Dateline: Field of Dreams (Field #8)
Reston Warrior fans got some dinner after the thriller in Game 1 and came in the gates of Field 8 in the pleasant night air for the 7:00 game. The Warriors switched to the required red jerseys to be the home team.
Andy got the start as he had only thrown ten pitches in game 1 and he looked sharp. The first batter grounded out to second. The second batter blasted a long shot to left center that went way over the wall. This reporter doesn’t know whether or not to point out that the batter was a female, but after many discussions with the editorial staff it was deemed worthy to point out.
Editors Note: This reporter can be somewhat tiresome in his constant desire to make a mountain out of a mole hill. Who cares about the gender of the player who smashed a very long home run?
Andy regained his composure and after walking the next batter, he settled down to get a ground out to Marty at second who made a nice play as he tossed to Jake at first. The last out came as Conor made a nice catch on a high pop to deep short. In the bottom of the second it was business as usual for Conor as he blasted his second leadoff home run of the day to left field. Sam followed with a single, Jordan singled and the runners advanced on wild pitches. Jake singled to score Sam and Jordan. Bats were quiet for both teams in the second and after two it was Reston 3 Oaklawn 1.
In the top of the third, Andy struck out the last batter of the Oaklawn lineup. The next batter drilled a long shot over the left center field wall for a solo home run. Pitching carefully, he pitched around the next batter who had earlier homered and she walked. She ended up scoring on a ground ball to deep short. Andy settled down to get the last batter to ground out to third. In the bottom of the third, Reston battled back. Conor led off with a walk. He stole second. Sam walked. Jordan grounded into a fielders choice at second to move Conor to third. Runners on first and third, two outs, game tied at three, Jake stands in at the plate. Jordan steals second. Second and third. Two Outs. Tie Game. Oh the drama! Jake runs the count to two and two. Next pitch is a curve moving to the outside corner. Jake waits on it and smashes it over the left field wall. Warriors fans erupt. It was such a happy time. The Oaklawn pitcher settles down and get three outs but after three Reston had the lead 6-3.
Graham came on to pitch the fourth and the first two batters walked. The second batter hits a tailor made double play but sadly the infield doesn’t turn it and runners end up at first and second with no outs. Graham settled down and struck out the next batter and induced the next batter to pop up to catcher. No runs scored and two outs. The next batter was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. The leadoff man for Oaklawn walked to score a run. The second batter was careful with the count and she walked to score a run. Marty came on to pitch. The next batter reached on an infield error and scored another run. Another infield error and another run. Marty settled down and got the last batter to ground out to Conor at short. Reston immediately struck back. Thomas singled. Conor singled. Marty reached on an infield error to load the bases with no outs. Sam came up with a big single to score Thomas. Jordan drilled a long single to score Conor. The Oaklawn pitcher settled down and got the last two outs of the inning. After four it was anyone’s game at Oaklawn 9 Reston 8.
In the top of the fifth Marty looked sharp and shut down Oaklawn on only eight pitches with a couple of nice plays by Conor at short and a ground out back to the mound. In the bottom of the fifth Reston tied it up. With one out, Matt walked, Graham walked and Conor singled to score Matt. Unfortunately, Marty then blasted a hard shot to short that ended up being a double play as the short stop fired to first to just get Conor by a step. After five it was Reston 9 Oaklawn 9.
In the top of the sixth, the first batter grounded out to Conor for out one. The leadoff batter walked. The next batter was again careful and she walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Marty settled down and struck out the next batter for our two. The next batter walked to load the bases with two outs. Conor came on to pitch and the batter hit a bloop single to left to score the go-ahead run. Conor settled down to get the last batter for out three. Reston made it exciting in the bottom of the sixth as Jordan singled for his third hit of the game and sixth hit of the day. He then stole second putting the tying run in scoring position. Unfortunately, the Oaklawn pitcher got out of the inning and the game ended Oaklawn 10 Reston 9.
Assistant Coach Grossman said, “What a day. Our guys were really tired during this game after having all the excitement of the first game and then a back and forth thriller in this game. I think we all think this was a winnable game, but it is what it is. We’ll regroup and be ready to go tomorrow. I have to say the highlights of this one were Andy’s great pitching and Jake’s thrilling home run.”
Editors Note: Oaklawn ended up 5-1 in the initial phase with an 8.83 runs allowed average and was seeded #23 overall. This was good enough to get them a bye all the way to the 8:00 game on Wednesday where they got the pleasure of playing the #10 seed Hard 90 team where they lost 14-1. Hard 90 went on to win the tournament.
