Do you remember your Driver’s Ed class? It was the IPDE Process, parallel parking, and 10 and 2.
Times change.
Now it is the SIPDE Process, self-parking cars, and 9 and 3.
The first two changes, well, ok, I get it. But, c’mon, 10 and 2 is alliterative, memorable and the winning score for the Cougars on Tuesday night.
With the Cougars prowling the top of the standings, it prompted this new road sign at warning Howard Park.
The Cougars raced to Howard Park on Tuesday to drive in runs and leave Tito’s in the rearview mirror.
As the great Tommy Lasorda said, “Baseball is like driving, it’s the one who gets home safely that counts.”
Let’s put it in reverse and recap the victory.
First Inning
Charley drove the ball to left field and ran for a double like the accelerator was stuck but was stranded on the dirt.
Tito’s showed up with road rage and hit the first pitch for a homer. Only one run allowed because Kev made a great sliding hand-over-hand catch in left field.
Cougars 0 Tito’s 1
Second Inning
Ev smashed a double up the middle, moved to third on a Fort fly, and was driven home by a single non-alcoholic Martini.
Tito’s scores zero because we have comprehensive insurance on the left side of the field. CRads grabbed two lasered line shots at third base and Fort smoothly stopped a hard grounder in the hole and fired it to Li’l Rads for the third out.
Cougars 1 Tito’s 1
Third Inning
Freeway closed as the Cougars go down 1-2-3.
Tito’s was held to one hit because Martini survived a demolition derby on the mound and deftly fielded a couple high octane hits at his shins and chest.
Cougars 1 Tito’s 1
Fourth Inning
Boom lined a shot behind second base and in front of the centerfielder. Typically, this would be a single and Boom would immediately get the red light to stop. Instead, Boom went with the rolling left turn and skidded safely into second base. Here, press play for the highlight:
Boom’s aggressive left turn reminded me of this video of Miranda from a couple years ago. Miranda was given the red light to stop but, like Boom, went with the rolling turn. Boom was safe. Miranda was out. She received a red light ticket in the mail. Our deal was that I would pay the fine but also got full video rights of her aggressive right turn. I knew it would come in handy someday. Press play for the lowlight:
The Cougars are certainly turning a corner this season but be careful! Not only is there video enforcement at Dempster and McCormick (as Miranda learned) but also at Howard Park.
With the green light still on, Kev took the wheel and singled down the left field line to plate Boom. CRads hit the gas for a shot up the middle for first and second. Rads cleared the intersection with a single for two ribbies. Ev singled and was left on base.
Tito’s started with a couple hits. Then with one out and runners on first and second, the batter hit a hard grounder to CRads at 3B who swiftly tagged third and fired to JD to complete the double play. No defensive blind spots for our team.
Cougars 4 Tito’s 1
Fifth Inning
Martini led off with a liner to center. JD singled to score Martini. Joker into a fielder’s choice. Jimmy lined a liner for two Lipseys on base. Li’l Rads singled up the middle to score the Joker while Jimmy was left on base. Cougars on cruise control and it started to look like a tailgate party with all the cheering pedestrians in the stands.
Tito’s had some engine failure. No runs.
Cougars 7 Tito’s 1
Sixth Inning
Cougars came out fuel injected and running on all cylinders. CRads and SRads back-to-back singles for first and third. Ev singled to right scoring CRads. Fort followed with another single to right to load ‘em up. Martini had a sac fly to score SRads. The Cougars circled the bases like we were stuck in a roundabout.
Tito’s running out of gas.
Cougars 9 Tito’s 1
Seventh Inning
The horsepower continued with singles by Jimmy and Li’l Rads for first and third. Crawdaddy had a sac fly to score Jimmy. During the game Pastor Ted made so many tallies in the scorebook, it was like he was playing the license plate game on a road trip
Tito’s tried to get jumpstarted, scored one but their charge ended.
Cougars 10 Tito’s 2
The Cougars may get old but winning never does. We play like a 15-year old kid who used to sneak out his parents’ Corvette for a wild joy ride (we’ll save that story for another victory).
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