NM State Aggies vs Bradley Braves Softball 2-15-19

Welcome to day one of the Troy Cox Classic softball tournament.  I sort of wanted to come earlier in the day to see the other teams playing each other.  Why didn’t I?  I don’t remember.  I’m literally writing this four days later.  After three days at baseball and softball, it’s all a blur.  After watching a great Aggie Baseball Opening Day game, I was apparently a bit tired.  My notes for this game are real sparse and I only vaguely remember sitting in the stands for this game.  This may not be much of a recap.

Ron and I arrived at the Softball Complex right before the game started.  While in the bathroom, I ran into Fan Mike.  (Yeah, just how you think, at the urinals.)  I asked for a recap of the Aggies’ first game.  They won 7-4 over Texas State in a pretty exciting game.  Victoria Castro hit two home runs and Nikki Butler hit one.  The big cheer we’d heard over at the baseball field was for Tori and Nikki going back-to-back with homers.

Just to mention, Amy Bergeson, dependable left fielder from last year’s team, was working at the scorer’s table.  I think Zory Caldwell, who was also on the team last year, was working with her.  Last week, I’d noticed a pretty blonde checking in with them.  From an interview with Coach Rodolph, it was Karysta Donisthrope.  She was a pitcher on the team a few years ago, when I first started going out to the softball games, and was one of my favorites.  She’s back as a pitching coach.     

Tonight’s opponent, the Bradley Braves, gathered together and started off the game with a scream.  They also sang a lot from their dugout.  Their signature song was Tequila.  The scoreboard was more-or-less working again, so we were good to go. 

It was a bad start for Aggie starter, Samaria Diaz.  She threw the ball away after fielding it on the first batter trying to make a play.  The batter went to third and was cashed in on the next batter.  Allison Apke homered next.  We found out that at least half of the crowd was for the Braves judging by the cheering.  Next, Stacia Seeton hit the light pole on a foul, but would take a walk.  Mya Felder ended the inning on good catch of a liner.  0-2 Braves.

The Aggies returned the singing, apparently inspired to take back their field.  In the bottom of the first, they only managed a couple of walks.  Catcher Kennedi Sorensen clanked on a foul popup to start the second.  No harm done though.  Emma Jackson had a good second for the Braves with a couple of strikeouts. 

Sam gave up a single and a walk to start the third and was taken out for Chloe Rivas.  Sam had pitched the last two innings of the last game.  She was probably gassed.  Chloe gave up a hit, but Brandy Hernandez threw out the runner at home trying to score from second.  However small she looks out there, do not run on this girl.  Brandy has a very strong and accurate arm.  She also caught a deep flyball to end the inning.  The wind had started up a bit and was blowing in.

And I took no notes on the bottom of the third.  Good thing I have the scorecard.  Brandy led off with a single and stole a base.  Tori moved her over to third and Mya drove her in on a fielder’s choice.  1-2 Braves.  Chloe worked a scoreless fourth, getting  around a couple of hits.  The Aggies also didn’t score in the bottom.  Kayla Bowen got on with a single and was out on a force at second, except she was ruled safe.  Bradley fans were in an uproar.  The umps got together and made the correct call.  It was a bit inexplicable. 

The Aggies turned a double play to end the Braves’ fifth.  Shelby Shultes pinch hit a double to start the bottom of the inning.  Brandy resumed her spot in the order as the runner.  Tori doubled her in to tie it at 2.  Nice.  It was still nice at the stadium.  The PA gave the temperature at 60 degrees.  It was 18 degrees in Illinois, where Bradley is. 

Chloe started off with a hit batter in the sixth.  She might have been rattled at that point and gave up a home run to the next batter.  3-4 Bradley.  Jackson made a good play on a comebacker to get the lead runner in the bottom.  She worked around two singles for another scoreless inning.

Chloe was back out to finish the game.  She gave up a lead-off hit, but retired the rest of the side.  (Wow, doing recaps without talking about hot chicks in the crowd or on field or goofy stuff going on in the stands is boring.)  Kelsey Horton led-off the bottom of the seventh with a single.  After three straight strikeouts, I can’t imagine her level of frustration.  Mya got on with a single.  KB then singled in singled in Kelsey to get the Aggies to within one.  The bases were loaded after a walk to pinch hitter, Alyssa Barela, with two outs.  The girls in Aggie dugout were singing up a storm.  Unfortunately, Kennedi came up and struckout looking.  3-4 Braves was your disappointing final.    

Let’s hand it to Bradley pitcher, Emma Jackson.  She went the full seven, only giving up three runs and scattering 10 hits with six strikeouts.  Three of those strikeouts were Kelsey Horton, no mean feat.  (Apropos of nothing, I dig the Braves’ shortstop’s name, Lucy Mead.  It rolls off the tongue well.)  Aggie freshman Chloe Rivas did well going five innings and only giving up two runs.  Regrettably, she had one bad pitch.  Victoria Castro went 2 for 3 with an RBI to lead Aggie hitting. 

Not only was the result disappointing, it was disappointing for the late finish.  We didn’t leave until about 10:30pm.  It had been a long Friday evening at the Aggie Baseball/Softball Complex.  After two long games, I was beat and it was too late for dinner.  It had also gotten cold by the end, so I was glad it ended when it did.  I got home and just had a bowl of cereal.  I even knocked off early to be ready for tomorrow’s games, instead trying up write up the day’s action.  In retrospect, I should have mixed in some more modest meals over this little vacation.  On Monday, after yet another burger (which was great), I’m actually cringing over the thought of eating any more greasy food for a while.