As mentioned yesterday, today we were under a red flag warning for high winds. I couldn’t miss the final game of the season and Senior Day, though. I almost left the game, but not for the wind. Thank goodness I didn’t, because this one was a classic. I mentioned this game to neighbor, who was interested in going. I had to tell him about the wind and he begged off. This might not have been the best first experience to a softball game, anyway. I don’t know if I’ll be back next season, but this was a heck of a way to go out.
I arrived for Aggie Softball’s rubber game against the Delaware Blue Hens and they were handing out hats at the courtesy table. I do not need any more hats, but it was a kinda cool hat with “State” across the front. My ethical dilemma was solved as they handed out the last hat when I got there.
It was hot with a few clouds on the horizon. Mainly, it was already windy and expected to get worse. Thankfully, it wasn’t that bad in the stands, even with the wind sort of blowing in, though I did end up with some sand in my mouth. On field, Taryn Bennett was working on her juggling. She was working on teaching Destiny Perez. A grad assistant got into the act, as well. Taryn is really good. Too bad I never got the opportunity to show her my chops, since I’m decent at it as well.
The pretty, little blonde DU scorekeeper was back, along with the good-looking woman at the Aggie scorer’s table. There was another hot chick in the stands in shorts and cowboy boots. She was making that outfit work. I got broadcaster Adam Young’s attention. In the morning, I’d read about another baseball game with a diving catch in the outfield where the umps changed their initial call, but in this case, they changed it six times. “So, you’re telling me, it could have worse,” he said.
DU was in pretty bright blue uniforms with big white numbers. The Aggies were in all black with crimson numbers. During player introductions, Lauren Garica obviously had the most family and friends on hand for Senior Day. Devin Elam was back in the lineup after her crash into the wall yesterday. Senior Jaileen Mancha was our starter. I didn’t see Faith Aragon anywhere on field. The ceremonial first pitch were four balls thrown out by the parents of the four seniors.
I basically redid these scorecards after the game with the official scoring. They’re still wrong. Stuff happened in the game that I saw, but didn’t understand. Things were questionable at the beginning of the game and got worse. I almost gave up. What a game to forget my pencils, too. Thankfully, I had a mechanical pencil with me for just such an emergency. The new pen I’d brought also went dry. I still had a backup. I came prepared.
Oh, boy. Here we go. Get comfortable. I hadn’t seen Jaileen since early in the season (2-13-26). Her start was rough right from the beginning, as she missed a comebacker for an error. Next, the wind knocked down an easy flyball for a single. After a walk to load the bases, Gianna Costaro came up and hit a grand slam that blew out to left. The wind was not helping flyballs, but this one caught the breeze at the right angle.
Jaileen came out. She was just barely keeping it together going back to the dugout. That wasn’t the way to make your final home start. Faith came in. I’m guessing she was warming up the whole time. The plan was probably for Jaileen to get an out and then come out of the game.
Maddie Diamond was Faith’s first batter. She hit a foul into the stands that a fan caught on a bounce. The guy got praise from the PA. Diamond straightened it out and blasted one out to center. The wind actually nearly blew it back in. Taylor Baca in center jumped and hit wall trying to get it. Faith walked the next batter, but got it together and struck out the following three batters to end the inning. 5-0 DU.
The Aggie dugout was singing to start the bottom of the first. They weren’t discouraged. Josie Crossman started for the Blue Hens, as she did yesterday. She yielded two singles to start. Kendal Lunar hit into a fielder’s choice, as the shortstop threw out the lead runner at third. However, Crossman came up limping after the pitch. She might have twisted her ankle and was taken out for Claire Woods. I’m tempted to call this the turning point in the game, but we’ll never know what might have happened if Crossman had stayed in.
Madi Bachman was up, no sub for her today. She smashed a sure home run to center, but it was blown back in. The centerfielder dropped it standing at the wall and this scored an Aggie run. Allie Nankivell was initially given an error. I actually turned around to the press box and said, “Come on!” No flyball today was “ordinary effort.”
From my perch in the stands, I could see dust filling in on the horizon. The wind was scheduled to get worse by noon. Madi, the backup catcher, stole second. This was mostly to bait the catcher, since there was a runner on third. The throw from second to third missed and Kendal came home on the error. The scoreboard error count didn’t change, so it replaced the reconsidered outfield error.
DU had a conference in the circle. A player came in from the dugout, but then went back, as far as I could tell. Unexplained events will get weirder. A walk and a line out followed. There was a foul ball back at me. Thankfully, it landed just behind me. I think I heard Faith’s dad after another foul ball laughing at somebody dodging it saying, “Maybe you need a weak little girl from the field to catch that for you!” Later, a foul popup at plate had the umpire dodging and covering his head, so I felt a little better.
