Slappers
Don't like labels
Actually, we came in third in this one. We won our first two games in pool play. The first one was an ugly win but a win nonetheless 11-9. Second game was 1-0. That team was just full of bad attitudes. They complained after every pitch, had a baserunner call my 1B a B**ch for reasons unknown. The first base coach argued over every call, it was ridiculous but the team played well and took the close game.
The third game was fun. We went down 6-0 after the second but either these girls were the best hitting team I have ever seen or were lucky. They hit balls every where we weren't. I'd move the fielders and they would hit it to where they just were. The first pitcher was really good. We got a couple of hits but no runs so they switched her out after the 2nd. I guess they were comfortable at 6-0 which if they did their homework on us was probably a good call...Second pitcher was good too but after she got two outs, the walk bug hit her. From the 3rd it didn't look like she was missing by much but we 4 back before they decided to put P1 back in. We got another 4 off of her so we scored 8 with two outs. I love two out rallys except when they happen to us! So we are up 8-6 at this point. They get another two back and it's now 8-8. Time expires and blue says no new inning will start after this one. We are the visiting team. I have the top of the order up. First batter draws a walk. Second batter gets on with a base hit. Runners on 1&3. Third batter up (my DD) called first strike. Second pitch just foul down the left field line....of course I was hoping for the fair call as the ball went into the corner. Easily would have scored two. Dang it. You all know the feeling I had at that moment. Next pitch is a pretty fastball........that heads halfway up the trees that were behind the fence in centerfield!! Happy coach, extremely proud dad!! Up 11-8. My pitchers ran out of gas. Bad coaching on my part. We had games at 3:30, 6:30 and 8 that night and my pitchers wanted to come see the level of competition we would be playing at the "C" level and got there at like 9 in the morning. They just flat ran out of gas. Ended up losing 12-11 but it was a fun game and we didn't roll over and went down fighting.
The good thing about me being there early on Saturday was I got to scout the other bracket. The team we ended up playing on Sunday had a pitcher that threw 95% change ups. She had a decent fastball though and against the level of hitters she was facing, the CU was quite effective. We only got one run off of her which happened to be on a CU that DD bombed over the fence again in the bottom of the first. Another proud poppa moment! Lost this one 7-1 but we came in 3rd overall so finally a decent weekend for us!
The thing that concerned me the most was all of the obstruction calls. It was almost to the point that if our hitters swung the bat, they would get called for obstruction of allowing the pitcher to pitch to the catcher. We had 6 obstruction calls. One was on a double play when the runner wasn't even 2/3's to second. Blue said she obstructed the throw. Another was on 1B as she had her foot on the edge of the white base waiting for a throw from third. Another was on a throw from SS to first with a runner on second. After the throw, the runner headed to 3 but apparently the SS was in her way? Not sure how as she charged the ball and was damn near in the back part of the pitchers circle. It was a debacle. The only obstruction I saw was one that the umpire told my catcher she was right in how she made the play. My players were asking me how to stand to receive throws and I couldn't tell them. I was asking the umpires what the deal was and I was getting lame rear excuses. For example, the play from 3 to 1, the blue said 1B couldn't be on the base until a throw was made.....really. Are you frickin kidding me? I got mad. I was angry with the umpires and let them know.
This weekend was full of learning experiences for me as a coach and the players. Now we saddle up and get to work during indoor conditioning/practice. Can't wait until the spring!!
The third game was fun. We went down 6-0 after the second but either these girls were the best hitting team I have ever seen or were lucky. They hit balls every where we weren't. I'd move the fielders and they would hit it to where they just were. The first pitcher was really good. We got a couple of hits but no runs so they switched her out after the 2nd. I guess they were comfortable at 6-0 which if they did their homework on us was probably a good call...Second pitcher was good too but after she got two outs, the walk bug hit her. From the 3rd it didn't look like she was missing by much but we 4 back before they decided to put P1 back in. We got another 4 off of her so we scored 8 with two outs. I love two out rallys except when they happen to us! So we are up 8-6 at this point. They get another two back and it's now 8-8. Time expires and blue says no new inning will start after this one. We are the visiting team. I have the top of the order up. First batter draws a walk. Second batter gets on with a base hit. Runners on 1&3. Third batter up (my DD) called first strike. Second pitch just foul down the left field line....of course I was hoping for the fair call as the ball went into the corner. Easily would have scored two. Dang it. You all know the feeling I had at that moment. Next pitch is a pretty fastball........that heads halfway up the trees that were behind the fence in centerfield!! Happy coach, extremely proud dad!! Up 11-8. My pitchers ran out of gas. Bad coaching on my part. We had games at 3:30, 6:30 and 8 that night and my pitchers wanted to come see the level of competition we would be playing at the "C" level and got there at like 9 in the morning. They just flat ran out of gas. Ended up losing 12-11 but it was a fun game and we didn't roll over and went down fighting.
The good thing about me being there early on Saturday was I got to scout the other bracket. The team we ended up playing on Sunday had a pitcher that threw 95% change ups. She had a decent fastball though and against the level of hitters she was facing, the CU was quite effective. We only got one run off of her which happened to be on a CU that DD bombed over the fence again in the bottom of the first. Another proud poppa moment! Lost this one 7-1 but we came in 3rd overall so finally a decent weekend for us!
The thing that concerned me the most was all of the obstruction calls. It was almost to the point that if our hitters swung the bat, they would get called for obstruction of allowing the pitcher to pitch to the catcher. We had 6 obstruction calls. One was on a double play when the runner wasn't even 2/3's to second. Blue said she obstructed the throw. Another was on 1B as she had her foot on the edge of the white base waiting for a throw from third. Another was on a throw from SS to first with a runner on second. After the throw, the runner headed to 3 but apparently the SS was in her way? Not sure how as she charged the ball and was damn near in the back part of the pitchers circle. It was a debacle. The only obstruction I saw was one that the umpire told my catcher she was right in how she made the play. My players were asking me how to stand to receive throws and I couldn't tell them. I was asking the umpires what the deal was and I was getting lame rear excuses. For example, the play from 3 to 1, the blue said 1B couldn't be on the base until a throw was made.....really. Are you frickin kidding me? I got mad. I was angry with the umpires and let them know.
This weekend was full of learning experiences for me as a coach and the players. Now we saddle up and get to work during indoor conditioning/practice. Can't wait until the spring!!
