Sorry for the late post, but I couldn’t find the password
for the blogs!
The Lumberjacks opened their season in Glendive, MT and
played against both Dawson CC and Williston State. This was the first time the team had been
outside since November, so we knew there would be some mistakes. Going into the 1st game vs Dawson,
we were wanting to get the rust, cobwebs, and jitters out of our system. It was
nice being in “baseball weather” for the 1st time, but with the heat
hanging around in the 70’s, I was curious to how we would adapt to it after
being in the WOODSHED for a few months.
Game 1 vs DCC
The first game against DCC we came out a little sluggish and got behind 0-3 in the first inning. We are a team that plays better when trailing a few points, so I knew we still had a chance. We were still in it going into the 3rd, but a few timely hits by the Bucs spread their lead to 5, and our guys were getting a little tired. The 5th and 6th innings we tried to get something rolling, but couldn’t and lost 0-10.
The first game against DCC we came out a little sluggish and got behind 0-3 in the first inning. We are a team that plays better when trailing a few points, so I knew we still had a chance. We were still in it going into the 3rd, but a few timely hits by the Bucs spread their lead to 5, and our guys were getting a little tired. The 5th and 6th innings we tried to get something rolling, but couldn’t and lost 0-10.
Game 2 vs WSC
The second game of the day was against Williston, and with the 1st game jitters out of us, I knew we were going to put up a fight. We were the home team, so if it came down to it, we had the advantage of having the last at bat. The first inning didn’t play out too well for us as we got behind right away 0-2. In the second, they tacked on 2 more before we started to get the sticks rolling by adding 3 of our own. We matched run for run with the Tetons until the 6th, when we tied it up at 7 a piece. Going into the last inning, they managed to squeak out a run with us still getting a chance to bat. We were towards the bottom of the order, and needed one of our guys to step up and get the bats going. The Tetons ended up going 3 up 3 down for us to end the game 7-8. The guys played well, but couldn’t quite finish it off. This was a good test to have, especially in the 2nd game of the year to help us prepare for another close one. Credit to the Tetons for playing a solid game throughout, but with us leaving 15 guys on base, the game could have had a much different outcome.
The second game of the day was against Williston, and with the 1st game jitters out of us, I knew we were going to put up a fight. We were the home team, so if it came down to it, we had the advantage of having the last at bat. The first inning didn’t play out too well for us as we got behind right away 0-2. In the second, they tacked on 2 more before we started to get the sticks rolling by adding 3 of our own. We matched run for run with the Tetons until the 6th, when we tied it up at 7 a piece. Going into the last inning, they managed to squeak out a run with us still getting a chance to bat. We were towards the bottom of the order, and needed one of our guys to step up and get the bats going. The Tetons ended up going 3 up 3 down for us to end the game 7-8. The guys played well, but couldn’t quite finish it off. This was a good test to have, especially in the 2nd game of the year to help us prepare for another close one. Credit to the Tetons for playing a solid game throughout, but with us leaving 15 guys on base, the game could have had a much different outcome.
Game 3 vs DCC
New day, same opponent, and we knew we had to get at least one against these guys. We knew they would try to throw a different pitcher against us, so if we hopped out on them early we could put them away. The game was a solid game being tied at 0 until the bottom of the 3rd when they took the lead 0-1. Again, being a team that likes to be opportunistic and attack from behind when the time is right; we knew we just had to wait. That time came in the top of the 7th, we were down 2-5, and we took full advantage of a few of their errors. We tacked on 3 runs to tie it up, and the energy was on our side. The only thing that was going against us was the time. (In these round robin games, there is a strict time limit to make sure every game can be played. We were at that time limit of 2 hours, so this game would either result in us tying, or losing; so we need to at least get the tie.)
Scheffer was on the bump to close the game, and he was pitching extremely well. He got himself in a little bind and allowed a man on. The runner ended up being on 3rd with 2 outs, so we needed to focus on getting the batter out. Scheffer had 2 strikes on the guy, when a wild pitch came about and allowed the runner to score, ending the game 5-6. The guys didn’t like winning on a play like that, but it showed we could compete in tight games and know how to get out of them.
New day, same opponent, and we knew we had to get at least one against these guys. We knew they would try to throw a different pitcher against us, so if we hopped out on them early we could put them away. The game was a solid game being tied at 0 until the bottom of the 3rd when they took the lead 0-1. Again, being a team that likes to be opportunistic and attack from behind when the time is right; we knew we just had to wait. That time came in the top of the 7th, we were down 2-5, and we took full advantage of a few of their errors. We tacked on 3 runs to tie it up, and the energy was on our side. The only thing that was going against us was the time. (In these round robin games, there is a strict time limit to make sure every game can be played. We were at that time limit of 2 hours, so this game would either result in us tying, or losing; so we need to at least get the tie.)
Scheffer was on the bump to close the game, and he was pitching extremely well. He got himself in a little bind and allowed a man on. The runner ended up being on 3rd with 2 outs, so we needed to focus on getting the batter out. Scheffer had 2 strikes on the guy, when a wild pitch came about and allowed the runner to score, ending the game 5-6. The guys didn’t like winning on a play like that, but it showed we could compete in tight games and know how to get out of them.
Game 4 vs WSC
This was the last game of the 4 game series, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. We had to shuffle guys around the last game to help save some arms, so I was unsure of how we would play. Also, the temperature had been in the mid 70’s, and you could see how drained our guys were. Not to mention, the last game went down to the wire and the guys put forth a lot of mental energy in it as well. With that being said, the Tetons jumped to an early 0-4 lead and they kept piling them on. We were gassed and the Tetons took full advantage of it. We committed 3 errors and left 11 on base. We allowed 8 runs off of only 6 hits, so there is some building to do.
This was the last game of the 4 game series, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. We had to shuffle guys around the last game to help save some arms, so I was unsure of how we would play. Also, the temperature had been in the mid 70’s, and you could see how drained our guys were. Not to mention, the last game went down to the wire and the guys put forth a lot of mental energy in it as well. With that being said, the Tetons jumped to an early 0-4 lead and they kept piling them on. We were gassed and the Tetons took full advantage of it. We committed 3 errors and left 11 on base. We allowed 8 runs off of only 6 hits, so there is some building to do.
We will now travel to Bismarck to play against U-Mary JV on
March 29th. That will be our
last pre-season game before we start conference play on April 2 against
Williston.
No comments:
Post a Comment