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.