Lauren grounded out to third, but the throw was dropped at first and another run scored. Tamara Carranza then singled in a run. The Blue Hens brought in yet another pitcher. During the warmup, we got extended walk up music for Taylor. It was a great tune for that, Bell Biv Devoe’s Poison. She was hit by a pitch. The DU fans shouted that she ran into it. This might have been the beginning of their irritation with the umps.
Devin popped a little Texas Leaguer, which was another wind knocked down flyball, and plated 2 more runs. She made a walking steal of second, again trying to bait the catcher with a runner on third. Skye Johnson then singled in Taylor. Finally, a groundout, no error, finished the inning. Shockingly, the Aggies were now up, 8-5. That was 13 total runs and 5 pitchers used in a 50-minute first inning. “They sure know how to play in this weather better than we do,” remarked one of the Blue Hens fans.
I’d told dad I would call him after the game about a late lunch. Suddenly, I was wondering we’d be meeting for dinner. In the top of second, Faith gave up a line drive home run to left by Sydney Shaffer, which was the only hit in the inning. I tell you, the wind was blowing in. In the inning a fan caught a foul in the stands. Well, it caught him in the gut. Foul balls kept coming straight back.
The wind was picking up in the bottom second, as forecast. Madi singled to start the inning. After an out, Destan Burks hit a slow roller that Katie Scheivert at second wasn’t able to get to and Lauren followed with a single to load the bases. Tamara hit a grounder to short and Sorella Gallucci threw home get the runner. The bases were still loaded. Taylor came up and hit third base on a grounder. The ball shot off and Destan scored to make it, 9-6 Aggies. The Blue Hens brought in Karli Challburg to finish off the inning.
The umps met between innings. I was concerned that it might be about the weather, but play continued. In the top of the third with the first batter, the home plate area was hit with a blast of dust during the pitch. It was called a strike. I kind of agree with the Blue Hens fans that it should have been a no-pitch. Thankfully, this was about the only time dust was an issue on the field. The wind was going over the stadium.
After a strikeout, Faith hit the next batter. Faith stared in and didn’t seem to agree with the call. My notes then literally read, “Not sure what happened next.” A single put two on. Another single scored a run, but the runners kept going and Kendal made a bad throw that scored another run. It wasn’t over, as a bobbled ball and a bad throw from short brought in another run. On a bunt back to Faith, she made a bad throw to put on another runner.
I’m losing the scorecard by this point and considering quitting. The DU coach did the Aggies a favor by bunting again. Faith got that putout, but a walk loaded the bases. Faith reared back for a strikeout to finally end the inning. That was 3 runs and 3 errors. We were tied at 9 and I’m eating dust in my mouth. Oddly during this self-destruction, the DU fans were getting really angry over balls and strikes. Shouldn’t you all be cheering?
It was a 1-2-3 bottom of the third. Diamond at third fell on a ground ball, but managed to get up to throw out the runner. People were clearing out by now. Maybe it was the wind, or the game going long, or the obnoxious DU fans. Honestly, I kind of wanted to leave myself because of their constant complaining about the umps.
The top of the fourth inning began with a hit batter and there was a walk, but Faith navigated that for a scoreless frame. Johnna Aragon began the bottom with a single and was sac’d over. Jojo Hair came in as a pinch runner. Lauren got on via an error and was also replaced with a pinch runner. Scheivert caught a low liner at second and the inning ended . . . with two outs? I didn’t see her a touch or throw to a base to double off Jojo. Nobody complained. I’m getting too frazzled to care.
The Blue Hens began the top of the fifth with a single. Taylor, playing shallow in center, had to run back and dive for a catch for the first out. After a walk, DU attempted a double steal, but Kendal threw out the lead runner at third. Faith then gave up a double on a full count with 2 outs to Costaro. That scored the go-ahead run, 10-9 Delaware. Faith stood in the circle for a moment clearly irritated. She got a strikeout to end the inning, but was still annoyed with herself.
The field was in shade now. I’m not sure if it was from a small cloud or the dust in the air. By the bottom of the fifth, the DU fans were going after the ump so bad, an Aggie mom piped up and said, “Good job, Blue!” She turned to her family, “I never say nice things about the ump. I just feel bad for him.” Scheivert bobbled a grounder from Taylor to start the frame. Taylor was safe, but called out. Out of the baseline? Interference? I don’t know. The official scoring was no help. Nobody complained. Play on. Ellie Mulligan made a great diving catch in left field for another quick inning.
We had the final souvenir toss of the season. Marketing Director, Nicole Sack, came out with a bag full of goodies and tossed out everything. In the top of the sixth, Faith was getting tired, but giving everything. She struck out two and had a groundout. The ump issued a warning to the DU dugout (I think) on a check swing? I wish it was on the DU fans, who wouldn’t shut up. They were all over the first ump, too, for check swings in the game.
You can’t lose on Senior Day. That’s the rule. I’m sure that the team wanted to pick up Jaileen after her start, as well. The first three Aggie batters of the bottom of the sixth all singled to load the bases with no outs. The Blue Hens changed pitchers and Crossman surprisingly came back out. Maybe she wasn’t hurt that bad earlier. Maybe she talked her way back in.
