Hot Night, Cold Bats by John Quinlan

Hot Night, Cold Bats by John Quinlan

The headline tells it all ECC Softball fans. On a humid Monday night at Freeman Park, your local 11 men of the diamond dropped both games of the doubleheader to run their record to 7-11. The first game was against the young guns called the Mudhens and it turned out to be a rare pitcher's duel until the late innings. In the first inning, each team darkened their score books with a run; however, ECC did start out with the bases loaded and no outs, so the game could have been blown open right off the bat. Then, in the bottom of the sixth and the Mudhens up 3-1, the covenanters finally solved the five infield defensive alignment and sent 8 men to the plate while scoring 3 times to take a brief one run lead. The inning was highlighted by a Brian Wiersma laser beam double that shook the left field fence and scored brother Andy all the way from first base by the young Wiersma athletically avoiding the catcher's tag at home. It is too hard to put into words this play, but it involved being airbone horizontally. The top of the final frame saw the Mudhens bounce back with 3 runs of their own when the strong ECC defense showed some vulnerability. Unfortunately, those were the last runs of the game as ECC mounted a two out rally, but couldn't cross home plate in the home half of the seventh. Final score: Mudhens 6 ECC 4.

The second game of the doubleheader, against St. Therese, wasn't as exciting. The Catholic squad went yard twice, both with 2 ducks on the pond, and handled ECC 11-2. Councilman Steve Adams pitched his final games of the season, so he can use the offseason to heal up after taking a wicked line drive off his leg in the first game. It was good to have Kyle Small, back from vacation, handling third base and batting in the number two spot of the order and for the first time this year, David Soliday made an appearance and played a stellar right side of the outfield. Thanks to everybody that attended and battled the steamy conditions.

Only one game next week as we begin to wind down this 2007 campaign. Freeman Park 6:30. Hope to see you there.

A Tough Way To Lose - July 16

by Staff Writer, and soon to be chief writer, John Quinlan

Well, ECC fans as you can tell by the headline, our guys were unable to even their record at 8-8 Monday night against Westwood Church at beautiful Excelsior Commons. Final Score: Westwood 12 Excelsior Covenant Church 11. Unfortunately, the game ended on a controversial appeal at second base involving Brian Wiersma and resulted in a heated discussion with the umpire. With one out, in the bottom of the seventh, and men on first and second, Jeff Causton hit a deep drive to left field that was initially bobbled but was eventually caught by the Westwood defender. Brian Wiersma appeared to tag up from second base and head towards third representing the tying run. As soon as Brian hit third base, Westwood asked the umpire for an appeal because they felt that he left second base too early. As you probably already guessed, the appeal worked and the game was over. A stunned and disappointed Wiersma, along with some of the other ECC players, tried to explain to the umpire that Brian did properly tag up before advancing to third base, but the man in blue saw it differently. Despite this questionable call, the game did feature a great effort by the Covenanters. Steve Logan, a game time pitching decsion, recovered nicely from a rough first inning and the versatile Mike Mrosko made some nice plays at the hot corner filling in for the vacationing Kyle Small and Brian Everett. The long ball was also on display Monday evening courtesy of the Wiersma family as Brian hit two mammoth drives to left field and brother Andy tallied a 2 run round tripper in that faithful bottom of the seventh.

Let's hope next week's doubleheader at Freeman Park (6:30 & 7:30) will produce a better outcome for our beloved men of Excelsior Covenant Church. Hope to see you there.

Former chief writer, Kyle small, would like to thank John for writing the updates for the blog during my time away. His wiritng ability is exceptional, and he desrves to be promoted to chief writer...at least I still have third base.....i think....

Business as usual for the ECC Softball Team by Staff Writer and HEad Coach John Quinlan

Great thanks goes to Head Coach and eccsoftball.com staff writer, John Quinlan, for his exquisite writing ability and game summary.

Business as usual for the ECC Softball Team. Two games = one win and one loss. As you know the schedule makers were not on our side as we had to play Our Savior Lutheran two weeks in a row. The last game ended with ECC prevailing in a tight contest 8-6 at Freeman Park. This week, the Lutherans got their revenge easlily handling the Covenanters 18-4 at Excelsior Commons. Councilman Steve Adams was back on the rubber as he made his every other week appearance. The ECC bats didn't wake up until the second game of the doubleheader which featured a big fly from our big guy and a game winning rbi from the new guy. Playing Faith Presbyterian Church for the only time this year, Brian Wiersma ended a nearly two month homerless drought by hitting a 3 run dinger in the top of the first inning to start the scoring. Brian Everett, playing third base in place of the vacationing Kyle Small, turned a nifty 5-3 double play. Then in the top of the sixth, with the score 9-5 in favor of ECC, Tom Talmo's son Clint, playing for only his second week, hit a 2 run triple into right center field. This proved to be the winning rbis as the final score was Excelsior Covenanat 11 Faith Presbyterian 9. Unfortunately, there were a few injuries to report. Scrappy veteran Tim Carlson suffered another setback with his calf and Kit Housh showed up to play but he was limited due to his nagging hamstring.

Only one game next week (7/16) as ECC looks to even their record at 8-8. Hope you can make it to Excelsior Commons at 6:30.