Volcanoes advance in pool play

Dave Kenney knocks in a run

So Cal Dodgers  9 -3 over Volcanoes

Your faithful correspondent gets the ball for game 4 vs the So Cal Dodgers. Another gorgeous day as proceedings commence at Salt River where the White Sox and Dodgers have their spring training . We get through the first quickly but the Dodgers draw first blood in the second on a single stolen base and eventually scoring on  a passed ball.The Volcanoes come back with two runs of their own on the back of three walks and a single by Doug  Rosario. The Dodgers made a change on the mound to get some strikes and with the bases loaded got  Ken Herman on a ground  ball to end the threat.
The third inning brings a little adventure. A soft grounder  slips though the legs of our infielder to get their lead runner on base. A single  through the hole between first and second gets runners on first and second. We get a pop up which is ruled an infield fly rule. However, our first baseman has trouble on pop ups and the ball lands safely and bounces towards the dugout. the runners sense the ball will drip and start moving. Our second baseman alertly  runs the ball down and fires to second base where the force is no longer in play. The runner stops and backtracks toward first while the runner who started  the play at second base rounds third and is determining whether to break for home. Our shortstop is running the base-runner towards first and collides and rolls over and the runner scores.  Not many runs score from second on an infield fly rule but we are tied at 2.

We get a sacrifice fly from manager Dave  Kenney in the bottom of the third to take the lead 3-2.  The Dodgers get a single and stolen base which then scores on a single to center. The runner  steals his way to third and scores on another passed ball and the Dodgers take a 4-3 in the fourth. The Dodgers  tack on another run in the fifth as the stolen base has become a valuable weapon for them. They would get 9 stolen bases on the day which helped them get in position to score.

The sixth inning starts harmlessly with a routine fly ball between left and center field that either outfielder could have caught. Instead it drops in and the Dodgers have another threat. With two outs they load the bases for the 9th hitter. Seizing the moment, this batter gets the hardest hit ball of the day  double to left center field which scores three runs and breaks the game open. The Volcanoes would load the bases later but were unable to break through and the final ends 9-3 as Volcanoes suffer their first loss in pool play.


Volcanoes 13-4 over Tortuga Solons

The second game of the day features a key match up for the Volcanoes as teams are trying to avoid the play in game for the  playoffs and assure themselves of a top 3 seeding.
Dave Kenney got it done on the mound for the Volcanoes allowing three runs over the nine innings while striking out 2.
The Volcanoes started slowly by hitting in double plays in each of the first three innings but persevered. The Volcanoes bats came alive with four hits from Craig Beatly and three from Steve Heilman and Johnny Mac.  Von Van Allen had the interesting box score of one hit in 2 official at bats but four runs scored while Allen Butler, Jack Thompson and Greg Baker each chipped in with a pair of hits. The win improves the Volcanoes to 4-1.The  San Antonio Lonestars are 4-0 and in the drivers seat for top seed but the teams meet in the 6th pool game to determine who will get the top seed in the playoffs.

Craig Beatly knocks in the game winner vs San Antonio 

Volcanoes 7-6  over San Antonio Lonestars

The lads arrive at Goodyear ball park to be greeted by heavy winds and a  storm looming ever present in the distance. Even as both teams are in the playoffs, the top seed in the playoffs is at stake. The playoffs are structured that the top seed plays the winner of a play in game between seeds  #4 an #5 so there is an advantage playing a team that has already played and in theory used a top pitcher to advance to the semi finals.

The Lonestars get on the board early on the back of a single to right field, a stolen base and double to right field. The Volcanoes counter with a bunt single and a stolen base. A grounder to third get handled and on the throw to first our runner ( Steve Heilman and the fastest player we have) advances to third.  A sacrifice fly to left scores Steve and we are tied after 1 inning . The game advances to the 6th inning and we are tied at 5 when the Lonestars load the bases against Von Van Allen. With two out, Von gets a ground ball to third but the ball finds it was through the legs of our guy and the Lonestars take a one run lead. The skies are darkening by the second inning and lighting is striking in full view as we suspect the game will be called even as the rain has not yet started. Bob McAteer leads off and gets hit by the first pitch of the inning so we have the tying run on base. A walk and then pinch hitter Charlie Zunda is also hit by a pitch.  A wild pitch scores Bob and we are tied. Taking one for the team  is an unusual  offensive charge  to say the least   Craig Beatly then delivers a single to left scoring Charlie and we take a 7-6 lead as the lightning is very close. The rain starts suddenly as if it were waiting for Craig to get his hit  and is really coming down . Shortly afterwards the game is called. With the lead in the bottom of the 6th we are declared the winner and thus earn top seed in playoffs.

Here comes the storm

Playoffs are a bit different than pool play in that teams are obliged to bat only ten batters ( 14 different batters are required to hit in pool play game). Playoffs have a higher intensity level  even as players are tired from the four days of pool play.
Win or go home as they say. The Red Deer Legends  and Greenwood Dragons game as will play Friday morning in the play in game with the winner facing the Volcanoes on Friday afternoon. The Dodgers will play the San Antonio Lonestars in the other semi final game .
The Volcanoes pitching rotation is set with Dave Kenney going in the semi's with your faithful correspondent set for the championship.