Final Slo-Pitch

Tuesday, September 9 vs Rockway - last game of the Play-offs
Well, this was perhaps the most exciting game since the beginning of the year. With the teams going to the finals already decided, and that not including either Rockway or us, the game was for pure fun, and perhaps some pride.
We scored a run in the top of the first inning, then managed to stay close. The whole line-up (all nine of us) contributed throughout the game. We scored three runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings to come within one run. Solid defensive plays (again, by everyone on the team, including David Neufeld, playing his first game since returning to Canada) throughout the game kept us close, including two outfield-shortstop-catcher put-outs.
Then, after going three-up, three-down in the top of the seventh, we knew that we had to play a quick bottom to get another chance to bat. Indeed, our stellar defence came through, setting down Rockway's hitters in order.
In the top of the eighth and last inning, Scott and Mark started off by grounding out to the (very good) second baseman. However, the three Jutzis (Peter, Cal, and Cam) loaded the bases. Solid hits by the younger two meant that the Rockway pitcher feared the last one, and he walked Cam to get to Kathy Albrecht. She came up with a clutch single, scoring Cal (speedster) Jutzi from second base for the tying run of the game. One out later (on a well-hit ball that was caught, the story of the night), it was time for our defence to play.
Rockway managed to load the bases with nobody out, and the fourth hitter hit a fly ball to the eldest Jutzi in centre field. Cam made a great running catch, then threw a strike to John Pries at the plate to put out the runner trying to tag from third, a catch-and-throw double-play! Two out, tying runner on second. Unfortunately, the next runner cracked a hard line drive to left-centre that brought in the go-ahead run, giving Rockway the win on the scoreboard. But we had a lot of fun (not just in this game, but the season as a whole), made a lot of great plays and good hits. I think that counts for 'moral victories'. Good job, team.
Great season, folks.

Slo-Pitch bats get hot

September 3
Although school has started again in September, Slo-Pitch playoffs continue. It is the game of summer, and summer isn't over until Sept 21, right?
Tonight was a warm night, and it seemed to help our bats. In our first game, Kathy got the team started with a two-run single in the second inning. We also mounted a four-run rally in the bottom of the last inning. That game also saw some great defence, as Mackenzie made another home-run robbing catch at the fence in left, and we blanked Waterloo North in two different innings. Final score was Waterloo North 20, First Mennonite 7.
In the second game, we kept the momentum going on the offence. We batted around in the first inning, scoring three runs. In fact, we scored in four of the five innings we got in. Mark and I each missed home runs by about 3 and 6 inches respectively. We ended up with nine runs, although it wasn't enough for a win.