Next Outing: The "perfect" season is over. We lost 3-2 in 9 innings yesterday to the 2nd place team which is tightening up the standings. We have either a 1 or 2 game lead (I will go into this in a bit) with 5 games left to play. One of which is tomorrow against the 2nd place team.
These two teams are so evenly matched the last three games have been a 2-1 win in 12 innings (CIF semi-finals last year), 4-2 win in 8 innings (earlier this year) and yesterday's 3-2 loss in 9 innings. Two very evenly matched teams.
Gally Jr, pitched yesterday and labored a bit as his control was just off a bit with his fast ball. He also had some bad luck with a few infield singles that were good pitches/weak contact that were just placed in unfortunate spots. All said and done he went 6 innings with 6 hits, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 6 K's and 1 ER. He gave up 3 hits in the first (where they scored their lone run off of him) and didn't give up a hit after the 3rd inning. He got stronger as the game went on and left with his team up 2-1 going into the 7th inning (last inning). It should have been good enough for a win. Relief pitcher came in and walked the lead off guy on 4 pitches. Sac bunt to get him to 2nd. Then a hit to score him to tie the game. Moral of the story......lead off walks kill you.
Part of the reason why Gally Jr couldn't go 7 was because their shortstop was sick and tried to gut it out. He ended up puking on the field in the 2nd inning and just couldn't continue. This lead to a defensive shuffle which really hurt the team. The 3B had to go to SS, the LF went to 3B, and a bench guy to LF. That led to two quick errors (one each by the new 3B and SS). This added another 10-15 pitches to the pitch count (about an innings worth of pitches) causing the need to remove Gally jr after six innings (he was at 105 pitches).
Anyway, the other big issue with the SS leaving was that he is the #2 hitter and quite solid. This lead to a bench guy going into his spot and he was basically an automatic out. This team has very little depth and it cost them. There were a couple opportunities with runners in scoring position when this lineup spot came up to bat and three K's later it didn't help the offense. Just an unfortunate situation.
Granted the team had opportunities to extend the lead a few times throughout regulation play and didn't get the job done so it was a team effort here. Gally Jr. had two chances to help himself specifically and couldn't get a hit. He came up in the 4th inning with runners on 2nd & 3rd and two outs and grounded out (hit it hard but right at the SS) and then again a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the 7th with a runner on 2nd and 2 outs (this was a time that the SS being out really hurt because that slot would have been up with 1 out in those same spots as Gally Jr hits right after the SS slot in the lineup). That would have given the team two shots with good hitters instead of one. Regardless, he needs to come through in those spots as a senior and team leader. They weren't bad AB's and he put it in play solidly just right at people.
Anyway, it was a good test and now that they have their first "real" loss out of the way hopefully they can relax and get back to winning. Tomorrow's game will be huge.
Now to touch on the 1 or 2 game lead comment. The second place team had a game get suspended last Friday due to darkness. It was tied and in extra innings at the time of suspension so the continuation of the game took place on Monday. They picked up right where they left off. Here is the controversy. The 2nd place team had a pitcher that was ineligible to pitch on Friday due to pitch count rest rules. They ended up using him on Monday for the completion of the game and ended up winning. However, the losing team protested after saying that he was ineligible to pitch because he was ineligible for the original game and since this was a continuation of that game he is still ineligible to pitch. Personally, the point of pitch count rules is to protect the players and since he was cleared to pitch on Monday (based on rest rules) I would think he should be able to pitch. I see this as the same reason that if a kid had pitched in the start of the game on Friday and threw X pitches that required 3 days rest he wouldn't be allowed to continue pitching on Monday in the resumed game. That pitch count rest should supercede the game "situation".
Regardless, I couldn't find anything that specifically addressed this situation in the CIF Central Section rules. I have no idea what should happen. However, it seems like Max Preps (not that, that is official) is listing the game as a forfeit at this time. But talking with our coaches they didn't think it was an issue and thought it would stand when I talked to them on Tuesday. Officially I haven't heard anything so I have no idea what will be ruled.
It doesn't really matter as if our team just takes care of business it's all in our hands. Until next time.....
Season to date:
- Pitching: 6-0, 0.84 ERA (58 IP/13R/7ER), 29 H, 7 BB, 5 HPB, 76 K, 6 CG, 2 Shutouts, 1 No Hitter
- Hitting: .328* (22-67), 16 R, 15 RBI, 8 doubles, 9 BB, 2 K, 4 HBP, 6 for 6 SB, .432 OBP, .880 OPS
* He is in a bit of a slump going 2 for his last 15. Putting the ball in play but not with a lot of authority. Coupled with hitting it right at people. Some of it is he has been put behind the count by some bad early calls on non strikes. It's part of the game and he is recovering well to battle and put the ball in play but it leads to a little more defensive hitting than being able to attack early in the count. Something he is going to have to work through over these last few games.