Butler at North Meck, A 14 Inning Classic

Ray, aka Dawgfan, should be able to clear this up!

 

Bottom of the Fourteenth

Up by two Butler takes the field, now the bottom of the fourteenth. Kelsey Spurrier, still pitching, faces North batter Daniella Torres who smashes one back at Kelsey. I was blocked by the North first base coach and saw Kelsey field the ball and throw the runner out at first. I must have missed Kelsey partially block the ball hit back at her and also hit her nose. Next thing I see is Kelsey go down holding her nose. A scary moment, but after a short delay she stays in the game. Boomer is up again and and hits a ball past the diving second baseman for a single. Carol-Anne Sherril up next hits a single past the shortstop this time for another single, runners on first and second. A passed ball advances the runners to second and third but there are now two outs.

Time out, North Coach Paul Kikta wants to put in a runner for Carol-Anne on second but the umps won't let him. The runner has just arrived to the game after participating in academic school function and is a varsity player. I don't know for sure but I heard that she wasn't listed on the lineup card given to the umpire and that's why he wouldn't let her pinch run.

Back to the game. Sara Allen is up with a chance to tie or win her own game. She hits a short fly to right field that falls in. Boomer scores easily from third but Carol-Anne is thrown out by Butler right fielder Allyson Rispoli for the third out of the inning and a W for her Butler Bulldogs.

Great game, one of those you wish both teams could win, but also a game that build character and confidence. I hope my photos told the story of this classic game. I will post many more photo of both teams on my web site fastpitchphotos.com, go to softball, North Meck, then North Meck vs Butler.
It will be a few day to get all the images up so keep checking.

 

The Game

With those pictures and commentary I feel like I owe the home team $5 for admission

 

If the count is 2-0 and I know a kid can launch one on the next pitch, I'd make sure she did not see a decent pitch.
So the tying run is on 1st.
She's not in scoring position and the force play is on.
AND with 2 outs!.......no I would not pitch to her until she had 2 strikes, and even then she'd see something off the plate,down and away with the hopes of a ground ball at worst.
JMO, Fishman

 

This points out a big difference between fastpitch and baseball. I came from a baseball strategy background which would say never put the tying run on... but FP is different because of the dimensions its a lot harder to score from first on an extra base hit. If Boomer was indeed the only HR threat I would have thrown her nothing but fastballs 6 inches to a foot off the plate with two outs, let her walk, and played the OF very deep on the next hitter. If she fished and got in the hole then maybe I would have come after her.

Great post BTW... felt like I was watching a Ken Burns documentary!

 

Thanks Coach Cottom

Thanks for your roster, I have updated this post to show the names of your girls to go with their numbers. I have a lot of editing to do to finish these game photos (on my web site) and will also do a shorter post on your game with Alexander Central from yesterday. I have become a big fan of your team and I hope to photograph another game or two more this season.

 

this thread is nice. thanks guys.

fishman