Game #8: June 15, 2010
(Pickering, Ont) The Shamrocks came into Tuesdays game attempting to put their recent defensive struggles behind them. Fighting the ball on the defensive side during their last game vs DD4U, the Shammys unfortunately carried it over vs The Sting.
After grabbing the early 1-0 in the Top of the 1st, the Shamrocks gave it right back and then some due to some miscues on “D”. The veteran Sting club who always seem to the ball in play, and play hard, did that in the bottom half. Lead-off hitter Mike Racioppo slide hard into 2nd base after a grounder back to the mound taking out Shammys shortstop Marc Reynolds breaking up the force play.
As the inning continued, Reynolds hardly had a chance to recover. A routine ground ball got right under the glove and contributed to a 3 run Sting inning.
That play at 2nd really took a toll on Reynolds who eventually had to leave the game. X-rays after the game revealed a cracked rib and is now listed as Day-to-Day.
The relentless Sting batters continued to barrage starter Cam Armstrong constantly hitting tough pitches and making no easy outs. When they weren’t hitting holes, the Shamrocks “D” was helping them out. More fielding errors in the inning contributed to the 4-run 2nd and the Shammys were quickly on the verge of being mercied for the 2nd time this season.
Trailing 7-1 after just two innings of play, the Shammys shook things up. Reliever Craig Sarson managed to help ease the bleeding by throwing 3 scoreless innings until the 6th when the dreaded ground ball reared its ugly head. Led footed Gary Latchford hit a tailormade double play ball which went right though the legs of 2nd baseman Ted Boggs.
“I don’t think he got any leather on it” said Armstrong who saw it all the way from SS. “Actually all three balls I don’t were even touched by or any of them, Marc, Chris (Tercer), or Ted. It was just one of those games I guess.”
Not everything can be blamed on the defence. The Shamrocks sticks went cold after a promising first inning recording just 3 hits the rest of the way. Sting hurler Paul “BJ” Foucault seemed to get stronger as the game went on throwing 6 full innings, striking out 8 in the Sting’s 9-1 victory.
The Shammys look to break their 2-game losing streak this Saturday morning, June 19 when the take on the Panthers down at Dunnsmore Park.
Season / Game Notes
- - 2010 Shamrocks: 2-2 Black Uniforms, 0-2-1 Green Uniforms
- - 2010 Shamrocks: 0-3 Late Games (8:30), 2-1-1 Early Games (6:30)
- - AVG leader: TERCER (.523), F. FLEMING, REYNOLDS (.333)
- - RBI Leader: KELLY (5), TERCER (4)
RUNS Leader: TERCER (5), KELLY, P. FLEMING (4)