Dateline: Running Cedar
The Angels took the field here at Running Cedar on a chilly fall morning. The Angels were beset with injuries from the outset, Robbie was limping with a pulled leg muscle and Kevin was out with a cold. Despite all this the Angels still were in the game right up to the end.
Alec took the mound walked the leadoff batter. The next batter struck out but their third hitter drilled one to right to score a run. Alec settled down and only one more run scored. The Angels went down in order and Alec strolled out to the mound in the second. He struck out the first batter and the second batter hit beat out an infield hit to Alec. Their leadoff man walked. Another walk and an infield hit scored two runs. The Angels again went down in order and after two it was 4-0 Indians.
Garrett took the mound in the third. He loaded the bases on a walk, an infield single and another walk. Two more walks resulted in two runs for the Indians. Garrett settled down and struck out the next batter and another batter to hit a shot to Taylor who made a great play at third to get the first out (sadly another run scored). Garrett then calmly struck out the next batter to end the inning. Quinn led off the Angels third with a line drive to right, but the Angels bats were silen and after three it was 7-0 Indians.
The Angels could have given up, but they stayed right in the game – remembering their 8-7 win over the Indians just a week before. Mac came in and struck out two batter and Alec caught a high popup to short to end the inning and suddenly the Angels fans were cheering for a rally. Alec walked, Robby walked and Garrett came in to pinch run for Robby. Mac hit a single to left and, after an overthrow, Coach Grossman sent Alec and Garrett home. Garrett slid into home in a thrilling play at the plate and the ball rolled past the catcher. It was now 7-2. The Indians pitcher settled down and got a strike out to end the inning.
In the fifth the Indians tried to score some insurance runs. The first batter walked, second batter struck out but two more batters walked to load the bases with one out. Mac calmly struck out the next batter. With two out the next hitter hit a slow roller to the mound, Mac came off the mound and fired it to Ben at first to end the inning. The Angels went quietly in the fifth and after five it was 7-2.
Mac kept the Angels within striking distance by striking out the sides. Garrett led off the Angels sixth with a sharp grounder to second who made a nice play to beat him by a step at first. Alec smashed a single to right and the Angels were in business. Robbie hit a blistering ground ball to short who made a great play and flipped to second. With two out there was still hope, but Mac hit a shot to first who scooped it and touched the bag to end the game.
Coach Grossman said “Our guys were a little sleepy at the start of this one, but once we got going we did well. I think we may have gotten a little too confident after the last two games. I was thrilled with the great play of our pitchers, Robby and Ben did a fantastic job behind the plate and I think we are in good shape for our final two games. I have no idea why our dugout was not as well organized (players not paying attention to the game, etc.) but I am sure we will discuss that in practice on Wednesday. Coach Goldstein said “Every player who batted in the sixth hit the ball – that’s just what I like to see. We’ll be ready on Monday.”
The Angles play Monday at Fox Mill District Park. Coach Goldstein will be at the helm as Coach Grossman will be off on a final scouting trip of the season.
