I got up early Sunday morning when I remembered that today’s early game between the Aggies and Colorado State would be on the radio. I was sorry I wouldn’t get to see the Rams play this weekend. I’d like to see all of the visiting teams. In the second, Aggie star, Desirae Spearman was injured trying to steal second. She came out for the game. Thankfully, it didn’t seem serious. However, she was the starting pitcher and batting in the lineup, so there were a whole slew substitutions to replace her.
This was a tight game. It was 3-3 in the sixth, when Lauren Garcia put the Aggies up with a two-run homer. Kendal Lunar then added to the lead with another two-run homer. The Aggies won 7-4. There was some nice sportsmanship during the game when a CSU fielder accidentally threw into an Aggie runner going for a base. The fielder went over and apologized for it. (Sorry for not getting the names. I was exercising and not taking studious notes at the time.)
During the break between the games, I took off for the stadium to see the Aggies play the Kansas City Roos. The weather was again beautiful. I wore a sweatshirt, but ditched it about halfway through the game. The crowd looked lighter than yesterday, but official attendance had it at more (437). The Baseball team was practicing next door. They knocked off at about noon.
When I came into the stadium, I ran into a guy wearing a giant novelty Aggie hat. It’d be good for shade, but inconvenient for the people behind you. On field, I noticed freshman Zantelle Rodriguez kneeling and praying. The umps were inspecting everyone’s bats before the game. It seemed like there were a couple out of the Roos’ dugout they didn’t like and took them out of the play. The scoreboard identified them as “KC” now, instead of “UMKC” yesterday. Good news, Desirae was back in the lineup and playing shortstop.
Pleasant-looking blonde, Taryn Bennett started for the Aggies. For their part, the Roos had had a disastrous trip. They’d lost four, three by run rule. I expected them to come out swinging, which they did. Ava Martinez singled and stole second and was doubled in by Kendyl Anderson to give the Roos a 1-0 lead. There were quite a few KC fans there cheering them on. In the inning, Des made a great leaping catch in center, so she’s okay. There was an odd play with a lineout to second that was waved off. The ump had called an illegal pitch on Taryn on the play.
The Aggie dugout was singing to start the bottom of the first. Faith Aragon led off with a walk and Desirae singled right after. Faith was thrown out trying to go first-to-third by Ava in right field on the single. Devin Elam singled, but was also thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. Adam Young on the radio appreciated the hustle, but questioned the aggression.
Kristina Watson was up next. She powerfully fouled off several pitches, some of which sent Des and the third base coach ducking. (Graduate Assistant David Watson is a big strapping young man, who stands a head taller than everyone else on the field.) Kristina worked a walk. Lauren cashed in the baserunners with a three-run blast to left field. Freshman Jade Valladares was up next. On the first pitch of her collegiate career, she smacked a triple. She was brought in on a double by catcher Bella Clapp. The Aggies were up 4-1.
There was a foam finger giveaway in the second. There was a group of Football players in the stands. One of them went crazy asking for one and got it. Taryn gave up a single among a strikeout and two fly outs. She was smiling out in the circle, which is uncommon for a pitcher. She was also pretty chatty and praised her fielders for trying to run down a foul ball.
The PA announced it was around 70-degrees here and, “if you’re missing home,” it was 33-degrees in Kansas City. Roo catcher, Chloe Kohnhorst, had been on base in the previous inning. She was late getting out for warming up the pitcher and only got one pitch in. She chatted with the ump for a minute before play, probably saying her coach should have a backup catcher doing the warm up in this situation. In the inning, Desirae and Devin singled. Lauren came up and doubled them in for a 6-1 Aggie lead.
The top of the fourth began with a Roo double. Payton Nicholson in left nearly threw out the runner at second. Her sister, Kenzie, was hopping up-and-down at second over the safe call. Next was a close play at first ruled safe to further frustrate the infield. A flyball to right, though, allowed Devin to make the catch and throw out the runner trying to go to third for a double play. That got the team jazzed and out of the inning after another flyout.
In the bottom, Chloe gave the Roo infield a strategy and pep talk. She seems pretty firmly in charge of directing players on the field. The Aggies loaded the bases in the inning. Des had a double, Devin got on via an error, and pinch hitter, Johnna Aragon, drew a walk. However, nobody came in.
