PSC softball: Old Dogs Throw New Tricks in Pattaya Softball

The 2 elder statesmen put a halt to the hitting parade that our batters have been enjoying for over a month. Even the new, juiced up ball was no match for the crafty tosses of our sexagenarians. The highlight of the day was Alan and his team earning a record that can be tied, but can never be beaten. He accomplished the impossible in Pattaya softball, throwing a complete seven inning game shutout against Perry’s team in game one. For the highs and lows of the week, enjoy the game summaries below.

Game 1 Alan’s Anteaters played bigger then Perry’s Purple Helmet team, to win game 1. Alan, playing in his first game back in months, was a magician on the mound. He made history by constantly confusing batters on Perry’s team and throwing a complete game shutout (remember, this is lob pitch softball, so it is quite the accomplishment). He was aided by strong defensive performances from Ernie in left, Rick at shortstop and Rocky in right. Their timely snags of the ball stymied the Purple Helmets repeatedly. The big bats of Diego, Mark, John Stockton and Perry himself were silenced, as the entire Anteater team played near flawless defense. Perry was no slouch either on the mound, lobbing 3 scoreless innings until the Anteaters bats warmed up. Rick hit the lone homerun of the game in the fourth, followed by a 2 RBI double from Dave in the fifth. The Anteaters added an insurance run in the sixth with consecutive hits from Bryan, Ernie and Shawn to close out the Purple Helmets 4-0 and earn the record.

Game 2 One retirement was enough to even out the teams for game 2. Alan, officially citing exhaustion as the cause (it was really, because he had no way to top game 1’s performance) decided to sit out game 2, and Steve came in to relieve him. However, Steve soon needed more then relief, as he pulled his hamstring trying to beat out an infield single in the second. Jim-Bob ended up pitching a good game for the Anteaters, but the injury and retirement took its toll on their overall defense. The Helmets bats awoke from their slumber, not wanting to lose both ends of the double header. A change in the batting order got the most out of the Purple Helmets. Co- MVP of the day (with record winning pitcher Alan), Nick lead off, and went a perfect 10 for 10 on the day. Phil, found his hitting form finally, on his first week back in a month, and Diego, Mark, and California Rick got back into the swing of things. The Anteaters started strongly, scoring 5 in the first, but the Helmets never gave up. They countered with 2 in the bottom of the inning, and three in the third to even the score at 5. Perry is pitching was a problem for the Anteaters in this game, as their bats went cold. Hard hits by John E, Scotty, Rick and Bryan got 2 more runs for the Anteaters in the fourth to give them a brief and short lived 7-5 lead. Perry’s team countered with a homerun from Nick and 2 RBIS from Nakata to go up 8-7. Six runs in the sixth by the Purple Helmets ensured they would not go winless on the day. The Anteaters rallied in the last, but they fell 3 runs short, losing the game 14 – 11 in yet another exciting softball afternoon.