3A Playoffs

Alright tj- you tell Joe Hubbard to save us a good seat and I'm comin'

 

I don't think Joe Torre could create any seats tonight, we were a little late getting there (only about 20 mins before gametime) and crowd was already standing room only. Of course rainy weather had everyone crowding into covered stands.

Come on up Tuesday, should be great game. Talk about not fair, Joe's got 2 Seagers this time, of course both great hitters.

 

Also, I liked the fact they used 4 umpires tonight, don't remember them using 4 in the 3rd round before, and they must of got most of calls right because 2 quality coaches didn't question much. A couple calls that were questioned and reversed, I felt like they ended up with the right call. Thought 4 umpires was very good.

 

Tell him I'm coming. He'll bring the Seagers and I'll bring the Seagrams.

 

Be sure and call me prior to Tuesday, I'll show you one of the best BBQ joints in these parts just one block from the field (M&K BBQ).

 

We'll do, I better dress to impress

 

I'm taking Monday off for a "Legion" game and Tuesday for NWC vs ER, does it get any better than that? My brother lives in Granite Quarry, about 3 minutes drive from the field... can you say TAILGATE???!!!! If anyone wishes to stop by before the game you would be more than welcome.

 

Dang you stole my line!!!

 

Yea Braves, you gotta wear a shirt in this place. And Weyco, come on, I plan on getting there a "little" earlier this time, all I had time for tonight was get in, get a dog and find a place to stand.

Btw, great to see Countryboy again. Hey Country, tell your boy they played a helluva game, you guys hit the ball hard all night and definitely had the ER crowd sweating bullets. Your son's a great ballplayer and the whole team played hard with class tonight in a very tough loss.

 

Another take on East Rowna and Mt. Pleasant

It was a great HS game between East Rowan and Mt. Pleasant, played in a great setting at Staton Field in Granite Quarry. A hard rain fell for a few minutes to delay the start and MP got things going early off Thomas Allen. Three first inning singles plated one run and then Allen got the MP batter to take strike three on the outside corner with two runners in scoring position...a call that the MP coaches clearly thought was ball four. Allen was pulled early and two ER relievers (Alex Bost & Will Johnson) pitched very well over the next four innings.

Grayson Atwood cruised throught the first three innings for MP, not allowing a hit, but ran into two-out trouble in the 4th inning, giving up back to back doubles to Noah Holmes and Andy Austin (both with two strikes).

The 1-1 tie carried into the 6th inning and then things got very interesting. ER reliever Bradley Robbins came in with two on and no outs in the 6th inning and his tailing fastball nailed the MP batter in the thigh as he was squared to sacrifice bunt, loading the bases with no outs. The ER coach appealed that the batter offered at the pitch and the call was eventually reversed, with the batter subsequently striking out. With two outs, the MP batter drove a smash up the middle that Robbins snagged and retired the runner to end the inning and save the go ahead run from scoring.

In the bottom of the sixth, Preston Troutman unloaded a no-doubter to RF that brought the ER crowd to its feet and just that quickly, all ER needed to win was three outs in the 7th....but there was more to come, as Will Sapp followed with another bomb and that ended Atwood's evening. Then Nathan Fulbright stroked an RBI double after a teammate got on base for an insurance run. MP rallied in the bottom of the 7th with a walk and a single and no outs, but could only eventually muster a run on a groundout. Robbins tailing fastball came into play again in the 7th as he retired an MP batter who screwed himself into the ground trying to escape the fastball riding in on him, only to have his bat strike the ball as he was in his escape maneuver, yielding a tap out to the pitcher.

Game ended 4-2....may have broke some records for balls used in one game. Wet conditions and the most foul balls I have ever seen must have made it a 4-dozen evening for the home team. Also, saw way more coach/umpire "discussions" than normal....just reflecting the intensity of the game. Umpires did a great job and even reversed two calls on themselves after consulting with one another. I was amazed to see a 327 ft sign hanging in the left-center power alley...wow!