I had the best
lunch today. I got another foot-long
chili cheese dog at Stadium Burger
at the mall. I thought their burgers
were the best in fast food, but their hot dogs are even better.
While I was at the
mall, I also checked out the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. It was
their baseball preview issue, but it was mostly a regular issue. At $11 bucks, it wasn’t worth it. There was an article on baseball finances
involving their regional sports networks that did look interesting. There was also a puff piece on Shohei Ohtani that I’m sure they’re
regretting given the unresolved gambling scandal surrounding him. I didn’t notice offhand if there was any
mention of his interpreter/possible embezzler best friend, but they did highlight
Shohei’s dog.
Sigh.
And there was a
softball game today.
This Easter card
was from my Aunt Judy that I’d gotten earlier in the week. This was before she read my MLB preseason report, where I didn’t
give her beloved Cardinals a good
prognosis for the season. When I’m
proven right, I’m sure she’ll forgive me.
The most
disappointing thing about today’s game with the Aggies versus San Diego
was that the Easter Bunny did not
put in an appearance. He’s been at some Aggie Baseball games before and there
were Easter Egg hunts in the outfield, but apparently Softball doesn’t
rate. EB does not care about Title
IX. When I was at the mall, I did get to
see him there at least.
The day started
well. While walking up to the Softball Complex, I got a strong whiff
of fresh cut grass. I had a red nose
from yesterday, but had no trouble smelling. It was overcast with a light breeze, so I
wouldn't have to worry about more burn.
(I was wearing sunblock anyway.)
There was another
good crowd for the game. I was again
sitting with Fan Danny, who was a bit unhappy that he was going to be missing
some of the Women's NCAA Basketball
tournament to be here. The Aggies were
in their road grays with San Diego in Navy blue and white. Were the Aggies' home uniforms still in the
wash, or did the Toreros bring the wrong uniforms?
There were only a
couple of kids in the crowd surprisingly.
Only one was flagging down foul balls outside of the stadium. She got the first one, came back in, held it
up to show her family, and got a round of applause from the crowd. Emily
Dix started for the Aggies. Desirae Spearman was not in the lineup
at all. Coach Rodolph was giving her the day off after yesterday's effort
(hopefully, it's not for injury).
Dix got the first
batter, then gave up three singles to load the bases. The Coach and Kayla Lunar at third both talked her, as SD got loud in their
dugout. Jayleen Burton got a grounder at short and threw to third to get
the lead runner, but overthrew Kayla and a run scored. Kayla missed the next grounder, but Jayleen
got it behind her for the out, but a run did score on the fielder's
choice. Jayleen made the next play to
end the inning. 2-0 SD.
McKenna Braegleman started for the Toreros. She gave up a single, a two-run homer by Jillian Taylor to tie it, a double to Dezianna Patmon, and then got a quick hook by the coach. I'd have to think there was more going on than just a shaky start. Maybe she was playing hurt. Emma Giaime came on in relief. After a groundout, Kayla walked. She tried to steal second, but was thrown out by catcher, Arisa Tovar. A strikeout ended the inning. 2 all.
The Toreros came
back in the second with a single, a sac bunt, and a run-scoring double to retake
the lead, 3-2. In the bottom, Kendal Lunar walked, but was thrown out
by Tovar while trying to take second.
Given that Kendal is the Aggies' catcher, I'm thinking that that was a
blown hit-and-run, rather than a steal attempt.
That ended the rally. When Kendal
came back out to catch, I noticed her pants were ripped where she'd slid.
Dix threw two balls
to start the third and walked straight to the dugout. I'm guessing she felt an injury. Hard-throwing, but somewhat erratic, Haiven Schoolcraft came on in
relief. The first batter did walk and
the next two batters singled to load the bases with nobody out. Jayleen caught a liner at short for the first
out with no opportunity to double anyone off.
EJ Joyner
then came up and doubled just inside the third base line. Two runs scored. The runner from first tried to come in too,
but Dezianna Patmon threw her out at
home. The next batter hit a flyball left
center. Dezi and Jillian converged on
it. Jill backed off late and . . . the
ball hit Dezi on top of the head.
Umm. These things happen. (To Lucy in a Peanuts comic strip.) An unearned run scored. The trainer came out and looked at her, but
Dezi stayed in. She threw out a runner
at home and was hit on the head by a flyball on the next play. Baseball is cruel. 6-2 SD.
There was a pink
Aggie shirt toss to the crowd in the break.
An enthusiastic Torero mom got one and was very happy. In the bottom of the third after an out,
Jillian drew a walk. She stole second,
but just barely. I'm not sure why they
were still trying to run on Tovar.
Another walk and a single loaded the bases. Kayla drew a walk to force in a run. Unfortunately, a possible big inning was cut
right off. A grounder to Giaime was thrown
to home for a force and to first for a double play. 5-3 SD.
Taylor Johnson
began the top of the fourth with a home run.
Joecellia Roberts next hit a
massive foul ball into the trees in right field, but would settle for a
single. The next batter walked, and
Haiven was relieved by Jaileen Mancha,
yesterday's Game 2 starter. She finished
the inning, as Jayleen squeezed a flyout and a lineout, and Kendal caught a
little popup in front of the plate with two other players charging for it. 7-3 SD.
Bottom of the
fourth, Kendra Levesque hit a
massive foul to left field. The Aggie
dugout yelled and pointed to the field, “Hit it that way!” The at bat ended in a groundout. Jessica
Carreon got an infield hit in the inning.
Amanda Limon made a nice play
on it to make it close.
Bea Martinez
from Channel 7 was here shooting footage for the newscast. From watching her report, I found out Men's Basketball Coach Hooten was there incognito.
(I didn't notice him.) It's not
like he had anything better to do right now.
In the top of the fifth, Jaileen got two outs, but gave up two
singles. A triple down the right field
line by Roberts drove them in. A two-run
home run to center by Tele Jennings
sealed it. 11-3 SD.
The Aggies now
needed a run to keep from getting run ruled like the Toreros yesterday. The Aggie dugout was singing to keep up their
spirits. Unfortunately, the only hit in
the inning was a single by Dezi. She
also hit Devin Elam in the on deck
circle with a foul ball. You could hear
it in the stands, but Devin laughed it off.
11-3 SD was the final.
Several Toreos had
a good game hitting. I'll single out Tele Jennings for going 4 for 4 with 2
RBI's and a home run. Emma Giaime got the win by going 5
innings and only giving up 1 run. It
wasn't a great day for the Aggies, but Jillian
Taylor did well with a two-run homer, scoring twice, and getting a stolen
base. I wonder if this game would have
been different with Des in the lineup.
The Aggie fans left
disappointed. The SD fans seemed
unenthusiastic, as well. This is what I
was afraid of with a single softball game during the day. A run rule win left everyone wanting more. The game was probably just under two
hours.
I actually did get
a little more. While I was out with dad
on Sunday getting lunch, I ran into Logan
Galina from the Baseball team coming in.
I'd actually run into him a couple of years ago at Whataburger and I could recognize him out of uniform. I should have congratulated him on hitting
that triple a couple of weeks ago, or on the team's victory against Arizona on the road last week, or
asking if he's been playing more.
Instead, I mentioned meeting his girlfriend, Xophia Venegas from the Softball team. I said she was awesome and that he'd better hold on to her. Logan smiled and heartily agreed with that. Okay, at least, I solidified his marriage plans. Danny said he'd met Xophia's mom in the stands before. Maybe he can find out when the wedding is. See, it all ends happily ever after.
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