Baseball Journal May 1-4, 2018

5-1-18

I found myself once again scrambling with work and peeking into several games tonight.  I came into work and immediately checked in Aggie Softball playing ASU.  This was originally scheduled as a double header, but was cut down to a single game earlier in the week.  I had sort of thought about taking this day off for the DH, but since I was taking next week off, I decided against it.  I could have seen this single game and been a little late for work, but didn’t even think of doing it.  This was terrible scheduling anyway with Aggie Baseball playing the rival Lobos here this evening (and probably not giving away admission to both games with one ticket). 

There wasn’t any radio or video of the game.  I just brought up the Statcast.  The Aggies lost 5-1.  At least it was a close game.  Victoria Castro’s home run was the only Aggie run.  Analise de la Roca started with Samaria Diaz finishing.  Kayla Green, again, did not start.  I think she’s okay, but I noticed on the program stats from last weekend that she’s pitched way more innings than any other Aggie pitcher.  Coach Rodolph may be resting her.

The MLB.TV free game was the Washington Nationals versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The big news of this game was that Bryce Harper was batting leadoff.  Apparently this is a desperate attempt to get him to see more quality pitches.  The game was a wipeout for the Nats, winning 12-2, but I really enjoyed the guys doing the commentary.  I think the color guy was F.P. Santangelo.  They were lively and informative. 

Max Scherzer started the game.  The broadcasters talked about him almost getting a perfect game last year, which was spoiled by a batter getting on by leaning into a pitch.  When asked later if he was angry, Max said, “I should have made a better pitch there and not let that happen.”  He’s always looking to improve on his performance.

I checked in on the Chihuahuas versus the Aces.  There were two highlights in the 7-1 Chihuahuas’ win that I heard.  One, I just started listening in time to hear pinch hitter Shane Peterson hitting a grand slam home run.  Tim Hagerty loved calling that.  The other highlight was Jason Vargas on the Aces not throwing a foul ball into the crowd.  This resulted in a lot of boo’ing from the El Paso fans.  When he came up next inning, Tim started, “I wonder if the crowd will remember . . .”  The crowd was already boo’ing before he even finished, and then cheering when he made an out.  This was reminiscent of future Dodger, Chris Taylor, beaning Chico the mascot and earning the fans’ amenity.

Meanwhile, the Aggies were playing the Lobos here in Las Cruces in baseball.  There was no radio, so I checked in via Statcast.  Later, when I was having dinner, I tuned into the TV broadcast.  The game was in the sixth, but almost over.  The coaches had agreed to a run-rule for the game (like I wish every game was).  The Aggies ended up winning 13-2 with the game finishing in the seventh.  Justin Dehn and Matt Perea did a great job pitching.  Of those 13 runs, there was only one homer and that was by Logan Ehnes. 

In the postgame interview, Coach Brian Green was asked about the Aggies getting a couple more hit-by-pitches during the game.  He said they had a saying and a philosophy of “We don’t move.”  Getting hit is a strategy move for the Aggies.  They must be taking lessons from program hit-by-pitch leader Fahren Glackin on the softball team.

I left the TV on and flipped over to the Dodgers versus the Diamondbacks.  Clayton Kershaw was pitching, and it was 3-1 Dodgers in the fourth.  Uniforms were rippling and trash was blowing in the outfield.  The roof was open and gusting winds were coming inside.  One questions this decision.  If you can shelter the game from the elements, why aren’t you doing so?  I didn’t really see any of the game, but it was a 4-3 comeback D-Backs win.

5-2-18

The good news was that there were two day games this week on the radio.  The bad news was that they were on at the same time, on the same day.  I decided to mostly listen to the Diablos (the Chihuahuas in their throwbacks) versus the Reno Aces.  It was another Baseball and Education day with thousands of kids in attendance.  I’d love to go to one of these day games and sit in that restaurant/bar in the outfield (with all the drunk businessmen I guess, maybe not).

Tim Hagerty mentioned that once that the Albuquerque team and another team both wore their throwback uniforms for a game.  I see Dukes hats around here occasionally.  There’s probably plenty more in Albuquerque.  I don’t think Isotopes is a bad name and it has a story, but Dukes was one of the best minor league team names ever (as was Diablos).            

