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Our first outings against two strong Cooper City teams- and the Blueberries came up smiling twice. Great pitching from Kaitlin and Erica complemented by outstanding catching from Jenna and Erica, who also contributed a triple and a home run, respectively. The Blueberries were strong at the plate, fierce on the basepaths, and played defense- with a particularly memorable play from Jenna at short to Sammy at first. Haley had a great sacrifice RBI in the second game- and you know that's a big deal in a one-run game! Tatiana had a solid single, and Alex had a great hit in the first game. All in all, a good team effort, and the Blueberries season is underway!
Some South Florida winter days are just perfect, cloudless and cool, fantastically blue sky and just the right breeze, days where white chalk on orange clay just seems to look better- in other words, perfect days to come out to the fields and play. And what a game- six full innings, and Kaitlin and Erica teamed up for 14 strikeouts. Nothing like outstanding pitching to take some pressure off the defense... Equally impressive was the team performance at the plate- Josey, Brantley, Haley, and Jennifer, Alex and Tatiana all had epic battles as they fought off pitch after pitch, staying alive and fighting every time they were up, forcing the defense to make plays. Jennifer especially got robbed on a nasty line drive that would have taken her for extra bases but for a circus catch at shortstop. Teams that keep that up go places- keep making contact and sooner or later the bases start to fill up. The Blueberries missed two games due to rainouts, but you wouldn't have known it. Jenna and Toni teamed up for an exciting pickoff play at third that just slipped away when the ball came out- fantastic teamwork and a perfectly timed throw from Jenna behind the plate. The coaching staff was hugely impressed at the way the players are starting to move in the outfield, anticipating throws and backing each other up. Sammy made a huge out on a play at first- snagging a bouncer on the first base line and keeping it fair and making a perfect tag- just an impeccably timed play. Erica went two for two at the plate, with a booming double and a crisp single. Megan hit the ball hard, again, and after worrying that her stolen base total was a little low made up for it by stealing three, including getting across the plate for the team. There's nothing quite like two evenly matched teams going at it on a great evening- what a fun game.
A warm spring morning set the stage for the opening game in today's double-header against a strong Cooper City team- but no match for the Blueberries this morning. Toni's leadoff stats for this game set the standard- on base three for three with two singles, with three trips across the plate- can't get much better than that! And once again, Kaitlin delivered an outstanding performance for the team- only facing thirteen batters in three innings, 7 K's, teamed up with Sammy at first for two putouts, and no runs allowed. The big news- another booming home run from Erica, this one deep into left field, causing a brief game delay as air force jets from Homestead circled the field looking for the unidentified flying object. The ball wasn't even back to the cutoff player by the time Erica crossed the plate. And Erica went three-for-three, with a single, the HR, and a double- big day at the plate! And lots of great teamwork, and team effort, for a fun victory.
The heat was on- and the Blueberries only had a five-minute break before a fresh Cooper City team took the field. These double-headers are great for the playing time, but it's tough when we play two separate teams without a break, and the Blueberries struggled to get started. It took Jennifer and Josey forcing fluids into their teammates when they came back into the dugout to get the energy level moving upwards to get us back in the game. Josey had a big day, with a hard-hit ball that got her to third- for her first hit of the season! She made the trip across the plate, too, for her first score- way to go! Kaitlin and Jennifer both singled, and Erica contributed a double, but we came to the bottom of the last with a three run deficit. We got two of them back on some heads-up baserunning by Josey on a dropped third strike, but finished the game with the tying run at third. Still, the team hung tough and fought back after a tough start, which is what counts. No long faces at the pizza party after the game!
The big news- Stephanie is off the injured list and took the field for the first time since the first game- welcome back! And she had a busy night at the plate, with a big single into right as she slipped back into the game, and then made a couple of great plays at first base to cap off her return engagement. Erica boomed a line drive so far over the left-fielder's head that even the opposing coaches knew it was a walk-around HR- she's setting high standards. A lot of Blueberries hit the ball hard- Josey with a double, Toni with a single, Megan singled, Jennifer with a solid blast for a one-bagger on the left side of the field, and we got Brantley across the plate! It was a great team effort, and as many runs as we've scored this season-7, for the tie. It's impressive how evenly the scoring was spread out through the order- seven runs, with seven different players scoring one each. And, so many players are hitting the ball hard... We played against a strong defense, essentially a travel team, but when you hit the ball hard you force the defense to make plays and that, sooner or later, brings your players across the plate. After five innings of back-and-forth softball the home team scored, and we were about to go into extra-innings but it was late- we were the late game- and wiser heads prevailed and we took the tie. The Blueberries keep battling, and a team that hits hard and make plays has a lot to be proud of. The coaches are looking forward to the next meeting with this team- especially if Jenna and Alex can make it that night! Should be exciting- but tonight's game was once again hard-fought between two teams that, even though they are completely different in character, were evenly matched. It was the kind of game that kept the fans entertained, the players involved, and fun- what Davie rec ball is all about.
