SweetHearts vs Stingrays
Monday, May 16, 2005 - F13 - 5:30pm - Game #324

It really wasn't very pretty. The SweetHearts knew before the game started that pitching was going to be their weak spot but they didn't realize that fielding would hurt them too. Being the home team really did not help as the 'Hearts gave up eight runs to the Stingrays in the top of the first inning. What would have been a very short half inning turned into a very long one when the Stingrays opened with two hits, and error by the 'Hearts shortstop, a walk, a hit, and an error by the second baseman and an assortment of other overthrows. By the time Mary. M. was pulled from the mound, the fielders had let eight runs cross the plate.

Tori M. came in to complete the inning giving up two walks and getting two batters to ground out.

The SweetHearts came to bat only to face a hard-throwing Stingrays' pitcher. After Brandy opened with a strike out and Mary M. walked the SweetHearts put together three runs off the inability of the 'Rays catcher to hang onto the pitcher's wild pitches. Suddenly the pitcher was pulled from the game to go to a choral concert leaving the team to struggle with a much more ineffective pitcher. Still the SweetHearts could do nothing.

The top of the second found the 'Rays piling on the runs from struggling pitching and lack-luster fielding. As Tori gained confidence in her pitching the damage had already been done. The Stingrays were up 16-3 in just two innings. In the bottom of the second the 'Hearts managed to gain ground by getting hits from key players and cutting the 'Rays lead in half. However, game time was quickly running out. The top of the third would see Mary M. back on the mound as time ran out in what the park calls the "school rule" ending the game at exactly 90 minutes no matter who is leading.

Taking the loss was Mary. M. with 2/3 innings pitched, She gave up 8 runs on five hits, three walks, and two strike out. Tori pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up eight runs on seven hits, three walks, and had two strike outs. Mary M., Grace H., Tori, Cyanna D. , and Katie C. all had single hits. The final score was 16-8.