I wasn’t sure what to do with my day off while waiting for the game. That got taken care of thanks to a domestic dispute in apartment above mine, which involved the police and for some reason, me. Nobody was harmed and some good may even come of it, but it wrecked the day for me. I should get another day off to make up for this. I was supposed to go get dinner with Ron before the game. That time came and went. I finally called him an hour before the game. “Ooops. I forgot. I’ll be right there,” he said in a hurry.
Once at the ball field, we couldn’t get tickets because their computer was down. With the Tennessee fans standing there with us, this was embarrassing for the university, like the shot clocks not working at the women’s basketball game for ESPN3 on Saturday. After about 10 minutes, they were able to work around it. We even got tickets at a discount, since it should have cost more for a tournament game. (I lost the ticket stub, so no image of that this time.)
After the delay and close to game time, I skipped the concession. Ron got a couple of hot dogs. I picked up a program instead. And there it was. The full schedule of the tournament was printed there. I couldn’t find a full schedule online. If I’d had this, I might have made different plans. The full tournament pass was only $12. I might have even re-thought going to see the Sunday baseball game if I’d known that Tennessee was playing Oregon State at the same time. Guys, next time, put the full schedule up somewhere please.
It was a beautiful evening at least. There was a bit of a nip in the air, but it wasn’t as bad being at the Sunday baseball game. The really pleasant surprise was the crowd. The Opening Day attendance was really good. This was even better. There were quite a few Tennessee fans there. There were some girls from area high school softball teams, including one from El Paso. It felt like there was a palatable buzz in the air. On radio, Adam Young was not there. The long time voice of Las Cruces sports, Jack Nixon, was calling the game with Nolan Fox. Adam would have probably been there, but he was in transit to Lubbock to call the baseball game there Tuesday.
The radio pre-game call was no comfort in the ominous warnings department. Tennessee’s team is nationally ranked at #15, and this squad is currently 9-0. Their starter this evening, Caylan Arnold, had not given up an earned run this year. They were in their familiar bright day-glo orange tops, as many of their fans in the stands were also in team colors. The Aggies were in their new black and gray away uniforms, though they were the home team. They’re nice-looking, (vaguely “Logan’s Run” Sandman-ish) but probably need a little crimson trim to look properly Aggie.
As the starters were announced for the game, I was a bit surprised. Seniors Misty Hoohuli and Haley Nakamura were out. Freshmen Caity Szczesny and Jeanelle Medina were in. Likewise, sophomore and local girl, Alexis Maynez, was replaced by freshman Kaitlyn Rubio behind the plate. I thought Alexis was the regular catcher, but I may have been mistaken. On the field, once again, Kelsey Horton was at second instead of first, where Fahren Glackin was instead positioned.
My game got off to a good start as I got all the positions and numbers down while the lineups were announced. Ron’s nemesis, the old man, was there getting his pipes warmed up for a long evening of loudly encouraging the girls. A nice looking lady sat down in front of me with her husband. She would turn out to be the second-loudest cheerer in the crowd. For the ceremonial first pitch, I found out that the Troy Cox Classic, as this tournament was officially called, was actually named in honor of someone. I had assumed it was a corporate sponsorship. A relative of the deceased person did a fast-pitch wind up and tossed an impressive hard strike into the catcher’s mitt to start the game.
My favorite out there, Kayla Green, is having a problem pitching first innings this season from what I’ve seen. I think she’s given up first inning runs in every start so far. I couldn’t tell you the reason, if there is one. She looked good taking out the first two batters, but a couple hits, a walk, and a double put three up for Tennessee just as quick. Kayla gave up another walk before getting a grounder to end the inning. The Volunteers have some really good hitters, and Kayla seemed stunned by their proficiency. 0-3 Tennessee.
Things at least started well for Aggie hitting, as Rachel Rodriguez led off with a single. The Aggie dugout started singing for Fahren Glackin, up next, but she struck out. Kelsey Horton was not intimidated in her at bat and pounded a double. Rachel was held at third on the hit. I’m not going to say this was the critical moment of the game, because Tennessee was probably going to win regardless, but even at the time, that was a bad stop sign. Rachel is one of the fastest runners on the team and the ball wasn’t that close to the infield. It was going to require a good throw to put her out. You’re already down three to a good team, and getting the first score of the year on Arnold, might have rattled her. Instead, the rest of the side struck out, stranding both runners.
We won’t know if Kayla was going to settle in for the rest of the game, as the second inning started off with an error. Then there was another error two batters later. Good fielding actually took out both runners later, but a couple of hits drove in another run. 0-4 Tennessee. The Aggies went down in order in their half.
