A Jewel on the Diamond

Yesterday was Julie’s birthday.  How old, you ask?  Well, let’s just say she celebrated like Hammerin’ Hank Aaron.

Coming off a spectacular Mother’s Day celebration put together by her wonderful family, I asked her what she would like for her birthday.

JRads simply replied, “I have such a patient, attractive, and humorous husband, as well as delightful, smart, and perfect kids, I don’t need any gifts." 

No gifts! 

That’s what our Coach Emeritus, Joe D. taught the Cougars years ago.  Make the plays, throw to the correct base, hit the cutoff man and eliminate errors.  Don’t give away runs. 

The Cougars took the ballfield last night for our first match-up against the Tappers this season.

In the first inning, the Tappers had three hits by their first four batters to score two runs. Then some dandy defense stopped a potential wave of runs.  With one out and men on first and second, the ball was hit to Martini on the mound, who threw it to Bobi at third for the force out.  Bobi then fired the ball to JD at first base for the double play but the runner was a stride too fast.  The always aware JD saw that the baserunner who was on first base had rounded second and was attempting to take third.  JD hurled the ball across the dirt to Bobi who cleanly caught the ball to make the tag to complete the double play.  It was a 1-5-3-5 double play.    

In our half of the first, JD ripped a single but the hits were not dropping for the rest of us.  Tappers up 2-0.

The second inning was scoreless for both teams but our frame was highlighted by a Bobi double.

In the top of the third inning, a double play again got us out of an inning.  With one out and a man on first base, the batter knocked a hard grounder to Martini who gunned it to Li’l Rads who stomped on second base and fired it to JD to complete the DP. 

In our at-bat in the third, back-to-back singles by Flandog and Boom got us our first two baserunners of the inning.  Both Rads boys made outs so JD came up with two outs and slammed a single to knock in a ribbie.  With two men on, Martini and Bobi had back-to-back hits to score a couple more runs.  Cougars 3 Tappers 2.

In the fourth inning their leadoff hitter got on base but our third double play of the game took him off the bases.  This time the batter crushed a line drive that tipped off Martini’s hands right into Rads’ hands at SS who gunned it to JD at 1B to double up the baserunner.

We broke it open in the bottom of the fourth inning with 6 hits and 5 runs.  Philthy, Li’l Rads, Flandog, Rads, JD, and Martini all hit the ball down and hard and took the extra base.  Cougars up 8-2.

In the fifth and sixth innings the Cougars only allowed two baserunners.  Over the same two innings, we had hits by Thejokewriter, Diddy, Philthy, Flandog, and Martini but could not convert a run.

In the top of the seventh, we completed our gift-free game with a 1-2-3 inning to end the contest.  We played an error-free game.

We were fault-free at the post game, too.  We had a huge crowd of Cougars and cougars. (Yes, many wives were there to celebrate, and I have not used that joke in a while).

Just like Julie wanted – No Gifts. 

A jewel on the diamond is less expensive than a diamond for Jul.