The Diablos scored first early.  The Aces matched them.  In the fourth, Franmil Reyes homered to give the Diablos a 2-1 lead.  In the fifth, the Aces tied it again.  Cody Decker tripled in a go-ahead run.  (He’s not a likely candidate for hitting a triple.)  Next, Diego Goris lost an Anthony Recker popup on the infield in the sun and another run scored.  The next popup was caught on a good play, but it was 4-2.  In the sixth, Franmil did it again with a homer, 4-3 Aces.  The kids started chanting, “We want a hit!” in the ninth with two outs, but the Diablos lost 4-3.

One reason I stuck with the Diablos’ game was because when checked into the Rangers and Indians, it was 10-2 Indians in the fourth.  Both games were pretty speedy.  It was two outs in the ninth when I switched over.  The Rangers lost 12-4.  Tim had mentioned earlier that not only were the Rangers bad, but their entire farm system was crap.  This is setting up to be a bad year for them. 

5-4-18

I put on the Giants versus the Braves in the early evening at work, courtesy of the MLB.TV free game.  The Braves are leading their division right now, thanks to some good youthful talent.  Ronald Acuna Jr. was making his home debut tonight.  (And apparently that’s all I wrote about it at the time.  I may have typed this out last week in a rush.  Oh, well.  I think the Giants won this one.) 

Before the Chihuahuas game, Steve Kaplowitz asked Tim Hagerty for a “hot take.”  He said he didn’t like the movie, Pulp Fiction.  He just didn’t get it.  I missed last week’s take where he said something about In-and-Out Burger.  Tim’s living on the edge here in broadcasting.  The Chihuahuas were in Albuquerque to play the Isotopes today.  Since it was “May the Fourth be with you/Star Wars” day, the organ there was playing Star Wars music.  Here’s my “hot take.”  After three crappy Disney Star Wars movies, I doubt I’m going to see another until they put the Marvel people in charge of them.

Almost a year later, Tim was still talking about that epic game last June ***(6-24-17)*** that went five hours.  The Chihuahuas won it 13-10 in fourteen innings.  Neither team could put out a pitcher that could hold a lead.  Even in the last inning, the Chihuahuas started off with a 6-run lead, but the game ended with the tying run at the plate.  Today’s game I really didn’t hear much of.  There was no score in the fourth, when the pups loaded the bases, but the inning ended on a double play.  Cory Spangenberg hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Franmil Reyes hit yet another homer in the sixth, as the Chihuahuas won 7-1.

Meanwhile, the Aggies were playing Utah Valley in baseball here in Las Cruces.  It was a “Stuff the Skew” event.  I noticed there was a good crowd there on the TV broadcast.  They were even using bleachers next to the visiting dugout that I didn’t even know were there.  The announced attendance was over 2,100.  The grandstand is listed at 1,000 I think.  I don’t know where they put another 1,100 people.  Last time they had one of these events, they gave out free tickets at work, but that didn’t happen this time, so I didn’t even think about taking the night off.  It would have been cool though to be there with such a large crowd, like at that Oklahoma softball game (2-17-18).

I picked up the game on TV in the sixth if the Aggies up 4-3.  Kyle Bradish worked seven innings.  Brock Whittlesey worked the last two innings.  In the ninth, he let on two runners with one out, but struck out the last two batters to end the game.  The Aggies won 4-3.  What a great game for a big crowd.

Just to mention for history’s sake, there were two significant events in the MLB tonight.  Albert Pujols got his 3,000 hit.  The Angels were in Seattle, but I’m sure they gave him a good round of applause there anyway.  I belatedly tried watching for it, but totally missed it and even a replay of it.  Meanwhile, in a game played in Mexico, the Dodgers pitched a combined no-hitter against the Padres.   

NM State Aggies vs Utah Valley Wolverines Baseball 5-6-18

Ron called early and said he couldn’t go today.  He had a caretaking emergency.  At the ballpark by myself, I encountered something new: a line at the ticket office.  I ended up standing in line for five minutes.  It was another clear, warm beautiful day, but that five minutes of hot sun exposure convinced me I should seek shade inside.  I sat up high under the canopy when I got a seat.  It was a great crowd today at over 700. 

Yesterday, I think I’d talked Ron into finally trying corn-in-a-cup today.  Well, that’ll have wait till next year.  Though I’d had great pizza yesterday, I thought I’d try the newly offered pizza at the ballpark that was on the menu yesterday.  Of course, they weren’t offering it today.  And here I’d skipped breakfast.  Sigh.  “One soda, one corn-in-a-cup, and one dollar hot dog, please.  Oh, and please make sure the bun is stale.  Thank you.”  Well, at least they got my order right.