Destan came up and hit a flyball knocked down by the wind that fell in front of centerfielder. That was good enough to get a run in and tie it. Lauren hit a solid single next and drove in two runs. I was standing and waving my cowbell. I was perhaps more energetic than usual, after two hours of listening to the DU fans. Destan was out on the play at third. Somehow she was tagged out for being off base without calling time? That’s what I heard in the crowd.
The unexplained weirdness wasn’t over. Tamara and Taylor both struck out on lazy swings to end the inning. Were Crossman’s offspeed pitches that good? The swings were so late, it sort of looked on purpose. Now, I’m getting paranoid. This is weird even for softball, which is known for weirdness.
The top of the seventh began with a hush falling over the crowd. I am not overstating this. The DU fans were quiet. This was a high-tension situation. The girls in the dugouts were piping up, though. They were into it. Play began with Johnna deflecting a grounder at third and Tamara didn’t try making a play on it. (This wasn’t helping my conspiratorial thoughts that the game was being thrown.) It was the Aggies’ fifth error of the day. This was followed by a single.
Faith was grunting with maximum effort on every pitch. I think I saw Jaileen in the dugout screaming encouragement to her. Aggie fans were getting angry after repeated bunt attempts, which they thought should have been an out from the ball hitting the batter. Scheirvert came up and singled to right field. Devin came up with it and threw out the runner at home by a step. Aggie fans exploded.
There were still two on with one out. The next batter hit a liner back to Faith. She caught it, whirled to first, and doubled off the runner. It was that quick. Aggies win, 12-10! That was with the wind blowing in. Imagine what the score would have been if it was blowing out. As is, the game went 2 hours and 43 minutes.
Faith and the team were exuberant with the win. They led the crowd in singing the Aggie fight song. The DU Coach was arguing something with the ump after the game. The two teams lined up and briskly shook hands. I wouldn’t have expected it to be cordial. Suddenly, there’s a fracas. Shouting words are being exchanged with the Aggies on field and the Blue Hens in their dugout. Thankfully, the angry Delaware fans had left before this happened, otherwise this might have really gotten ugly quick. (They were all together outside the stadium when I left. I was mildly concerned while passing by them.)
Pitching Coach Paige Bachman was really going at somebody. I have to give credit to whoever started it on the DU side. At nearly 6’ and powerfully, athletically built like Wonder Woman, Paige was main Aggie you wouldn’t have wanted to piss off. Devin was holding her back, but then let the Blue Hens have it herself. The umps were long gone, too. The teams were going to settle it themselves, which they did without a fight, barely. (Wait till the tournament, though). A fight is only thing I haven’t seen at a Softball game. This was actually a bit shocking.
Gameballs seem insufficient for this titanic struggle, but it’s all I got. For the Blue Hens, Gianna Costaro had a heck of a game going 2 for 4 with 5 RBI’s, including a grand slam home run. For the Aggies, Madi Bachman went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Lauren Garcia went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s, which were the critical go-ahead runs.
I wouldn’t ordinarily give a Gameball to a pitcher that gave up 6 runs in 7 innings, but Faith Aragon earned it. This was her third day in a row pitching and she pitched a complete game starting off 5 runs down. In the first and seventh innings, Faith took a punch, but delivered the knockout to end it. For that matter, props to Jaileen Mancha. I’m not even sure even sure how long it had been since she’d been in a game, but these were rough conditions to come back to. Also, DU starter, Josie Crossman, who left the game hurt, came back in to try and finish it, likely volunteered. It was a tough day to be a pitcher . . . outfielder . . . infielder . . . fan at the game. (The hitters did okay.)
Senior Day Ceremony
This is going to be quick. We had four seniors making their final home appearance today. AD Fields was there. I was surprised Coach Rodolph wasn’t here for the game or at least the ceremony. (Granted she would have been covering her eyes for much of the game. She would have only enjoyed the result.) Unlike every other Senior Ceremony I’ve seen, no mention was made of the other team’s seniors. Usually, they hand them roses. Not today.
Jaileen Mancha was walking very slowly to receive her framed jersey. She may have really been hurt from pitching, which may have been why she hasn’t been. Kendal Lunar was all tears. She wouldn’t cry from getting hit by any number of foul tips. She was saving up the tears for this. Lauren Garcia was a mix of emotions. Devin Elam was all smiles.
Congratulations to Aggie Softball. I had no expectations for the team with the loss of Desirae Spearman and Coach Rodolph. Coach Higgs has done a good job putting out a competitive team. Whatever happens in the conference tournament, she should have the “interim” tag taken off her coaching title. This has been the one Aggie Sports team I haven’t been disappointed by this year. I don’t know how they’re doing it (well, it’s mostly Faith Aragon), they have been scrapping it out this season to a winning record in conference.
Aggie Baseball ***next week.***
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