Playoff Game vs. Methacton Glory 6/6/2009 (L 12-2)

In every sport, professional or otherwise, there is always one team that, regardless of their respective records and for unknown reasons, gives the other team fits.

This season, Methacton Glory was that team for us.  We played them three times and all three times they handled us quite easily.  So, of course, we draw them for our first game the playoffs.

However, there is no one -- and I mean no one – who will ever convince me that they are that much better a team than we are.  I don’t believe that to be true and never will.  It’s just one of those things.

It’s unfortunate that the weather reduced the playoffs to a single elimination tournament instead of double elimination as was originally intended.  We would still have had a shot.

Kudos to:

• Jess, game ball, in her last game, walked twice and pitched the entire game (after a long layoff).
• Rachel W., walked twice.
• Katie J., had two of our four hits.

Mr. T.

Game vs. Upper Merion Bandits 5/21/2009 (T 11-11)

This game was a good old fashioned shoot out!

The team showed great heart in this game.  After getting behind early in the game, you kept coming back, and even took a 10-6 lead into the bottom of the fifth.  Unfortunately, we were hit were OBIS (One Bad Inning Syndrome) at that moment.

But once again, the team showed heart.  Knowing that the sixth inning was going to be the last, you squeezed out one run to tie the game, then held off the opponents when they were threatening to win the game outright.

A tie game may not be the best result, but there were many good things to take from this game.

Kudos to:

• Emily, game ball, for her determination and for hitting a wicked line drive that had the misfortune to be hit right at someone.
• Katie S., game ball, for a hit, two walks, and two runs scored; fulfilling her pre-game prophecy to do well.
• Ali, for a double that came oh so close to being a homerun (it hit the top of the fence and bounced back onto the field).
• Katie J., had three hits.

Mr. T.

Game vs. Methacton Glory 5/19/2009 (L 14-6)

This game was not nearly as bad as the final score would make one think.  After three innings we were only behind 5-4, which is great considering how shorthanded we were (only eight players).  Everyone played hard and didn’t give up, kept trying right until the end.

Kudos to:

• Ali, game ball, had two triples, two walks, one hit-by-pitch (took one in the head for the team) and scored three of our runs.
• Katie J., had a double, and did a great job as our emergency pitcher.
• Emily, showed great patience at-bat, got a walk with the bases loaded to get a run batted in.
• The Team, once again, for their effort.

And finally, special kudos to:

• Maggie, through no fault of her own, will not be able to play with us any more.  Maggie, thanks for all the great years you’ve played in ARA – we’ll miss you!

Mr. T.

Tournament Game vs. ARA Xplosion 5/9/2009 3 PM (L 7-5)

It’s always fun to play our fellow ARA team; not as much fun when we lose to them, however. :)

This was a close game from beginning to end.  The difference was that our opponents made plays in the field when they had to and got hits when they had to.  That simple.  Plus, we were taken out of a rally by an obscure call by the umpire; however, we don’t blame other when we lose.

I am not convinced that they are a better team than we are.

Kudos to:

• Katie J., game ball, had two runs batted in, two hits, including a home run!
• Ali, had two hits.

Mr. T.

Tournament Game vs. Methacton Glory 5/9/2009 1 PM (L 9-3)

This is the second time in three days we played this team.  Once again we were bushwhacked; the outhit us 16 to three.  We did have some chances in this game, as they made double the number of errors that we did (six to three); but they took better advantage then we did.

Having said that, we were still in this game.  We will have more chances at them; if we can hit just a little better and minimize our errors, we can definitely beat them!

Kudos to:

• Shannon, game ball, made a really good catch of a fly ball to left field, saving several runs.
• The Team, for their effort; this was not a problem in this game.

Mr. T.

Tournament Game vs. East Norriton 5/9/2009 9 AM (W 15-4)

We did what we had to do in this game – scored early and often against a less experienced opponent and didn’t let up.

Kudos to:

• Maggie, game ball, pitched three good innings and laid down a well place bunt for a hit.
• Ali, scored two runs, two hits, and two runs batted in.
• Brianna, scored two runs and two runs batted in.
• Dillan, scored two runs.
• Kelsey, pitched two innings and retired all six batters she faced.
• The Team, for showing great patience batting (we had 11 walks!).

I don’t remember ever doing this before, kudos to an opposing player:

• Brianna, was hit square in the nose by a thrown ball at close range, but came back into the game to pitch the very next inning!

Mr. T.

Game vs. Methacton Glory 5/7/2009 (L 12-3)

Well, we (including the coaches) had trouble from the beginning in this one.  Because of the confusion about whether or not the game was being played or not, I don’t think we were 100% in the game mentally – we didn’t hit as well as usual and made too many errors.

That being said, we must give credit to our opponents – the hit the ball very well and played sound defense.

Kudos to:

• MaryGrace, game ball, made a nice catch that kept the game going, instead of ending via the 10-run rule.

Actually, even though we were outhit nine to three, without errors, we were competitive.  We tighten up the defense, we’ll be a tough team to beat.

Mr. T.

Game vs. UM Bandits 5/2/2009 (L 7-6)

This was one of those games.  We mostly outplayed our opponents (outhit them 10-3), but unfortunately had some fielding problems (five error whereas our opponents had none).

There is much good to take from this: as i said, we did hit well.  Also, the team did not give up when faced with a large deficit and actually tied the game in the sixth inning.

Kudos to:

• Ali, game ball, two hits and drove in two runs. She also threw out two runners trying to steal (when will they learn).  In her spare time, she was a vital part of our second double play of the year.
• Shannon, walked twice and hit a screaming line drive at the pitcher who caught it in self defense.
• Katie J., two hits.
• Dillon, two hits.
• Nicole, hit a double that hit the fence on the fly!
• Maggie, pitched well, considering she hadn’t done so for some time.
• Kelsey, pitched four great innings.
• Jess, had a big hit that drove in two runs that tied the game.