Out on the field, a couple of the players were warming up the kids who’d be throwing out the first pitches.  On the radio, Adam Young and Nolan Fox were doing the pregame.  Coach Green said he was going to try and get all the seniors that were available today into the game.  Some attractive young women were seated behind me.  I later figured out that they were the Aggie Women’s Golf team, I think.  I’m sure the baseball guys appreciate the support and wouldn’t mind some lessons.  (Every baseball players’ favorite sport to play is actually golf.  Baseball is just what they do for a living.)

For the first out of the game versus the Utah Valley Wolverines, Aggie starter Alex Pinedo got style points for a barehanded catch and spin throw to first.  Down where I usually sit, I saw the Old Man cheering away.  This time he had a backup section of three little boys behind him, cheering with him.  Later, they’d be dancing to the between innings music. 

In the bottom, some Aggie Softball girls came in, namely Caity Szczesny, Jeanelle Medina, Nikki Butler, Victoria Castro, and Kelsey Horton.  That’s nearly the all the usual starters.  They were seated a few rows below me and were looking glamorous.  Actually, between seeing them constantly in front of me and the long legs of the golf girls stretched out over the seats beside me, it was sort of torture.

Marcus Still got the second inning started with a highlight reel catch, diving for a ball.  Even the softball girls applauded and they were not easily impressed.  The girls were pretty impassive during the game to the point of a couple of them taking out laptops to do term papers (or something like it, there was a bunch of tying).  Elsewhere in the crowd, I saw a dad with a kid and they both had mitts on.  The kid I understand, not the dad. 

On the radio, they were discussing the Aggie Lujan fundraising dinner, which takes place in Albuquerque of all places.  It generates a lot of money for sports here apparently.  Nolan quipped, “There are a lot more Aggie fans in Albuquerque than there are Lobo fans in Las Cruces.”  He’s from the northern end of the state, so I’ll take his word for it.

On field, the bottom of the second was pretty active.  Nick Gonzales walked with one out.  Marcus got an infield hit and a throwing error advanced Nick to third.  (It took a minute for the official scorer to get it correct.)  Mason Fishback was hit to load the bases.  David Bellamy was starting today as one of the seniors in his last home game.  He grounded out, but drove in a run, 1-0 Aggies.

Everyone was a little shocked by what happened next.  The Wolverines’ coach pulled the pitcher and brought in a new one.  That was a short leash.  The PA took him out, playing Let It Go.  Suddenly, I was hearing a bunch of kids and adults singing along with it.  There were a couple of kids, dad, and their grandparents in front of me.  At one point the grandma explained what she knew about baseball to the kids.  A guy a row down inserted, “Now explain the infield fly rule.”        

The Wolverine reliever gave up a pair of walks, which scored a run.  Trey Stine then drove in two runs with a single.  The guy a row down shouted out, “Put the other guy back in!”  The inning finally ended on a foul out with the Aggies up 4-0.

Before the third was a really nice moment.  DJ Downs suddenly came on as the PA.  I noticed a girl leading another girl by the hand out of the pressbox.  She was taken down in front of the stands.  DJ introduced her as Alexia.  She’s been the baseball PA voice for the last two seasons and was going to be a graduating senior.  Alexia was given flowers and a hand from the crowd and the players.  I finally got to see her.     

Pinedo got into trouble in the top of the third.  Two singles and a double were cashed in for two runs.  4-2 Aggies.  Wolverine pitching was having its own problems.  The bottom started off with a pair of singles and a walk which loaded the bases.  It was another quick hook and another new pitcher came in.  Fishback was his first batter.  He fouled one pitch straight back.  The ball hit the top of the netting right next to where a pidgin was sitting.  The pidgin said, “I’m an Aggie baseball bird.  ‘We don’t move.’”  And indeed, he did hold his position after the near miss to the amazement and amusement of the crowd.

Mason drew a walk, which forced in a run.  (The bird then flew off after making his point.)  A double play erased one of the base runners.  Then Joey Ortiz came up and completely cleared the bases with a three-run homer.  8-2 Aggies.

