Willington Baseball Nipped By Jewett City, 3-2

Jewett City- On Saturday, June 7th, 2014, my team, the Willington Baseball Team played at Jewett City.  My team had lost it’s season opener, 11-4 at home to Jewett City, and we were looking for revenge.  It was my first game of the season.  In the first inning, we were ready to put up a fight, as Dan led off with a single into center, and would later be advanced to third with two outs.  When he was at the third, the ball got by the catcher, and he sped off for home, but was tagged at home to end the inning.  In the bottom of the first, things didn’t start off well, as the very first batter pop the ball up into foul territory by our dugout, and as our pitcher, Kienan ran to get it, the runner hit his leg just right to twist it and make him fall.  He was okay luckily and ended up pitching a complete game.  We didn’t get revenge though, since they scored a run, to take a 1-0 lead after one inning.  No one would score again until the third, when my team came back.  I was the third batter up in the inning, with Austin on first after a single, and one out.  I attempted to bunt but missed the ball and then pulled back on another pitch since it was a ball.  Then with the count two balls and one strike, the pitcher nailed me in the back with the ball, putting players on first and second.  Two more players were walked, forcing in a run, to tie it and the bases were now loaded.  I was at third when the ball got past the catcher, but it bounced off the backstop and right back to him, so I stopped halfway and made it back to third safely.  I would make it home though, as the next batter walked to force me in to give my team the 2-1 lead, and this would be the score it would stay.  In the bottom of the inning, I would be put in right field, where I would stay for the rest of the game.

In the fifth, I came up to bat again.  After getting two balls on me, I fouled a ball way back almost fair, along the right field line.  After another ball, I then fouled a ball straight back against the fence, before being walked.  I would go to second after Jimmy got walked.  While I was at second, the pitcher threw the ball back to the second baseman, but I was safe; however, the second baseman then faked a throw back to the pitcher and then whirled around and pushed me to try and get me out, but I barely kept my foot on base.  I would make it to third but It would stay 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth, when Jewett City got players to first and second, with one out, when the batter grounded into a forceout at second.  However, the umpire signaled that it wasn’t out and let the player go back to second!  I still don’t know why he wasn’t out!  This made the bases loaded with one out and the batter then ripped a two-run single into center, giving Jewett City a 3-2 lead.  We would escape the inning with no more damage.  In the sixth, we had another chance to score.  Brandon got an infield single with one out, and then Josh E came to the plate.  He bunted and was out at first, but Brandon sped to third.  The ball looked like it was going to bounce by the third baseman, but he somehow stopped it, and as Brandon rounded third, he saw this and went to dive back but fell just short of the bag, and was tagged out.  The top of the seventh was the final inning.  Our chances weren’t too good, as our first two batters got out.  Then Joe came to the plate and ripped a single to center putting me in the spotlight.  I would walk on five pitches, putting players on first and second, and Jimmy at bat.  He would hit a line drive right at the third baseman who caught it to end the game.  With the loss our team record drops to 0-2; our next game is at Mansfield.

Despite the loss I had fun, and was pleased how I did for my first game of the season!

At The Plate

Tags: Baseball, Jewett City, Sports, Willington