If we can tighten the defense a bit, we’ll be a very difficult team to beat!

Mr. T.

Game vs. MBB Panthers 4/27/2009 (L 5-2)

All in all, not too bad of a game; despite perhaps a few too many errors, we were right in this game.  A hit or two more here and there may have changed the outcome.

Kudos to:

• Jess, game ball, pitched two shutout innings after pitching seven innings in a JV game earlier in the afternoon and also for previous efforts during this season.
• Shannon, was on base in both of her at bats.
• Kelsey, made a SportsCenter worthy defensive play.
• Emily, despite nothing on the scoresheet that would show results, continues to give 100% every game.

Mr. T.

Game vs. UM Extreme 4/25/2009 (W 10-5)

For the most part, once again, the team played great.  We scored bunches of runs in the first two inning to put the other team out of the game early.  We had some mental lapses in the last inning, no big deal, didn’t matter.

Kudos to:

• Rachel W., game ball, two hits and two runs batted in.
• Shannon, two hits.
• Katie J., two hits (including a triple) and two runs batted in.
• Nicole had a double.
• The Team, for again, showing great all-around hustle.

Good one, ladies!

Mr. T.

Game vs. MBB Panthers 4/23/2009 (T 4-4)

Although we would have like to have won this game, there is no shame in this tie.  The team played extremely well (especially considering it was freezing!) and held their own again one of the best pitchers we’re probably going to see.

What was really encouraging was how we made fielding plays when we had to (especially in the last two innings).

Kudos to:

• MaryGrace, game ball, her hustle in the seventh inning to retrieve a ball that was crushed, saved the game.  If she doesn’t do this, the batter gets a home run instead of a triple, and we lose.
• Brianna, a HOME RUN!!!  The ball was well hit plus she showed great hustle running around the base paths.
• Kelsey, pitched five great innings and hit a double.
• Jess, pitched two more scoreless innings, shrinking her already miniscule ERA.
• The Team, for once again playing outstanding defense.

Great, exciting game!

Mr. T.

Game vs. ARA Xplosion 4/18/2009 (W 6-1)

The coaches are in agreement that this was one of the finest examples of outfield play that we’ve seen in many years.  Everything was done exemplary; from the outfielders hustling after ball hit over their head to getting the ball back quickly to the cutoff person.  The infielders did very well positioning the cutoff person as well.

We (the coaches), have our teams drill on this in practices we have before the season starts every year.  We don’t ever remember the concept performed as well as you all did in this game.

As for hitting, we scored runs when we needed to.

Kudos to:

• Brianna, game ball, was one of the outfielders who did a great job, including snagging a hot smash.  At bat, she had two hits.  She also makes a mean birthday cupcake!
• Jess, another pitching gem, a complete game.  Only one earned run, four hits, and eight strikeouts.
• Katie J., although she did not have a hit (very unusual for her), still put the ball in play to drive in three runs.
• Kelsey, happy birthday!!!
• Rachel W., last but not least, made a great play on a grounder in between first and second.  At bat, she put the ball in play in all of her at bats.
• The Outfielders, for the reasons mentioned above.

Excellent game, ladies!

Mr. T.

Game vs. UM Extreme 4/16/2009 (W 10-4)

Our bats were cold at the beginning of the game, but came alive in the mid and late innings to put the game away.  Also, with the exception of some minor miscues, it was a fine defensive game as well.

Kudos to:

• Katie J., game ball, three hits, three runs scores, and three runs batted in, as well as being a rock defensively at first base.
• Jess, came in to pitch in the fourth inning and just shut the other team down.  She only allowed one hit and one unearned run while only walking one batter in four innings.  She also had two hits and two runs scored.
• Ali, two hits, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.
• Kelsey, two hits (including a double) and two runs batted in.
• Rachel K., walked three times, showing great patience at the plate.

To borrow a phrase from Coach Mike, well done, ladies!

Mr. T.

Game vs. ARA Xplosion 4/9/2009 (L 10-9)

(Note:  I was not present at this game (unfortunately), so I have sketchy details and statistics.)

From what I’ve been told, the team played well during this game, except for a “shoot ourselves in the foot inning” that put the team behind.  A furious comeback was mounted, but it fell just short.

Kudos to:

• Katie S., game ball, hurt her shoulder during the game, but came back in and continued playing anyways.

Mr.. T.

Contest – Expires 3/27/2009 9:00 PM

Update:  Contest has expired.

First player to correctly answer the following questions wins a $25 gift certificate of their choice.

1. What was the first year Mr. B. and Mr. T. coached in ARA together?
2. What happened during the seventh inning of the game on 4/26/2006?
3. Who received the game ball on 5/21/2005?

Happy hunting! :)

Mr. T.

Welcome!

Hello Team,

 

On behalf of Rick Bridgens, Mike Walchonski, and myself, welcome to ARA Team 2 (I wish we had a better name than that…soon, perhaps)!

 

I would like to thank the Bridgens for hosting our meet-and-greet in their home.  It was great to see and meet you all.  For those, who weren’t there, we missed you!

 

To review very briefly Mr. B’s comment during the meet-and-greet (three items):

1. Have fun!

2. Always hustle and give your best.

3. See #1.

Feel free to email me at any time with any questions; I am nearly always monitoring email.  You can also call Rick Bridgens.

 

Team’s website is at http://www.mrbsoftball.com.  I try very hard to keep it up to date with any schedule changes.  It’s not ready for this year yet (mainly because I don’t know the team’s name or colors), but feel free to browse and read the coaches’ notes from last season.

 

Take care,

 

Mr. T.