Wolverines Head Into Spring Break Licking Their Wounds

There's only one thing you can say when you think you've turned the game around, but because of the dastardly act of one man, the game is changed against you in an instant.  And, that saying comes from the original, the best, Captain James Tiberius Kirk: "Khan!!!"  No doubt, like me, you felt like Kirk after the ump's call in the seventh inning of the second game.

While there were some positive signs in yesterday's two Spring Break Tournament losses, fans, players, and coaches of the West Potomac Wolverines could only be left wondering "what if."  They lost 8-4 to a Lake Braddock team that looks vulnerable in a rematch, and then were left high and dry on a controversial call by the first base ump in a 2-1 loss to Brentsville.

The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead against Lake Braddock, and, after falling behind 5-1, fought back to 5-4.  But the Bruins took advantage of a pair of West Potomac errors to post an 8-4 win.  I'm pretty certain that four runs is the most the Wolverines have scored against Lake Braddock in four seasons, so they can build on that during the two conference games.  Of course, Bruins fans would note that three of the Wolverine runs were unearned.

The catcher jumps up.  The runner slides

down.  It's like a page from "Go Dog Go."

The Wolverines scratched out seven hits in the six innings.  Hits were earned by Nikki Minnis (two singles), Raven Williams (a single), Jayne Orleans (a single), Grace Moery (a double), Harley Devine (a single), and Annabelle Miller (a single).  Nikki had two RBI, and Raven had one.

Grace raps a double to left.  It's unlikely

she rapped about it, but who knows!

In the second game, the Brentsville pitcher had a perfect game through five innings.  She has signed to play for the Michigan Wolverines, so the West Potomac Wolverines were getting a harsh look at a Division 1 pitcher in a Big Five conference.  Brentsville had gotten their one run from three singles in the first inning, and, even at 1-0, the game looked hopeless for the Wolverines.

This Lake Braddock hitter thought she had a single,

but Maddie Miller said, "not on my watch."

With one out in the sixth, everything changed.  A pinch-hitting Elizabeth Drotos laid down a bunt that the Brentsville pitcher threw past first.  With the first runner on courtesy of an error, Torie Bolger rapped the team's only hit for the game to right center.  Elizabeth alertly went to third on the hit (be alert -- the world needs more lerts!).  Nikki tied the score at 1-1 with an RBI on a fielder's choice that turned into an error.  Grace reached on an error by the pitcher.  Suddenly, it was bases loaded.

Nikki and Grace celebrate Grace's tag/throw

double play to stop a Brentsville threat.

After a fielder's choice at home, the wind choose a bad time to die down.  A twisting fly to right nestled into the outfielder's mitt, instead of being pushed down and closer to the line by the wind. This cost West Potomac at least two runs.

Brentsville scored their first run on this bloop hit.  They

scored their second run on a questionable call

Then came the controversial call.  After an error to put a Brentsville runner on, the next two batters moved the runner to second and then third.  A slow roller by a lefty hitter meant a bang-bang play at first.  The umpire called safe and the run scored.

Torie rounds first on her single

as Elizabeth heads toward third.

The old playground saying that the "tie goes to the runner" is simply not true.  The rulebook says the runner must beat the ball to the bag.  The play sure looked (and sounded) like a tie -- which should be an out, with the inning over, and no run scored.  Instead of an international tie breaker extra inning game, the Wolverines suffered their third loss in a row.

A cynical blogger would point out that this should be an asterisk game -- and that the Wolverines should be credited with a 6-2-1 record.  But, I'm not going there.  Not going to bring it up.  Nope.

Olivia makes a nice running catch in left.

Jayne pitched well for the doubleheader, going thirteen innings and giving up seven earned runs.  She whiffed nine batters and issued three walks (none in the second game).  She gave up 12 hits to Lake Braddock and only "seven" to Brentsville (hit number seven was the blown call at first).

The Wolverines turned two double plays, one in each game.  The plays were eerily similar.  With a runner on first, a grounder to second turned into a tag and throw to first for the twin killing.  The first game it was Harley to Raven, while the second game was Grace to Caroline.  Maddie Miller took away a hit on a sure single to right by nailing the Bruin runner at first.  She also made an impressive running catch in right field during the second game to steal a hit.  Olivia Manous fought the wind and won in left field, making a nice backhanded running catch of a dying quail.

(Editor's Note: Call off the ASPCA.  No birds were harmed in the making of that catch -- it's an old baseball expression, and believe me, the reporter writing this blog post IS old.)

Wolverine Whispers: After all those games the last two weeks, take the rest of the week off.  On opening day for the Nationals, which is also the same day the NCAA championship, the Wolverines will have a practice for the first time what seems like a month!

The schedule now goes to a more sane two games per week pace, with the games generally being a Tuesday and Friday schedule.  TC Williams comes back to West Potomac for the resumption of conference play on April 7th.

See you there!