The Blueberries wielded big sticks tonight in an impressive victory: six players had RBI's- Alex, for her first of the season, Jenna, Erica, Kaitlin, Sammy, and Stephanie. The team produced six runs on eight hits, ran smart and ran aggressive on the basepaths, and made some great plays. Six different players scored the six runs- the whole team produced at the plate. Toni made an impressive scoop on a throw at first on a classic fastpitch play, the first play of the game. The batter laid down a bunt towards first, and Stephanie, playing first, charged. Kaitlin came off the rubber and grabbed the ball, and there was Toni, from second, on first like she had done this all her life with her glove open and ready. It was a tough bouncer but she scooped it up and held it for the ump- and it was a big out. It was impressive to watch the Blueberries make that play- everybody moved perfectly, including Stephanie ducking to get out of Kaitlin's line. It was just the kind of play we needed to get the game going- it kept the momentum in the Blueberries' corner, and made a huge difference in the game. Erica threw a runner out at second, with Jenna making the tag. The outfield is really getting it- all the players were moving and we didn't give up any runs on overthrows- that's a big step for the team. Kaitlin and Erica's pitching was excellent- five innings, only 20 batters, 10 K's, only 2 BB's, 1 run, and only one hit, a single to left in the first that drove in the purple team's only run. Jenna and Erica were both solid behind the plate as well. All in all, a great night, and a well-deserved and timely win. After a tough loss last Saturday, and the tie the other night with the winning run stranded on third, the Blueberries were due. The team battled, hit the ball hard, made plays, and earned a solid win that seemed to come just at the right time. And it was a team effort, and a team victory- way to go, Blueberries.
The Blueberries came out hitting- Toni led off with a hard hit ball down the third base line for her cruise into first. She stole second, and then got to third on a passed ball, and then home on another. Megan singled to left field on another shot, setting up Jenna, who drove a ball deep to left center but the outfielder managed to get under it. Erica doubled for the first of her two hits, and the for the first of her two RBI's tonight as Megan got home on a walk, Kaitlin's bat has really come alive recently, and she delivered a hard hit ball up the middle for a the single that drove Erica in, and then stole second. So, we go into the bottom of the first three runs up on two RBI's and four hits. Nice work for any team! Kaitlin took the mound for three up-three down, and then did it again in the second. Two innings, six batters, 1 hit, no walks, no errors- and how do you get three outs on one hit inning? By nailing the runner stealing second, Jenna to Erica. Nothing a shortstop likes better than turning with the ball and having to wait for the runner to get there... And then Brantley stole the show in the top of the second, getting on with a walk and stealing second- her first of the season. And, then she gets to third on a passed ball with some heads-up baserunning. Erica pitched in the third- three K's. It took the other team three full innings to get through their lineup. Kaitlin came on for the last couple of innings, and the Blueberries let a couple unearned runs in, but still stayed in command. Kaitlin had a great offensive night, two-for-two, both solid shots. And both pitchers had to fight to come back, getting behind in their innings but never giving up, and closing out the other team with runners on. It's great pitching when everything is going well- but the real pitchers are those who can come back from behind, those that keep battling and start fresh with every batter. The two of them both showed that quality tonight, and it's a pleasure to watch. So the Blueberries go into spring break 6-2-2, and have outscored their opponents 55-44. Most importantly, the Blueberries play better each game, moving on every play and backing each other up. They are all working hard at the plate, and hustling on the field, and supporting each other- and making the coaches' lives easy. Thank you all. Thursday 4/10/08 'After a two-week hiatus the Blueberries returned to Pine Island Park on a beautiful April evening for our fourth encounter with the purple gang, after a loss, tie, and a win against this tough team. We got off to a great start when Toni and Megan both managed to capitalize on errors and make the trip around the bases, but that was to be the extent of the scoring. We had a tough defensive inning on a couple of plays that could have been but weren't, and in gave up three runs. Some nights the bats don't work and the Blueberries had a couple more opportunities with runners on base, but couldn't convert. The season home stretch is here, and the Blueberries will finish up strong! Saturday 4/12/08
It seems like every season there's a game that involves controversy, calls, umpires, pleas, emotions, rules...but once again we learn that the game is not decided by umpires or coaches, but by bats, gloves, and teamwork. In fact, the Blueberries made a defensive play today that should have been videotaped and sold to college coaches all over the country- it was that good. One out, runner on third, Kaitlin pitches and there's a ball hit right back to her. She scoops it up and sets, looking back the runner who has stepped off third and is challenging. At the absolute, exact, perfect instant Kaitlin fires to Stephanie on first, who made the out on the batter runner and then had to step foul to avoid the runner. Stephanie fires home to Jenna at the plate, who has her left leg on the third base side of home- and it's a perfect throw, right to a low glove and Jenna sweeps down the tag for the double play. That play is difficult on any level, and watching this team execute those moves and get the DP is about as exciting as it gets. The Blueberries scored two quick runs in the bottom of the first and held the Cooper City team scoreless for two. We gave up three in the third to lose the lead, and then one more in the top of the fourth, when the controversy started over the pitching order. Kaitlin shouldn't have been pitching that inning, which is correct but we've never had a game where this came up, and the Cooper City coaches insisted that Erica return to the circle. Well, they got their wish and Erica struck out two of the next three batters to finish the inning with one runner left on base. Now, it should be noted that the Cooper City team was upset that the Blueberries pitched out of order, but found it perfectly acceptable to have a pitcher and catcher from another CC team- and a Gold Coast Hurricanes pitcher at that. What's a coach to do? The decision was to win it with our bats, and not to protest, but to trust the players and the team, and the game. So, we start the bottom of the last as the home team two runs down with the top of the order- and Toni singles. Megan singles to get Toni to second. Stephanie singles- bases loaded. Erica walks and Toni's home. Jenna singles and Megan's in- tie game. Kaitlin singles and Stephanie is in to win the game. So, pushed around a little and down two, the Blueberries won the old-fashioned way- by hitting the ball. It's important to know the rules, but when you're up two runs with your guest pitcher and catcher the softball gods may not smile upon you when you try to gain that little extra edge... The game is played with bats, balls, and gloves, and ultimately teamwork, hustle, and an aggressive offense will prevail. It's all part of this complex and challenging game, and you cannot surrender the skills and hope to manipulate the outcome. In a game like today where we watched five out of six players come to the plate and drive runners around with the game on the line we really see what it takes to be an athlete and play fast pitch softball.