This game wasn’t over yet.  The Wolverines started off the inning with a solo home run.  Pinedo then yielded a single and hit a batter.  Callahan Moltzan came up drilled a three-run homer.  The Utah Valley fans and their dugout erupted.  After finally getting the first out, Pinedo gave up another single and was lifted. 

Matt Perea came in and got the second out, but then loaded the bases with a pair of singles.  There was some miscommunication on a grounder by first between Perea and Caleb Henderson that allowed the runner on.  The scorer changed his mind later to rule it a hit instead of an error.  (This caused me no end of problems trying to add up my scorecard later.)  Matt got the final out with a strikeout looking.  The golf girls behind me got into it at that point cheering.  After the Wolverines batted around this inning, it was now 8-7 Aggies.

I was sitting in the sun at this point.  The softball girls and other people around me had moved into a shaded area.  I didn’t want to move, but for about a half hour, I felt like I was sitting in a frying pan.  Adam and Nolan were complaining about the length of this game.  It was already two hours old and not halfway over.  Caleb got on in the bottom via another hit-by-pitch.  This one hit the catcher too, who seemed to get the worst of it.  Henderson was left stranded. 

At the start of the fifth, there was an announcement about the softball team and their tournament this week.  The softball girls gave a half-hearted cheer and a slightly sarcastic “guns up” Aggie salute.  I found out later that the whole team was actually there Friday night and was honored.  I’d wondered why Alexia wasn’t pointing the girls out during this game or the last.  (Also, I didn’t hear it at the time because of the radio delay and cheering for a home run being hit, but I found a clip on the team twitter for yesterday’s game.  Adam had noticed the girls ducking over that foul ball that dropped on them.  He lightly called them out for not paying attention.) 

Volleyball girls Megan Hart and Megan McGuire came in.  Beautiful 6’5” Hart makes a conspicuous entrance wherever she goes.  In the bottom of the fifth after a couple of singles, Joey came up again.  He made an awkward swing and shook his hands out afterward.  Adam reminded us that Joey’s playing through a wrist injury.  Joey figured out a way to make it feel better.  He blasted another three-run homer.  This one was a no-doubter as the ball took a very high arcing trajectory over the left field fence.  11-7 Aggies.             

By the sixth, I was finally back in the shade.  The Wolverines burned another pitcher, but neither team scored for the inning.  In the seventh, big AJ Castillo came in.  He gave up a couple of singles, but got three outs without giving up a run.  I like him.  He’s built big and he’s got some mental toughness. 

Adam had started talking last inning about the Aggies winning by run rule.  I think it was wishful thinking on his part, wanting to end this long game, but they’d have to score six more runs.  Bellamy started off the seventh by getting hit.  Joey doubled him in.  The Wolverines brought in their fifth pitcher of the game.  Stine would drive in Joey for another run.  Two more singles loaded the bases.   

On the first pitch, Nick blasted a grand slam home run to right center.  The Wolverine right fielder futilely jumped for the ball, but it was well over.  Their catcher went out to talk to the pitcher.  The rest of infield stood in the field confused as the Aggie dugout rushed out and met Nick at home plate.  It took them a minute to realize that that was the ball game.  The Aggies had scored six runs and won 17-7 on a run rule.  What can I say, another day, another game, another walkoff grandslam run rule win (4-28-18).

It was a three hour, 17 minute game that only went seven innings.  I felt a bit bad for the Utah Valley Wolverines.  They played hard in this series, but the Aggies just had more weapons on offense and defense.  For gameballs, Matt Perea and AJ Castillo did a good job out of the bullpen.  Trey Stine or Nick Gonzales would have been the hitting stars on any other day, but the guy hitting ninth stole the show today.  Joey Ortiz scored in all four plate appearances.  He went 3 for 3 and drove in 7 RBI’s, 6 on a pair of three-run homers.

On the radio, Nolan Fox thanked Adam for his mentoring.  He was graduating, and this was his last broadcast for the university.  I noticed a couple of Aggies and a couple of Wolverines got together on field and had their pictures taken.  They must have been friends.  A short time later, the seven Aggie seniors were honored.  Coach Green got choked up talking about them.  Just to mention a couple.  Marcus Still was credited with a 100% fielding percentage.  Wow!  And we’ll miss his dad cheering.  The coach had some fun with Jonathan Groff, saying they recruited his “long, lean form” off a high school track team with lots of natural speed.  (He’s built like a fireplug.)

