Sunday, May 29, 2016

Saturday Baseball On Sunday

I just had a typical Saturday.  Left home around 9am to visit my step mother in the big Northampton County town of Lasker.  On to Ahoskie where we visited one of my wife Pat's  sisters and the plan A was to go to the American Legion Doubleheader before heading home.  Just might be too hot to sit in the sun at 4 pm so at 3:15 we buzz by the field on the way home.

By the way Coleman  Pitt lost  game one of the doubleheader 5-3 after Josh Daniels pitched the first five innings and left with a 3-3 tie.  Trey Wells gave up a two run homer in the bottom of the sixth for Post 58 third straight loss of the season.

The night cap was all Post 58 as they finally score some runs and beat Post 102 9-2.  Cameron Taylor made a nice comeback after his one and one third inning opening night seven run outing.  He gets the win with close out help from Zack Keeter.

Post 58 travels to Winterville Monday night and plays Pitt County Post 39 at Pitt CC.  Next home action is Tuesday night against Cary.

Got home just in time to spend 30 minutes at home and head to Cary to see Lander play in the fourth game of the day in the Division II College World Series.  Had it planned out just right.  Game time was schedule for 8:30 as four games were squeezed in Saturday because of the pending rain coming Sunday.  Picked up my son Brooks and we arrived around eight just enough time to hob nob with the Johnson family there watching son Britt coach third for Lander.  Also the Leggetts rooting  for son Jim as pitching coach for the Bearcats.

Didn't get a chance to speak to the Berry family before the game but the best laid plans don't always workout.  Game three went 12 innings and the first pitch in the Lander game was not until 10:05pm.  Thomas Berry's first at bat he hit a rope that the right fielder almost didn't even move.  Second chance was a foul pop up which almost hit one of the in bound jets heading in to RDU.  Third time up was a K.

Lander got a home run in the first but a miss played ball in the outfield tied the game at one.  Another defensive lapse gave Central Missouri the lead of 2-1 in the top of the eighth.  Two outs and Thomas Berry at the plate he coaxed a walk.  Those of you who remember Thomas playing at Rocky Mount might remember he is not fleet a foot so he was replaced by a speedster in the bottom of the eighth.  No need for a speedster as Lander gets a two run homer to take a 3-2 lead into the ninth and they bring on their stopper from the bullpen.




Those of you who have watched the ACC baseball tournament this week especially the NC State games know what it feels like to be on top of the mountain one minute and knocked down the next.  Lander gives up the tying run and somehow or other were lucky enough not to give up the lead.  Heading to the bottom of the ninth tied 3-3.  Lander scores one run to win on a walk off single and advance to the winners bracket game Tuesday Night at 8:00pm.  The game ended at 1:14am this morning.  Didn't stay long to bask in the glory of victory with the Johnson's,Berry's and Leggetts.  Here it is 3:26 as I write this blog and church starts for me at 8am.

Many of you know the ACC championship game has moved to 10 am this morning.  Nash  County's John Haggerty will be the umpire behind the plate.