Divorce narrowly avoided following base running debacle

By Peter Purves.

BatPak 18 - 3 Blazzers

"Ok Elaine, Tag up. Dave! Tag Up. Go Elaine! C’mon Dav....get back Dave."

"Come to 3^rd Drew. No get back, no come on,...get down."

"Kieran hold at 2^nd,........"

BatPak travelled to Crumlin this week wary of the Blazzers who had put up some big wins in the first 4 weeks. Dodder and Marlay both lost to the team in green previously so BatPak arrived with trepidation to Eamon Ceant Park. The sun shone for the entire evening and the conditions were perfect. After an infant was nearly beheaded during the traditional warm up game of ‘Dont throw to Ben’ the captain sent us out for drills. The ball was cracking off the bat nicely and it boded well for the game.

In a stunning move by the captain, Pete was promoted to Lead Off and Drew was left sulking in the 7 hole. Power comes first and it showed as Pete drew a leadoff walk. After 3 outs we had 2 runs in the bag and set out to defend in the bottom half of the inning. Julie was sidelined with crutchitis so Carol and Lorna patrolled the OF for BatPak along with Dave and Pete. Blazzers went 3 up, 3 down and BatPak had won the first battle. The next battle was a draw as both teams were retired in order.

Then came the 4^th, 3^rd, .....I mean 4^th,...no wait... In any event BatPak batted through the order and effectively killed the game off plating 10 runs. There were 2/3 Blazzer errors to compound the damage but to even things out BatPak were making their own offensive errors.

Baserunning 101 –
Coach : Jon Barry
Date : Sunday
Level : Basic
Duration : Until they got it
Net result : Drew, Dave and Pete all watching the ball instead of the coach. Keiran tumbling into 3^rd as he was being held at 2^nd and Niall (I couldn’t leave him out) not being obnoxious enough as basecoach.
Recommendation : Revisit when the coach has calmed down.

For reference, Barneys in LF mean something was awry. For better, for worse; and all that. The action hero had left his sugar lady out to dry and was duly scolded afterwards.

In reaction to the poor baserunning the captain sent a warning shot and yanked two of the infield stalwarts to bring in Niall and Ben,....thats right,...Niall and Ben! Both JB and Tom were hitting well, but if you don’t run the bases well you are for it. (How she missed that it was Dave and Drew blundering on the basepaths is anyones guess.)

While all this was going on Lorna was hoovering in RF and Carol was contending with an inanimate fielder in CR. Pete deciding that seeing as Carol called it and not to look chauvinist he would let the ball roll an inch by his foot and just stand there.

At SS Ben was due a big mistake and when he held 2^nd clearly obstructing the runner who would have made it to 3^rd by a country mile as Pete stood with the ball in his hand at shallow depth, we thought that was it! But no, alas his high throw to Elaine on a double play attempt meant the runner was safe on 1^st. The only redeeming fact being that he had nailed a DP in the previous inning, for which Doug the umpire felt a pirouette was warranted. To the disgust of the Blazzers bench the devilish spin with arm extension and tuck meant curtains. Not even the dull groan nor the bawling at Ben could change the call.

In spite of the result Blazzers still invited BatPak to Peggy Kellys for snacks and beer. The platters of sandwiches and cocktail sausages were gratefully eaten by all the Pak and meant the three amigos could stay in the boozer longer. I wonder how long Kevin had to wait for his taxi! Oddsox platters in OSheas are great but there is stiff competition now from Harolds Cross. Thanks to the Blazzers again, it is a great trend to set and keep up, it also improves the social side of the game as both teams enjoyed the refreshments together.

There are no BatPak men who deserve the MVP, Keirans bat has him closest, but for his superb fielding and consistent bat Jens LF for the Blazzers gets this reporters nod. In keeping with this theme female MVP goes to the CR for the Blazzers, who in one of her first games dealt with the tough position and batted 2/3 with two line drives.

ED - BatPak MVPs: TBC

Other LLPD Week 5 Results;

Sluggers 9 - 12 Marlay
Oddsox Greens 11 - 4 Renegades Red