by Cindy Jackson, with an assist from Jim Miller
As the West Po fans gathered for the Annandale game on a
cloudy Monday night, they confidently checked the sky and assured themselves if
they could make it through the rainy, cold Woodson game the week before, this
game would go off without a hitch. Well, perhaps they forgot to take into account
that when a lot of charged Atoms are around, the probability of lightning was likely. (That will most likely be my
only “atom” joke … I have a very limited science background.)
The game started on a positive note. Nikki Minnis had an
infield single, and Grace Moery got a free pass putting runners on first and
second. Both players advanced on a loose
ball, and were sitting pretty on second and third with Annabelle Miller up to
bat. Nikki managed to steal home on a passed ball, just before Annabelle laid
up a nice fly ball to short left field, scoring Grace. Raven Williams then smacked a hard grounder
up the middle. Annabelle tried to score on Raven’s hit … perhaps the Annadale
catcher made a great play – or perhaps her abilities were underestimated – but
as Annabelle tried to score, she was thrown out. The next two West Po batters struck
out, leaving one stranded but putting two runs up on the score board.
The West Po defense was focused in the bottom of the first …
the umpire’s vision … not so much. He
awarded the #2 Annandale batter first base … saying the pitch hit her in the
head. The batter, however, was unaware
of this but decided to go with it. When questioned by the Big Manig (who argued
the ball actually hit the bat) the umpire claimed he was ducking and didn’t see
it. (So how did he see it hit her in the head then?) Doesn’t really matter … the umpire is always
right. (Right?) The West Po defense easily took care of the next two batters,
getting them out of the inning with no runs scored.
Annabelle got things going in the third, with a hard line
drive single to left field. Raven then found the gap between SS and 3rd and
sent one sizzling to left field. On the
next loose ball, Annabelle stole third. The catcher tried to throw her out, but
the ball bounced off of the third baseman’s glove. Annabelle took off for home
… then thought better of it (maybe she remembered the collision with the
catcher in the first inning) and returned back to third (good choice).
Meanwhile, Raven was hot on the trail to third base when she saw Annabelle retreating
back, and had to make an abrupt turn back to second. You know what they say
about throwing behind the lead runner … don’t do it. Annandale decided to do it anyway, and threw
to 2nd, in hopes of nailing Raven. Mission fail – Raven was safe and
this gave Annabelle the opportunity to score … which she did. With Jayne up to
bat, Raven was alert on second and ready to run. Apparently Raven had a little
too much energy as the umpire called Raven out on the next pitch, claiming she
left early (another case of the ‘umpire is always right’). Three outs for West
Po, but they added another run to the book, 3-0.
Annandale got their first (and only) run in the bottom of
the third. After three complete innings the score was 3-1, West Po. The rain
was still coming down, but Susan Gregory Galway was doing a great job with her
umbrella, keeping this reporter’s note pad dry.
The Wolverines started creating some static in the top of
the fourth. Jayne walked, then Maddie Miller hit a hard grounder to the left
side, making the short stop really work for it, but she couldn’t get a throw
off in time. Runners were on first and
second. Grace then hit a beautiful line drive to center field, scoring both
girls on base. Annabelle followed with yet another hit, and scored Grace. That gave
West Po 6 runs.
The sky was getting darker and darker in the bottom of the
fourth, and the rain was still coming down. Jayne made it easy on herself by
catching a hard line drive shot right back at her from the lead-off batter.
Annabelle then cleanly fielded the next bunt getting the runner out at first. The
next batter got on because of a slight defensive bobble. The sky was a brewin’ with a storm … the next
pitch was a ball and there was a flash of lightning across the sky. The ump
made everyone leave the field … and as the rain got harder and the lightning
continued .. the game was postponed until Saturday.
The game picked up on Saturday, at 9 a.m. The weather was
perfect – as we all know, lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Perhaps the Wolverines didn’t like having to
get up early on a Saturday for a game. Or perhaps they didn’t appreciate the
bus never showing up to take them to the game. Clearly these girls showed up to
get the job done. It was business time!
The game picked up from where it left off Monday night … bottom
of the fourth - 2 outs, a runner on first. Jayne got the final out of the
fourth inning with a strike out on a 3-2 count. West Potomac got ready to bat.
Like I said, these girls weren’t messing around today. They must have had
things to do on this Saturday. They were charged up and ready to shut it down.
Olivia Manous started off the top of the 5th inning with a
hard hit up the middle, then stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild
pitch. Jayne then came up to bat, and took one for the team, right-square in
the middle of her back. Izzy Crawn came
in to pinch run, and easily took second base on the catcher’s
indifference. Maddie then hit a nice
shot to left center, scoring both runners, and advancing herself to second. The
score was now 8-1, no outs.
Torie reached on walk, and Harley Divine stepped in to pinch
run for her. Wild pitches allowed both runners to advance, with Maddie scoring
(9-1). Eliza Treadway stepped in to hit for Kate Gregory, and smashed a line
drive straight over the third baseman’s head to left field, getting Harley to
third. Eliza got to second on the next
pitch. Nikki then grounded out , but put another RBI under her belt scoring
Harley. Eliza cleanly made it to third without having to demonstrate her unique
slide. The score was now 10-1 with one out.
Grace got a free pass to first, and advanced to second on the
catcher’s indifference. Runners were at second and third … one out, when
Annabelle came to the plate. It was Miller time! Annabelle hit the nucleus out of the ball,
cranking it way over the left center field fence (approximately 215 feet) for a
3 run homer!
That’s all the runs West Po would see that inning, but
clearly that would be enough.
Jayne made quick work of the Annandale batters in the bottom
of the 5th, striking out the first two batters, and easily fielding
a ground ball on the third batter. Final score:
13-1 West Po, compliments of the Mercy Rule.
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