Challengers 3, Mustangs 5

In Game 2, the Challengers were in control the entire time...until it counted, when they weren't. Kovac led off with a walk, and took second on a passed ball. Unfortunately, while trying to steal third he didn't notice that Azuma had lifted a fly ball to right, which was caught and then promptly returned to second base to complete the double play. We tried to yell at Carlos, who was coaching third, but he, reasonably, pointed out that Kurt was about 3 feet from the base by the time he noticed Carlos' yelling and pointing. Ah well. The second inning was even worse, especially for the manly pride of several team-members: The young lady pitching for Embrach struck out not one, not two, but THREE Challenger hitters, all swinging. There's not a lot to be said after you whiff against someone throwing a 30 mph fastball. Thank god my family wasn't there to see it...and that I wasn't the only one to whiff against a girl. I don't care if that's PC or not...Let's just move on.

One alarming development that took place between games was the decision to put Gordon at first, as opposed to his customary spot in center. In the bottom of the second, a lead-off single, sac bunt and a wild pitch gave Embrach a runner in scoring position with just one out. The next batter hit a slow grounder wide of the mound that required the first baseman (me) to range right and then make a quick throw to the pitcher covering. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite decide whether to make an under-hand toss or try something else, which led to a sort've "shovel pass" that went behind Kurt and allowed the runner to reach safely. Fortunately, the ball hit off of the runner's rather substantial stomach, which kept it from going out of play. The run would've scored anyway, but the error cost us an out. Whatever. I play outfield...leave me alone. Actually though, I have to say that the next 5 outs all involved plays at first (1-3, 3 unassisted, 4-3, 3 unassisted, and then a little bloop to deep first)...so maybe it's not as hard as I thought. Credit to Ryan Koley for lending me his 1B glove.

In the top of the third, the Challengers finally realized "hey wait a minute...this girl is throwing the ball about 30 mph tops...maybe we should hit it". Rüdisühli led off with a single, and took second on a passed ball. That brought up Romang, who was victimzed by the first - of what are guaranteed to be many - inexplicably dumb calls by an umpire. In fact, this call was so bad, that I'm still not sure I'm over it. Here's what happened: Romang hit a slow grounder down the third base line, which was botched by the third baseman, who, while standing in front of the base, knocked the ball into foul territory. Romang beat the throw to first, Andreas ran to third...Challengers were in business. EXCEPT...that the umpire somehow managed to decide that the ball was foul. I honestly have no idea how he arrived at this conclusion...the ball literally hit off the fielder's legs while he was standing in front of the base in fair territory. Just amazing. Michel ultimately struck out, and when Kovac popped to third, it looked like the rally was over.

However, Azuma reached on a fielder's choice, sending Andreas to third, and bringing up Lehmann. Nick followed with grounder to third, which sent Andreas scrambling for the plate - fortunately the catcher botched the throw from third, because he would've been out by a good 15 feet. Remember, it's only a bad idea if it doesn't work. Sarmiento followed with a single, sending Lehmann to third, and bringing Gordon to the plate. Determined to redeem what was left of his dignity after whiffing in his last at-bat, Gordon sent a grounder deep into the hole at short, which was bobbled and then thrown away into short right field (I still think it was a hit, but whatever). Lehmann scored, and Sarmiento tried to score from second, only to be called out by the SAME UMPIRE who had botched the call on Romang earlier. This time, the call was made while not even looking at the play. Yes, that's right: he actually turned away from the plate to make the call. Unbelievable. Still, it was now 3-1 Challengers.

It remained that way until the bottom of the 4th, when two one-out singles gave the Mustangs runners on first and third. The next batter lofted a fly ball into short center field, which Gordon (now back in the outfield) easily caught...and then inexplicably through towards first as opposed to the cut-off (well the explanation was that I somehow lost track of the runner at third and thought that the runner at first, who had been stealing, had rounded the bag at second). I heard Kurt yell out "what was he waiting for"? You know what? I don't have an answer to that question. I play infield...leave me alone ;-)

The score was still 3-2 in the bottom of the 5th when Embrach attempted a 2-out rally: back to back singles put runners at the corners with two outs and the clean-up hitter coming to bat. After a tense sequence of pitches, Kovac induced a fly out to center and the Challengers' lead was intact. The C's missed a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the top of the 6th. After Sarmiento singled, Gordon lined out to second - but the throw to first in an attempt to double off Adderly flew out of play, allowing the runner to take third with only one out. Unfortunately, he was stranded there as the next two batters were called out on strikes.

As the game moved to the bottom of the 6th, the hope was that Kovac could retire the side in order, thus limiting the chances that the 3-4-5 batters would get to hit in the next inning. While those batters ultimately never came to bat again in the game, it wasn't for the reasons Zurich had hoped. Back to back singles put runners on first and second with no outs. However, Kovac took out the lead runner on a ground ball back to the mound, and after striking out the next batter was in prime position to escape the inning with the 9th batter coming to the plate - someone who had not hit the ball out of the infield in two games. Unfortunately, he picked exactly that moment to hit a fly to center, past Gordon who had been playing shallow and over towards right. Again - nothing out of the infield in his first 6 at-bats. Damn it all. One run scored on that hit, and then two more came home when the next batter singled. After having been in control virtually the whole game, the Challengers were suddenly trailing 5-3. The C's managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the 7th, but Azuma's long fly to center was caught to end the game.

Despite having dropped both games, there were some encouraging signs: Excellent starting pitching from both Christen and Kovac, and much sharper defense in the second game. The problem was the lack of offense. Hopefully the bats will pick up the team is able to get some more practices in.

by Alex Gordon