Previously, Part 5: Get a Good Pitch to Hit…
The kids were looser than normal and seemed to be enjoying the ride.
To me, no vehicle is more uncomfortable than a standard-issue school bus.
It’s no wonder all the dogs bark at ‘em…
While the kids offloaded, there was still casual conversation and laughter as we walked toward the field.
Homeruns at our field had to be legged out, and they were few and far between.
It did keep outfielders on their toes, though.
Gada’s dad and I got along just fine.
One rainy day earlier in the season, we practiced indoors in the small gym.
I was upstairs soft-tossing plastic golf balls to kids hitting ‘em into nets a few feet away.
I couldn’t believe I missed that in BP.
I stopped him, had him turn his front foot at a 45-degree angle, and then swing.
He said I could’ve saved him thousands of dollars.
Gada was warming up on the side with Newk and looked confident and sharp.
He was a control pitcher with three pitches he threw for strikes.
The #3 hitter stroked a standup double, and Diman took a 1-0 lead heading into the second.
No one jumped on Gada or Stags for making the error; we only tried to lift them up.
Newk led off the second with a double but died on third base.
Gada retired the side in order in the second.
Potatah led off the third with a single but was stranded at second base.
With one out in the third, Gada walked the leadoff hitter and struck out the #2 hitter.
The #3 hitter flew out to center field to end the inning.
Diman’s cleanup hitter led off the 4th with a single.
The next batter grounded out, moving the runner up.
Then Potatah pulled off an unassisted double play to end the inning.
Potatah led off the fifth with his third single.
After Varga (2B) popped out to the third baseman, John recorded his second hit.
Gada struggled in the fifth, hitting the leadoff batter.
A rare Potatah error put two on with no outs.
Then Gada struck out the #9 hitter and walked the leadoff hitter, loading the bases.
He induced two fielders’ choices.
Fooch walked, but Potatah was retired for the first time in four at-bats to end the inning.
Varga led off the seventh and reached on an error.
After John popped out to short, Stags smashed a double.
With runners on second and third, Newk and Alejandro were both caught looking.
By the bottom of the seventh, Gada was starting to tire.
Next up was their cleanup hitter,Repozza.
He was 1-3 but had the perfect stance and swing.
He reminded me of a youngTony Conigliaro.
He flew out to deep center in the first inning, so we knew he was a dangerous hitter.
The kid turned on it and sent it deep to left field.
It looked and sounded like a home run off the bat.
He looked a lot like a dog chasing his own tail.
Everyone was holding their breath as the ball descended.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental…
