By Kevin Mueller
CREVE COEUR – A change of venues, a change of players, and a change of the team name may be insignificant details for the Drunken Clams, but after Friday’s blowout of TA
LX one thing is for certain: change is good.Returning from last year, Jen, TJ, Kevin, Cara, Cody, Caryn, and Julie provided the foundation and making their softball debuts with the Clams were John, Margaret, and Gabe. This new group meshed well from the first pitch until the final out, playing solid defense and consistent offense throughout the game.
After falling behind quickly 2-0 in the top of the 1st, this new team did something last years group was unable to do all of last season: they responded, and responded big. Sending 18 players to the plate* in the bottom of the 1st, the Drunken Clams scored 13 runs* on 13 base hits* and a walk and never looked back.
After the Clams were held scoreless in the 2nd, TALX cut the lead to 13-3, but that was as close as this contest ever was. The 3rd inning saw TALX post two more tallies on the score sheet but were matched with two from the home team in the bottom half of the frame.
Heading into the 4th inning leading by 10, Cody pitched a scoreless top half of the inning, practically ensuring the Clams the victory, but there were more fireworks to come.
After Julie’s second walk of the game, and singles by John and Jen, Kevin stepped up to the plate for the fourth time in the game, this time with the bases loaded. Although he was 2 for 3 on the night already, no one, including Kevin himself, could believe what happened next.
A 2-2 pitch was tossed toward home and Kevin got every bit of it, sending the ball way out into left, well over the head of the fielder, and deep into the fenceless outfield. Although the TALX player moved quickly to recover the ball, Kevin was running hard out of the gate, and was right on the Jen’s heels as he crossed home plate, giving the Drunken Clams their first ever Grand Slam and 1st homerun of the 2008 season.
With the score now 24-5, the next batter, Margaret, lined a single into the outfield. This brought up Gabe who was already 3 for 3 on the night. But he wasn’t done either. Going a perfect 4 for 4, he launched a pitch to the opposite field and touched them all, the second homerun of the inning. This one would prove to be the final blow however, as after 3 innings, a team up by 15 is awarded the victory.
Surrendering only 5 runs though 4 innings, Cody picked up his first win as a co-ed recreational softball pitcher, striking out two batters in the process, and never giving up more than two runs in an inning.
* Designates team records
Game Notes: 9 out of 10 Clams scored runs. A deer was grazing in left field from the 2nd inning on, but did not prove to be a factor in the game. This was the Clams second team win dating back to last season when they did not have a team name. John was 5 for 5 in the game and is batting 1.000 along with Gabe.
NEXT GAME: 8/22/08 vs. The Hanging Chads @ 9:30 pm
6 comments:
You can link me. Everything is going well. We just bought a hous in Crestwood so we're preparing for the move. We have been to a few games and she has actually come. She is very mellow and so she did really well at the game. I need to go to some more games. How are you?
My mom works at TALX...what a small world! Congrats on the win.
Yet another wondeful piece to read!! That was great and kept a smile on my face the whole time just thinking about that game!!
Okay, you get into your Softball play by play like my friend Anna gets into her Coed Kick ball team. It was fun to read! Almost like Sports Center without Dickie V.
Good Luck on the 22nd!
I appreciate all the compliments, thank you.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Check it out!!!
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