State Baseball Game 2....

So, I'm about as far behind as can be, so I'm going to try and catch up over the next couple days. Stamford was playing in unknown territory having made it to the state finals for the first time after coming up short in the team's two previous trips to the state tournament. So, for the third year in a row, they were either going to win it all or lose to the eventual state champion.

The game didn't turn out the way the players were hoping for though. They lost to Fayettville 10-0, getting mercy ruled in the fifth inning. It was kind of an odd game though. They finished the game without any of the players striking out and even got some runners on base, but they couldn't string together enough hits to score some runners. And, in the field they were making uncharacteristic errors. Plus Fayettville was getting hits of their own and those balls were falling. Obviously the ending wasn't what the team was hoping for, but the good news is 7 of the 9 starters are returning next year and the team's best hitter was hurt most of the season and when he did play, he could only DH. So, a team made up of almost all juniors and sophomores at least has a really bright future ahead of it.

State Baseball...

Stamford was making their third straight trip to the state baseball tournament in Round Rock. The first year they went they got beaten pretty bad. Last year they lost again in the first round to the eventual state champion. This year, they were going in as the top seed with only one loss. Their opponent was Dodd City, a solid team that plays great defense.

The crazy thing about this team, is even though it is made up of mostly juniors and sophomores most of them played in this game last year and a few of them were making their third trip. So, not only were they young but they were also hungry and experienced. After last year, the looks on their faces showed disappointment despite being the third best team in the state. So this year, losing in the first round wasn't an option. The first couple of innings were scoreless. Both teams were trying to feel each other out. Stamford was hitting the ball but making a few mental errors. But, at least they were hitting the ball early, unlike what they had done in the past. Plus the pitching was doing well and they weren't making mistakes in the field.

The nice thing about having been here a couple of times is I already know ahead of time what shooting positions work out well and which ones don't. Sort of like when a team has been here before. And Dell Diamond has some really cool places to shoot from. The left field home run porch is not only different from where I get to shoot from regularly, but it's also a nice elevated position and what made things even better was that when I went up to shoot from there Stamford started scoring. After making it a thriller there towards the end Stamford was able to hold off Dodd City's final push and make the championship game for the first time in their three trips to state.