Orange turns Green with envy, loses 22-21

In a very competitive game, Orange suffered defensive lapses at critical times, and allowed the Mean Green to walk off with a 22-21 win.

The lead changed hands early several times. Green 2-0, Orange 4-2, Green 5-4, Orange 9-5, Green 10-9. Orange 12-10. Then we played even for a couple of innings, until we put up five in the eighth. 21-17 is not a comfortable lead on these fields, but it felt like we had the momentum going into the ninth.

Then Green hung a zero on us in the open ninth. We still felt good, with the bottom of their lineup coming up. But as my own personal adage goes, if the bottom of the lineup hits, you win. They quickly loaded the bases and plated one and with one out, an infield pop fly was dropped and then it was a day at the circus. ALL THREE RUNNERS scored to tie the game. Cue circus music.

With the top of their lineup up now, the end seemed pre-ordained and they walked off with two more hits.

We have all kinds of excuses and had all kinds of chances, but give Green credit for hanging in there, and playing defense until the last out was made.

Jay Chafetz (LF) and Greg Wilson (RC) gave us our great outfield grabs of the day. Wilson also went high up to snare a line shot at rover. And on an earlier infield bases loaded infield popup that was not high enough to qualify as an infield fly, the ball hit the second base bag, and Ron Schwab pounced on it and got a force out at third, with Mike Saindon staying on the base. Heads up play all around.

Saindon led the way with a perfect 5-5 day. Schwab, Steve Sloat, Art Oller, and Kravin added four each. Oller's seemed to all be two out clutch hits, and he led the team with four RBIs. Wilson, Mark Narciso and Chafetz chipped in three each, and Wilson's included our only home run.

The league is tightening with Scarlet's win over Royal, and seems very balanced. Every play counts as we saw on Heather Field Five today.