The third inning went to pieces for the Aggies. Kayla wasn’t just hittable, she was losing the strike zone with a walk, a lightly hit batter, and a wild pitch. A passed ball and Fahren dropping a foul ball really didn’t help. After three more runs, Coach Rodolph went directly to the umpire to make changes. Kayla wandered off out of the circle into the dugout by herself. I wish I could have given her a hug.
The team’s other starter, freshman Samaria Diaz, entered the game. “Sam,” as I’m going to nickname her, unfortunately didn’t have any better luck. The main damage was done on a two RBI double that went over the head of left fielder, Amy Bergeson. You know the team is having defensive troubles when the normally automatic Amy misjudges a looping fly ball. And to make it worse, Sam took one off her pitching hand on a grounder by the next batter. She was okay on a couple of practice pitches, but walked the next two batters. Kayla had to come back out to finish the inning. 0-9 Volunteers.
If you can believe it, the crowd was still there and they were into it. Jeanelle Medina started off the inning with a strikeout, but up next, Rachel would get a hit and a stolen base and take third on a bad throw by the catcher. Fahren would strike out. Kelsey took one of the angriest at bats I’ve ever seen in person. She was swinging hard for the fences, but it turned into another strikeout to end the inning.
To start the fourth, Jack and Nolan had a discussion about Nolan’s hometown of Los Alamos. You can tell it’s a blowout. The lady next to Ron asked him if the run rule was in effect. If I respected Tennessee’s playing abilities, in this inning, I respected them as competitors. With little further to prove, their coach subbed out several of their regulars. Even their fans were generally quiet during the game. Aggie fans, though, kept cheering their girls’ efforts. Jeanelle made a great pick in front of the circle and throw to first for an out. The crowd erupted for her. Local girl Brandy Hernandez was put in to play left field and caught a fly ball to cheers of the fans.
I think there were giveaways every inning, including t-shirts and towels thrown into the enthusiastic crowd. The husband of the lady in front of me polished off his third beer in an hour and a half. He was having a good time. There was some giggling behind me about the old man’s constant cheering, but everyone was still into the game. Kayla surrendered a single to start the fifth. Once again, as on Opening Day, her and Fahren exchanged gloves and positions. Caity Szczensny in right field made the next two outs on fly balls and the best play of the game, as she threw out the runner trying to tag up and take second. That ended the inning to thunderous applause and cheers.
The Onate high school softball team in attendance gave Brandy a big cheer when she came up to bat. That was the last outburst as the game ended on the rule run with the end of the fifth. Our final, Aggies 0, Volunteers 9. The girls all quickly lined up and shook hands, and the Aggie girls went to the circle and said, “Thank you,” to the crowd.
My player of the game is Rachel Rodriguez. She went two for two with a stolen base. That’s as good as I can find, but even then, I have Rachel with an error. The two freshman, Caity and Jeanelle, looked good fielding today. Tennessee just looked good all around. I wish they’d spaced out scoring their runs, so that we could have gotten a full seven innings. My real hero for this game is actually the fans. That was one of the best Aggie crowds I’ve ever been a part of. I can’t remember ever seeing fans cheer more when their team was giving them so little to cheer about. It was a tough game to watch, but also kind of awesome to be there for. I hope the crowd at least picked the girls up a bit.
Okay, now for my questions and suggestions. While Caity and Jeanelle did a good job in field, why were the more experienced Misty and Haley not taking the at bats instead for this game? The freshman should be pinch hitting and working as defensive replacements. If they work their way into the regular lineup, that’s fine, but not before then. Why was Alexis not catching? I like the way she works behind the plate. I don’t think you were missing anything on offense and it would have been better to have put the hometown girl in.
This experiment with Kelsey at second needs to end. In addition to an error, she had some other problems there that didn’t show up on the scorecard. Put her back at first, her natural position. With the pitching staff being anchored by a sophomore and a freshman, have Fahren concentrate on her pitching to be able to back up Kayla and Sam more. No more putting Kayla at first either. Have her concentrate on pitching too. Alternately, trade Kelsey to the baseball team for Brent Sakurai. You’ll get a better second baseman with some power. (And he’ll mesh well with the island girls on the team.) Kelsey can play first for the baseball team and hit third, helping to protect Dan Hetzel.
The girls are on their way to a tough tournament, in which any success isn’t guaranteed. I’m remembering the women’s basketball team losing a hard one to Arizona and then losing all four tournament games in Las Vegas soon after. They’ve done pretty well since (undefeated in conference). Hopefully, this game and the ones to come here in the early season will be the same kind of learning experience for the softball team.
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