Game 4 - 14/1/13 v Victoria Blue

Victorians travel this earth under the blue and white banner and so it is that in baseball 'Blue' (their best team) and 'White' (their up and coming players) co-exist. Our assignment today was to play Victoria Blue in a crunch game to push us into a strong position in this preliminary stage of the competition. After playing everyone once, we move to the next phase of the competition later in the week in seeded positions. Today was on the full astroturf field - Diamond 3. The investment in sporting facilities in this part of the world is superb. Surprising they can't produce a strong Test cricket batsman or two.

Our starting pitcher was Ryan Hore, a big strapping lad from down Campbelltown way.  They take no nonsense in those parts and so it was today. Ryan used raw strength and a single mindedness to own the mound and dominate early. It was the ideal start against a talented and at times reckless opponent. He pitched four innings and did the job in style.

We batted second and did so with some early misfortune and bad form over the first couple of innings. James knocked two early ones to second base which causes one to wonder why it takes youth two bites of a spider to move one's foot correctly. A 3-4 early position was tight and tense.

No matter, Myrmell (2), Musulin (2), Hunt (2), Holm (1), Lindsay (1), Percival (1) all registered hits, and soon we were ahead 10-4 after five innings. The spinnaker was getting set to be flown.

Liam McCallum worked busily as bat boy. Professional.

James had a walk and hit a 'sac fly' to score a runner, while the return of Adam Barbaro as catcher mid way through the game also saw him bomb one over left field for a rare and much welcomed triple.

However changing pitchers can be like changing fashions. What one liked, enjoyed and accepted can be challenged. Discomfort and unfounded angst can become allies in the face of a new style - and a disturbance of rhythm. And so it was when we first went to Isaac Stevens from Ryde in his first outing, who pitched fast and furiously, but was not as effective as hoped for, walking too many batters but showing a level of promise which will be needed some other time. Then a composed Aaron Wilkins returned but did not stay long. His job was done. After six innings we were 10-10 and were shaking our collective heads. Mad cow style.

Inexplicably earlier at 10-8 up, Adam Barbaro as catcher picked up the drop third strike but between claiming he actually caught the ball he was then ruled not to have tagged the batter and of course did not bother to throw it to first base either. Extrordinarily, the runner was safe and batters advanced bases. Play the whistle. Loaded bases resulted and subsequently two runs resulted. Crushing, but no despair. Our coaches have learned long ago that clearing the throat rather than ripping someone's throat out works best with umpires - especially here in Mexico.

There was another mild dispute over an alleged tag and suddenly amidst the dust we were under the pump. Tensions rose. Coaches gesticulated like air traffic controllers. Voices in the crowd became more enthusiastic and after the game limit of seven innings, scores remained at 10-10. This though is not acceptable under tournament rules, so a "tie breaker" occurred. Never heard of it myself, but basically both sides were given their last two dismissed batters as runners on base (first and second) and play commenced for one innings and then another if required.

Christian Eckberg, a suntanned and lanky lad from Cronulla way who had earlier sauntered to the mound as pitcher in the seventh innings - and had done a great job under immense pressure and scrutiny - was more pacing to the mound this time. His off-speed pitching was a joy and the team's fielding became better...necessarily. Dean Frew made a great play at short stop. However they scored a run and led 11-10.

Enter Dean and James. Neither enjoyed a good hitting game but they could barely believe their luck when as the last two batters dismissed they too were sent to first base (James) and second base (Dean). With a throwing error to third base, Dean got home. 11-11.

Then we had some drama. Umpires sweated. Coaches cursed. Crowds had built and the tempo of the game was evenly poised. Pressure was immense and the game was there for either team. Half chances were cheered with stifled pleasure....Suddenly a loose ball from their otherwise tidy catcher and James who had been on third base for an eternity, scampered down the line. The big unit putting his Jasper Road sprint trials to the test...a tag would kill our chances...an out terrible...a safe slide, glory...

A 12-11 victory. Sweet.