Tuesday 4/15/08
Unseasonably cool weather for our thirteenth game- refreshing this late in the season. Once again, the Blueberries battled back all night, responding to a three run top-of-the first with three of their own. Then, in the bottom of the fourth and down four runs, the fireworks truly started. We started with the top of the order and the hits just kept coming. Toni smacked a single down the first base line to get us going, and then stole second. Jenna then bangs a double, and Toni's home and we're on our way. Stephanie singles to bring Jenna to third- Blueberries still down three, no outs, and Stephanie gets over to second. Erica hits the ball hard but they make a play but it's an RBI sacrifice and we're still down two. Then, Megan drives a shot to right-center the likes of which we have not seen- a blazing line drive at the speed of heat and all the outfielders could do was try to turn their heads to keep their eyes on it. A big, clutch home run that ties the game up in the bottom of the last. We're still rolling- Kaitlin singles to get on, Jennifer singles to get on, and Sammy comes up and wins the game for the team with one swing. That's two games in a row that the Blueberries have come back from behind in the bottom of the last inning for the win. Both times it's been earned runs, and both times the hits were spread out across the order. The minute Megan's ball left the bat the whole park knew what a huge hit it was. That happens on home runs in the bottom of the last, like the ball carries all the air out of the ballpark. The pitcher and catcher just look out to the outfield, and a cutoff player goes out but with a hopelessness in their run that's apparent to the coach standing with slumped shoulders and a downcast expression as their lead evaporates. And then Sammy, who has a great swing but has had a little trouble connecting at times comes through with a line drive... you can't defend against line drives. It's illuminating to watch players work hard practice after practice, game after game, and never seem to get their share of the glory. The individual rewards can be slim when you're coming up in the sport even when the team rewards are there. Megan and Sammy never missed a Palladium night, and look at them now. We all can learn something from these two players- if you keep working at it and playing for the team, those moments of individual glory will come. It happens all the time- after years of hard work you're an overnight success. Thursday 4/17/08 The final Blueberry outing got off to a late start after the team picture hold-ups, but all was forgotten as the teams took the field. We played the green team, and Erica got a chance to start in the circle for the first time this season- and what a start, three-up three-down for three K's on thirteen pitches. The Blueberries came out swinging- Toni smacked a single, stole second, and scored, Stephanie singled, and then Erica pulled a pitch down the third base line that rolled halfway to I595 for her fourth home run of the season. Lucky the fence is 300 feet out or it would have knocked it down- what a shot. The Blueberries held that three run lead the until the fourth, and then gave up five runs to fall two down. We came back with four in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead back, and then they tied it up again in the top of the fifth on a towering shot to deep center. Alex got under it but in the wind and dark just couldn't hang on. So, for the third game in a row the Blueberries are the home team with the game on the line in the bottom of the last- and they made it look easy again. Toni hit a hard shot and got to second on a bobbled throw. Jenna came up and hit a perfect line drive into center to bring Toni home for the win- third walkoff hit for the team in three games. Jenna, Sammy, and Kaitlin all enjoyed that special feeling- one swing for the win in the bottom of the last. In a side note- Toni scored the first run of our season, and the last. Jenna's hit was her last swing in Davie rec ball after a long and illustrious career on the fields in Davie and Cooper City. Seasons end, but teams like this really never go away. The spirit and energy that this group of athletes used to forge a team out of a group of individuals will stay with all of us who were lucky enough to be a part of their season.
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Copyright 2008 Michael H. Bartlett and Brandy Hill. All rights reserved
Contact: mhb@brandyhill.net