It’s been a week. One of my tires got slashed at work on my brand new car. I spent the week getting that fixed and paying for it (out the nose). Let’s go to the ballpark and forget all that stuff happened.
On Friday, I listened to Aggie Softball’s Opening Day double header. This year’s team is decidedly a family affair. We have three Nicholson sisters, two Lunar sisters, two Aragon sisters and a cousin, and the little sister of Aggie Baseball player, Tristan Carranza. There are 17 new faces on the team. Faith Aragon comes to us from UTEP. She was their ace pitcher, but Coach Rodolph offered to let her be a two-way player like our returning star, Desirae Spearman.
The first game against UC-Santa Barbara, unfortunately had a disastrous fourth inning where the Aggies gave up 8 runs, 7 unearned. They came back late and made it interesting in a 10-8 loss. They had their chances with 12 runners left on base. Desirae started the second game against Colorado State. She was shaky to start, but settled down well. She hit her first home run of the season in a 6-4 win.
Driving over to the stadium, I was relieved that they’d finally reopened the direct road to the stadium. Now granted, the construction continues at the football stadium for probably another year, but its progress. The parking lot was full at the Softball Complex and a good crowd milling around. It was a beautiful, clear day in the 70’s here, so little wonder people came out. The attendance was announced at about 400, but the stands were full.
There were two earlier games between visiting teams in the morning, which finished on time for this game between the Aggies and the Roos. Jeff Matthews, who usually does high school football, was on the radio call and informed me that they no longer go by UMKC and just want to be Kansas City. They had gone to UTEP yesterday and lost two and already lost earlier today. At least, they were wearing sharp powder blue uniforms with yellow numbers. Lil’ Pete the robot was out drawing the lines on the field before the game. Across the field at Presley Askew Field, the Baseball team was having a practice game.
Speaking of disasters, these scorecards are abysmal. I looked over a couple of old scorecards in the morning to remind myself of how to do it. I’d hoped for a simple day of scoring to ease into it again, but I made sure to just use a pencil. My hopes were exploded in the bottom of the first.
Jaileen Mancha worked an efficient top of the first for the Aggies. The bottom of the frame started spectacularly. This gorgeous blonde from the Santa Barbara team came in with her family and other members of the team. She was in uniform, so I could identify her as Ava Bradford. Wow! Somehow, I managed to tear myself away from her to watch the action on the field.
Catcher Bella Clapp started it off with a triple. Desirae came up and blasted her second home run of the season to give the Aggies a 2-0 lead. Also, some cute blondes in the little cut-off shorts entered the stadium, along with some other attractive young women. How am I supposed to watch this game?
I needed all of my attention focused on the game for what was about to happen. Okay, after the home run, there was a single and a walk, followed by a double steal. Newcomer transfer Kristina Watson then doubled in a run. Then the wheels came off for the Roos. There were two consecutive errors on the first baseman in the form of an overthrow and then a dropped throw to first. These errors brought in two runs. A dropped throw to home on a bunt single brought in another. It was 6-0 Aggies when the dust settled.
Aggie Marketing tossed out a bunch of souvenirs over the weekend. The top of the second had a foam finger giveaway. There may not have been enough kids in the crowd to get a more enthusiastic demand. However, Megan (?) the Hot Marketing Girl was the one doing the giveaway. She unmercifully teased the crowd with her goodies. However again, Santa Barbara girls and Ava left to warm up or eat. Darn. I didn’t get to see her again this weekend.
In play, Payton Nicholson in left field made a great throw after a flyball catch to double off a runner at first. The Aggies loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, but failed to bring anyone in. Kenzie Nicholson did lay down a magnificent bunt for a single. It died in front of home plate with three players surrounding it and having no play on it.
Elleana Navarro led off the top of the third with a double for the Roos. The ball got past Faith in centerfield as she laid out for it. The runner was left stranded, as Desirae made an appropriately spearing catch of a liner at short and then a ground out at short. Between the frames, the crowd did get excited for a hat giveaway. Megan didn’t have to sell those too hard. The Aggies got two on in the bottom, but again didn’t bring anyone in.
Jaileen gave way to Zantelle Rodriguez in the circle for the Aggies in the fourth after giving up a double. Zantelle’s a local girl and got good round of applause from the crowd. The Aggies got on a little traffic on in their half of the inning, Navarro made a nice play at short on a popup to end the inning.
Zantelle
worked a second 1-2-3 inning in the fifth.
The Roo catcher and pretty blonde, Chloe Kohnhorst, had made the last out. By the time she was suited up, she only got
one warm up pitch with the pitcher. Not
to tell their coach anything, but you should have a backup catcher ready to do
the warm up in that situation.
Payton led off the inning with a bunt single. I swear she teleported to first. She was that quick. Des worked a walk with two outs. Devin Elam rapped a double and drove the two runners in. That was an 8-0 Aggie run rule win. There was a bit of confusion on field. The Roos didn’t realize it was over that quick and took a minute to leave the field. I felt a bit sorry for them.
For Gameballs, Desirae Spearman went 1 for 2 with a 2-run homer and played a good shortstop. Kristina Watson went 3 for 3 with an RBI. She’s also the tallest player on the team and impressively built on top of it. Jaileen Mancha and Zantelle Rodriguez combined for the shutout. It was a pretty dominating victory. Burying the lead, Matthews on radio did mention that the Aggies are like 25-1 against their former conference foe, so this wasn’t a surprise.
In 30 minutes, the Aggies would be playing UCSB in a rematch for their next game.
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