg that prevailed. SCC players, coaches, and fans are very, very classy. They played well....I am glad that a player did not lose the game....I am glad that a player won the game....and this game was played by a TEAM...wow. SCC stood proud, shook our hands, and wished us luck. I have always had great respect for the SCC coach and fans. Tonight, it grew even more.
I am toooooo tired to write the letter until Friday....
Just know it was 2 really good teams.
See you in the morning.....
for the entire story.....
GAME TIME
The bleachers were moved into position. The field was watered and groomed. Baseball was out of practice early to watch and the game was ready to start. Both teams were anxious and warm-ups were done quickly. The game started early and the stands were filled.
Being the home team by rule Grantsburg took the field. Michelle was focused and right on. She smoked the first two batters and the third batter hit a pop up... end of the first half inning. According to plan, Tiff started our half with a single to center. It was then SCC's chance to smoke a couple of our batters and the inning was over.
The question: How can the DP and F be on the field at the same time?
Hawkin came to bat for SCC and lined to Cody in center. Two more quick outs and it was Grantsburg's turn again. The Panthers continued to make great plays...first it was Redmon at first....then Hawkins at second...then the catcher. They were putting together a series of exceptional plays. Grantsburg did NOT have a base runner in the second.
Sarah was AWESOME at THIRD Annie matcher her St. Paul swing and found the gap
Armagosi had SCC's first hit in the third inning. Creigo layed down a bunt but SARAH made her first great play of the night. She fielded the ball cleanly and fired to Kylie at second for the force out. Kylie relayed it to first just missing on a double play. Sarah made a great choice and a great throw. No runs, yet. Grantsburg had nothing to offer in the third.
SCC had zero runners again in the fourth as Michelle was throwing well. The Pirates first chance to score came in the 4th inning. Kylie reached first on a bunt single. Annie ripped one to left placing two runners on with only 1 out. On a strange play, Kylie twisted her ankle at second and had to be replaced by the equally quick Sam. It didn't take Sam a long time to make a great play behind third on a popup. Hawkin ran down Heather's short fly and made a great play for the second out. Brooks pitched her way out of the jam and the score remained 0-0.
Neither team had much going in the fifth.
So...why are GOOD games always won in the 6th? The answer is... you are now seeing the pitcher for the third time. If you are good enough to win, this is when you score. The Panthers Armagosi picked up her second hit to start the 6th. Creigo sac bunted her to second. Sarah again made the proper decision and took the runner at first. Michelle then bore down getting Adkins to pop to Heather and the next batter to K.
Sarah (thanks tiff) re-enacts her back hand stab of a line drive down third.
It is now the bottom of the 6th. The game is going quickly. There have been 0 walks and 0 errors. Both sides are making the plays. Grantsburg's lead off batter is Tiffany. After fighting off some good pitches, she lines one to center. Grantsburg tried to bunt her to second but the pop up resulted in out #1. A pop up was out #2. It is now the bottom of the 6th with two outs. You are in the regional championship game and it senior time. Annie comes to the plate. She battles....the pitcher battles. and then BAM! long drive to the gap in right center...Nobody will get it. Elise runs out of the dugout thinking it was GONE> It landed on the grass and Tiffany silently crossed the plate giving Grantsburg all they would need. Senior Annie had come through...Finchy went in to run.
Tiff and Annie combined for 4 hits and the game's only run!
Good teams do not give up. SCC had one more chance. Brooks is an elite player. Without a doubt, she is the best pitcher we have seen. She is also one of the best batters we have seen. She is good! With great confidence, she lined the ball over Gab's head for a lead off double... Hawkin, the clean up batter comes up....Do you have the clean up batter bunt? Or do you let her swing because she is one of your best hitters? There was no bunt and she popped to Tiff. Revior was next and she had a good swing her previous time. Soon, she hits a high fly ball to left center. Cody and Gabb approach and Gabb takes it for out #2. Redmon is next. A hit means a tie game. Michelle pitches....Redmon battles... back and forth...back and forth... and finally a pop up...behind the plate... Romo tracks it down and the dugout erupts......the crowd erupts. It was over.
Romo catches OUT #3
Michelle fires Tournament shutout #2. ( I made her flex)
For the game Grantsburg had 1 run on 5 hits and 0 walks. SCC had 0 errors. For SCC they had 3 hits and 0 walks. Grantsburg had 0 errors. Michelle struck out 6 of their batters. Brooks struck out 5 of ours. This game was as close as it could possibly be. CLASSIC FASTPITCH. Grantsburg lived to play another day. By the way, when you come to next Tuesday's home sectional game, it will cost you $4... State requires that you charge admission. We had the option to charge for the SCC game but decided free entertainment is worth the price.\
Our door got knocked on, then kicked. But it remained solid!
MORE pics from Scott.
So now what???
More Irony. Last year we played Park Falls in the sectional. They had ALL of their players back from the year before when they lit us up. WE WON. Park Falls lost their pitcher and has a new name.. . and we have ALL of our players back...all but Ing. They have traded in the Woodpeckers (Romo thinks they looked like Cardinals) for the SCREAMING EAGLES! I am not sure that I can spell it but I know how to pronounce it. It was taught to me by an Alaskan explorer. Here is how it goes. Once she was cold! She sat by the fire and ....
She Warm Again. ( easy on the R)
Upcoming Games
Team Roster & Statistics
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The game will be at Grantsburg at 5:00 next Tuesday. Dugout designations will be the same as the state tournament. If you need directions to the sectional, let me know!! The first team alphabetically has the first base dugout. So the answer to your question is....Yes, we get our dugout. I am just pleased that Zoolander didn't win. In past years, the sectional has always been a double header. This is the first year they play on separate days. We were never allowed to host under that format because you must have two identical fields.
TWIS: Tiffany and Emily swept out the dugout...they wanted it presentable. They also wanted to get out of class. I heard rumors last night of an upstairs to the dugout... a place for parents to see the entire game... A fridge for the warm nights and a heater for the cold nights. The umps and coaches will be miked up...so everyone can hear. Talk to Romo's dad. And if Argentina is playing soccer it will be on the high res screen. If the score board was moved to center could you still read it? For such a large crowd you can see why Goodman diamond has raised bleachers and Dug out dugouts! cute name, eh? dugouts?? Kylie will check in with me this morning as I check her ankle. The 3 stood for 3 years in a row playing SCC. The third base foul line was thick because the string moved. Yes, we did line up Cody with all the outfielders. Why on earth would you buy a pig? You can come back now Stu we did win. YEAH baseball team....they play next Tuesday morning at 11 in Osseo. From the coaching perspective I see a baseball regional champ and a softball regional champ....In about 20 years, we may have another good crop of ball players.... but NOT YET!!! Elise was sooo nervous she punched me. Thanks to SCOTT and GREG for action shots. Thanks to the Bosaks for the GA....and thanks for the donated water. Buddy would have liked this game....It would have been perdineer the best game he has seen. And now we have to get Sena to quit chasing that Como Park Zoo bear that keeps following her on walks.
Don has 1 puppy left. After the game it was a NERVOUS wreck!
SYBTF!
2010 Conference and Regional Champs...
and now a boat load of shots from Greg!
THE TIMELINE OF DON! (By Tiff and Emily)
1995 2002 Last week This morning