There was the somewhat tragic story of reliever Brett Worthen.  He was the Aggie closer, before he was injured two years ago.  Brett finally made it back on field and into a game a couple of weeks ago and did pretty well.  The coach was set to throw him in the eighth.  I kept noticing an attractive young woman in a black dress in the crowd.  (Trust me, anybody wearing a dress in a ballpark is going to get noticed.)  She was his girlfriend and came out on field with him.

Three of the softball girls were still around after the ceremony.  I went over wished them good luck this week at the WAC tournament.  I told Caity Szczesny she had my favorite player name and Jeanelle Medina that she had great hands fielding.  (Both are really cute too.  Wearing visors, headbands, sunglasses, and braids out on the field, I’d never gotten a good look at them in person.)  I only got to say, “Hi,” to Kelsey Horton.  Honestly, they were sort of polite, but none of them wanted to talk.  I wasn’t sure about going over, but I felt like I kinda had to since I’d been watching them all season and am planning on going to their tournament.    

After that encounter, I might have been a bit woozy.  I think I finally noticed I was maybe dehydrated (and a bit disappointed).  I did have that soda during the game, but that apparently wasn’t enough.  I’d had plans for diner, but instead went straight home and started gulping water.  This does not bode well for the softball tournament, especially since there’s no shade at all there.  After finishing off yesterday’s pizza, I felt better and, upon reflection, was really pleased with the weekend.  It was great weather and two good games to end Aggie Baseball’s home season.  

NM State Aggies vs Utah Valley Wolverines Baseball 5-5-18

What a glorious day for a ball game!  It was warm and sunny with a light breeze blowing.  Out in the parking lot, several groups were tailgating.  I was with Ron, and he was concerned as we passed one group.  There was a guy there in a Luchador mask and wearing a Mexican flag as a cape for Cinco de Mayo.  Perhaps he was worried about a rough crowd.  I said, “It could be worse.  It could be a guy in one of those full body skin suits.”

On the way over, Ron was trying to talk me into getting an Aggie Country Pass.  For a flat price, you get into everything except Men’s Basketball and Football.  He quoted me a price, and doing some quick math, it would appear to be a great savings, if you’re planning on going to everything.  I remember thinking about a season pass for baseball once, but since I’d miss more than a third of the games due to working at night, it didn’t add up for me.  How does this Pass deal work out better than that?  I’ll have to check into it before next fall.     

Adam Young was at the ticket office in a pair of shorts.  I guess it was “Casual Day,” for the broadcasters.  Nolan Fox joined him on the radio call.  Breakfast didn’t sit well for me, so I picked up a soda and corn-in-the-cup.  It was excellent and made me feel much better.  Surprisingly, Little Caesar’s pizza was being offered at the trailer.  Later in the game, they announced a deal on slices.  If we weren’t planning on getting pizza after the game, I probably would have tried some.  This is exactly the kind of better food they need to offer at the ballpark. 

Inside, a good crowd developed.  It was announced at over 600.  Adam thought the good weather might have attracted some people from Friday night’s record crowd of over 2,100.  There was still a sign hanging at one end of the stands directing overflow to the bleachers by the visitor’s dugout.  Today, there seemed to be quite a few students present.  The Utah Valley Wolverines also brought a few vocal fans.    

The first inning featured a wide strike zone with five of the six outs on strikeouts (and the other on a sacrifice).  There were quite a few strikeouts in the game and several looking.  The players were questioning the ump’s strikezone, but at least he did it fairly equally to both teams.  Later in the game, David Modler of the Wolverines, may have been pulled from the game by the coach for getting too testy about it after a strikeout looking.

Trey Stine made two assists of the second inning outs.  On the second out, he made a sliding, backhanded stop and threw out the runner at first (maybe, that’s what the ump called anyway).  In the bottom, the Old Man, sitting nearby, yelled to Nick Gonzales when he came up to “Hit a home run!”  He heard him and immediately pounded one to the left center.  The ball carried a bit in the breeze.  1-0 Aggies.

Braden Williams was in at catcher today, giving Mason Fishback a rest.  Braden is probably the better defensive catcher.  Nobody tried stealing on him.  In the third, he nearly picked off a runner at first.  The Aggies also turned a double play in the inning.  In the bottom, after two outs, a pair of Aggies got on with a hit and a walk.  At some point, the Wolverine coach had a meeting on the mound with the infield.  It took so long, it was like a scene out of Bull Durham.  The PA played three heckling clips during the visit. 