After a leadoff walk, Derika Castillo came up and hit a big two-run homer to center. It was the first Roo home run of the season to make it 6-3 Aggies. There was a routine popup afterward that was again waved off late on an illegal pitch. Oddly, it was the same batter being pitched to both times, Kendyl. After she ended up making an out and another batter came up, the crowd yelled out, “Three outs!”
Faith doubled in the fifth, but Aggies were not threatening otherwise. Before the first pitch, Kenzie and Chloe chatted and smiled, before Chloe threw her out at first on a bunt attempt. Between innings, I thought I saw former AD Mario Moccia’s daughter walk by. Well, as he’s mentioned, she is a softball player. I assume Mario isn’t banned from Aggie sporting events, but he’ll have to buy a ticket.
Zantrelle started the inning in relief in the top of the sixth. In an effort to get everyone playing time, Karyme Amaya came in with her as her catcher. She quickly prayed and crossed herself before the first pitch. Kenzie and Devin collided on the first batter, Leilani Bustamante. She had a double, but Kenzie threw her out when she tried to get to third. After that hit and a walk and another double, Zantrelle was relieved by Jaileen Mancha. Kendal Lunar came in with her to catch.
Roo Lauren Parker drove in a run with a single and Taylor Kvale walked right after. Ava, then hit a short grounder to third. Jade flipped the ball to home, but the runner got in. At least the Aggies got the second out when Parker tried to advance to third. Suddenly, it was only 6-5 Aggies.
Kayla Lunar came in for Jade. Maybe Coach Rodolph didn’t like the previous play or she wanted her veterans out there, since the game was so close. A wild pitch nearly brought in another run. Chloe at third may have thought it was a hit batter and didn’t go. Kvale did go from second. There were two runners at third briefly, but Kvale got back, as nobody was covering second. The crowd got antsy. Someone heckled, “Don’t worry, they get four outs.” Finally, Payton caught a deep flyball and ran into the left field wall to end the inning.
There was a mini-football toss to the crowd, since the Superbowl was going to be on later. The Football guys weren’t interested at first, but one of them finally called for a ball. And he dropped it. I hope he wasn't a receiver. Below them, there was a girls softball team (in uniform). During the inning, they started doing their team cheers and giggling, as the first two Aggie batters got on in the bottom of the sixth. The Roo coach came out to talk to her pitcher. The girls started chanting, “Oh, oh! The pitcher got in trouble!”
That’s about right. Lauren came up and hit her second three-run homer of the game. She was shaking her head as she was crossing the plate into the arms of her teammates. The Football player with all of the souvenirs ran up-and-down aisle in front of the crowd waving his foam finger. Some of the KC fans started to leave. I’d usually question this, but maybe they had Superbowl pregame plans.
Two more Aggies got on after a foul out. Riley Carley struck out looking on a pitch that nearly hit her. The crowd was in an uproar. Coach Rodolph jawed at the ump from the dugout. Faith singled in another run in. Desirae singled in another. She hit the ball hard enough that it hit the shortstop’s foot and the trainer had to go out and look at her. After that five-spot, it was 11-5 Aggies. During the inning, a foul ball landed a row below me. You think you’re prepared for that possibility, but you’re not, unless you’ve got a glove and are prepared on every pitch.
The leadoff Roo batter in the top of the seventh got on via an error. For some reason, she attempted to steal second and Kendal gunned her down. By this point, the KC section of the stands had nearly completely cleared out. The game ended with Faith making a tremendous diving catch on a swallow fly to center. Aggies win 11-5!
As he was leaving with his teammates, the Football player yelled to the KC girls, “Have a nice ride home!” (Football guys cannot resist taunting.) A KC fan still in stands yelled something back to him. I couldn’t hear it, but it must have been good, because they both laughed afterward. The PA wished the Roos good luck on their season. He didn’t wish the Kansas City Chiefs good luck in the Superbowl for them, though.
Lauren Garcia was seeing the ball well today. For this game, she was 3 for 4 with 8 RBI’s and two 3-run homers. Including the last game, she had 10 RBI’s and 3 home runs. Lauren was the easy C-USA Player of the Week and #1 in the nation in Slugging %. Desirae Spearman went 4 for 5 with an RBI and Devin Elam went 3 for 5. For the Roos, Derika Castillo had a 2-run homer that got her team back into the game. The Roos played their hearts out in this one.
The game went two-and-a-half hours. I called dad and offered to bring a pizza over for the Superbowl. The less said about that debacle the better. I’m sure it didn’t make the Roo’s trip home pleasant. Aggie Baseball starts next weekend and Aggie Softball has another tournament here.
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