Sunday, March 8, 2009

Opening weekend

Saturday was the opening game for Little League and Sunday was our first Blue Wave game of 2009. We were excited to get going and a bit nervous to see how it would all go. The short answer is things went well, but we know what we need to work on.

Saturday in Little League we opened against the defending Majors division champs. The Bruins put 7 runs across in the first including Rabbit (hitting 7th) scoring on a passed ball. He had previously walked on a full count and stole 2nd and 3rd. In the field he started at 1B and played the first four innings there. The only action he saw there was when he made a good stretch to get a fast runner on a bang-bang play. After 4 innings we were ahead still 7-4. In his second at bat he struck out swinging at a ball above his head. That was tremendously out of character for him, and he was a little surprised that he had swung.

Rabbit came in to pitch the 5th and faced 4 batters retiring the side on 15 pitches. He really surprised his coaches who were not thinking he would be that effective. In fact, they kept him in to pitch the last inning with a 4 run lead. In the last of the sixth Rabbit got an out on the first pitch on a fly to right. From there no ball left the infield. A few dropped pop ups and misplayed grounders led us to a bases loaded, two out, one run ballgame. After running the count to full Rabbit threw a textbook called strike three to end the game and preserve the win. It was a great way to start.

For Sunday we arrived for game 2 of a double header with the 11U team. Blue Wave had won the first game by a mercy rule 14-2. As usual, but a surprise since this was the 11U team, Rabbit started at 1B. Again he was batting 7th and came up in the second inning with bases empty and two outs.. He tapped the second pitch to 2nd base for an easy out. He knew he was ahead of the pitcher, and I could see the gears of his mind working. In the bottom of the second he made a great scoop of a pick off attempt to retire the runner. He looks good over at 1B. In the third inning we blew the game open again with 10 runs. Rabbit came up with a runner on 2nd and drilled the 1-1 pitch back up the middle for an RBI single. Another strong play in the field at first and the team coasted to a 14-9 win. Two good wins in two days.

A great start, and it surely was time for a great weekend. 2 practices Monday, game Tuesday, practice Wednesday and Thursday and game Saturday. I am tired already and it has not started yet.

LL 1 1 0 0 1 1
BW 2 0 1 1 0 0

1 comment:

capngroovy said...

Way to go Rabbit! First AB jitters, maybe with the high swing. Either that, or you made him watch too much Dominican/Netherlands and he focused on the wrong side.