Host with the Most

 

Howard Park | Home of the Green

 

Howard Park was the home for a two-for-Tuesday special.

We went Dutch and split the twin bill.  In each match, the hosts were not kind to their guests.

Cougars vs Pink Panthers

In the first matchup, the Cougars were the home team and shared our plate with an upstart green team.  The Green Cougars were not very welcoming to the Pink Panthers with a 10-3 victory. 

The new crew led off the game and put runners on first and second base.  With two outs, as soon as the runner on first started to take his leadoff, SRads fired it to Li’l Rads.  The ball got away and the runners took off.  Li’l Rads retrieved the ball and touched first base for the third out.  The Pink Panthers were stunned and confused because they didn’t understand what they just experienced.  Welcome to the league, boys!  Everyone learns the house rules and eventually gets initiated with the Wheel Play.

We first experienced the Wheel Play 15 years ago!  Here is the recap from 2008 by Bobi.

What happens next will go down in Dead Cougars history.  Marc takes his lead at first and the pitcher for the Hitmen tries to pick Marc off. He throws the ball away. Danielsen, who's coaching first, starts waving his arms, Marc breaks for 2nd and I break for 3rd. As I'm standing on 3rd the Hitmen tag out Marc, throw to 3rd and tag me out, double play. Basically I can't advance because they didn't make a play on me and Marc can't advance because 2B wasn't open, so we're both out. We end up getting a third out and the game was over. Unf'ingbelieve-able.  After the game we talked with the Santa Claus ump and clearly we made a rookie mistake.

Back to the game.  In the bottom of the first inning, Boom walked and SRads singled.  With an overthrow we had runners on second and third.  CRads nailed a sac fly to score Boom.  Then Ev shot a single to left center to score SRads.  Cougars up 2-0.

We silenced our foe in the top of the second inning.

Cougars scored five in our half of the inning.  Joker singled and Jimmy hit a big ball to the left side and took second while Joker was stopped at third.  Then the Pink Panthers got another out, but we weren’t done.  With two outs, Crawdaddy lasered a liner to make it first and third.  Pastor singled just over SS to score Jimmy.  Boom hit a hard-to-handle grounder to load them up.  SRads singled up the middle for two RBIs and then CRads singled up the middle for two more ribbies.  Cougars up 7-0.  Not a very nice way to treat our guests.

In the top of the third the Panthers got a tally and in the bottom the Cougars did not.  JD was a thief when he swiped a base from our guests.

 

Two more for the Pink Panthers in the top of the fourth inning.

We recorded one in the bottom of the fourth frame.  Crawdaddy walked.  Boom singled for first and third.  SRads had a sac fly.  Up 9-3.

Pink Panthers went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth.  In the inning, Ev made an amazing one handed catch to steal a hit from our visitors.  

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Who did it best?  Incredible!

In their fifth, CRads pitched consecutive Ks and combined with SRads for six in the game.

In our fifth, we got one run.   Ev singled up the middle.  Fort lined a shot that pinballed off the pitcher for an out and moved Ev to third.  JD had a long sac fly for a RBI.  Cougars winning 10-3.

Opponent scoreless in the sixth inning. 

In our turn at bat, Jimmy hit an ungrippable ball in the infield and made it a double with a throwing error.  Li’l Rads moved him over to third.  Crawdaddy walked for men on first and third.  Pastor Ted singled scoring Jimmy.

Cougars with lockdown defense in the last inning to seal the victory and close the door on our guests.

 

Cougars vs Tito’s

Tito’s were not very hospitable hosts as they walk off the Cougars in a closely contested game.  We had some highlights and lowlights.

We were the visitors and started the game quickly.  CRads had a liner to center.  Then Ev blooped the ball to left center and Charley scored from first.

Tito’s responded three in the first.  Cougars down by two, 3-1.

Everyone quiet in the second.

Cougars down 1-2-3 in top of third

In the bottom of the third, Tito’s scored two more.  Even worse, Fort injured his hammy while playing SS and went to the bench to evaluate.  Tito's up 5-1.  

A tough bottom ... of the inning. 

Top of the fourth we worked hard for a run.  CRads had a liner to center and Ev followed with a liner to right center.  Fort, with a torn hammy, singled up middle to load ‘em up.  JD flied a sacrifice to score Ev.

Score 5-2.

Nothing in the fifth for either team.  Cougars still losing 5-2.

We had a sixth inning rally.  SRads singled and CRads beat out an infield single.  With two men on, Ev doubled to right scoring SRads and putting runners on second and third.  At the plate on one good leg, Fort singled up middle and hobbled to first base for two RBIs to tie it up. Incredible!  Two for two with a torn hamstring!

Bottom of the sixth inning we got Tito’s down in order. 

In the top of the last inning all tied up, the Cougars could not touch the dish.

In the bottom of the last, Tito’s strung together a few hits to walk us off for an inhospitable victory. 

Cougars split the night.  In each game the host had the most.

Forget proper etiquette, as the visiting team, next week the Cougars will be the Guest with Zest.