Caleb Henderson brought in both runners with a double to make it 3-0 Aggies.  Logan Ehnes got on next via an error and moved Caleb over to third.  The pitcher made a, currently illegal in the MLB, fake to third, throw to first move, that actually worked.  Ehnes got totally hung up.  However, the pitcher couldn’t complete the out, as Logan danced around and Caleb started towards home.  Logan even made it back to first.  The inning ended on a strikeout.

A little bitty kid, who seemed to be a Wolverines fan by his hat, did the window toss contest and was given an Aggie hat.  His parents must have been thrilled.  Some members of the Aggie Softball team entered and took seats up under the canopy.  In the bottom of the fourth, a popup went into the canopy and dropped on them.  There was a scream and the girls dove for cover.  I can’t believe their catcher, Nikki Butler, wasn’t trying to catch it and save her teammates.  I know she’s tougher than that.  Almost beside the point, Nick hit another solo home run to the scoreboard in the inning.  5-0 Aggies.

The highlight of the fifth was the entrance of softball hero, Kelsey Horton.  Oh, she was casually devastating, and knowing how powerful she is with a bat in her hands, just made her even sexier.  She wouldn’t have screamed over a foul ball.  The Aggies did turn their second double play of the game to end the top of the inning.

Aggie starter Jonathan Groff had scattered four hits before going into the sixth.  This inning though, four of the first five batters singled, which led to two runs.  Groff stayed in and finished the inning.  In the bottom, Nick fouled one home run distance, just missing a third homer.  He grounded out.  Braden came up and hit one that bounced over the wall to right center.  The ball hit a tree and came back in play.  The fielder threw up his hands to indicate what had happened.  It was a ground-rule double. 

Logan Bottrell drove Braden in to make it 4-2 Aggies.  Also in the inning was the most hurtful play of the game.  Wolverine catcher Ethan Payne took a foul and went down.  Adam then reported, “Payne is in some pain.”  Groan.  And the worst of it is that was likely a prepared quip.  I think Payne recovered quicker than I did.

A hit-by-pitch and a hit started off the bottom of the seventh.  In a shocker, slugger Tristen Carranza bunted them over.  Paul Estrada at third base for the Wolverines had to make a great barehanded play to get him at first.  Marcus Still drove in a run by beating out an infield hit.  Unfortunately, he got picked off first.  Ehnes, who was at third, tried to take home while Marcus danced around, but ended up being the third out at home plate.

After looking for a while, I finally noticed that a few members of Aggie Soccer were in attendance.  Nice of them to return the favor, since the baseball guys watched their games on several occasions.  Chance Hroch relieved Groff in the eighth.  He started off with a strikeout, but then loaded the bases with one out.  Wyatt Kelley came in to this high-pressure situation.  He got the groundball, which turned into the Aggies’ third double play of the game.  Brock Whittlesey, after making a lot of pitches the day before, worked the ninth to close it out.  Aggies win 6-2.

The score isn’t really indicative of how close the game was.  You got the impression that Utah Valley was always on the verge of busting it open.  Let’s hand out some game balls.  Jonathan Groff went seven strong innings, only giving up two runs.  Nick Gonzales came up big with a pair of home runs, going 2 for 4.  Let’s hear it for the Aggies’ defense.  Three double plays may have been the difference-maker here today.  And, it all finished up in under three hours, nice.   

           

On the way to getting pizza, I talked Ron into going by the comic book store for Free Comic Book Day.  Little did I know that, while the shop was open, the giveaway ended at 5:00, which we just missed.  It wasn’t just us.  Some other parents had brought kids in after we entered.  I bought a back issue of an older comic to not make the trip a complete waste.  The shop is moving to the other side of town.  They’ve already moved the sign.  Okay, now I’m done with local comic book stores and this was probably my last FCBD. 

I was able to put a Dion’s gift card that I was given at work to good use for a barbeque chicken pizza.  That and the cheese bread were delicious.  When I went up for a drink refill, I told them that the pizza was great.  The girl getting my drink, piped up and said with a big smile that she’d made it.  It was nice to make somebody’s day.  This was a great way to start off the last Aggie baseball weekend of the year. 

Baseball Journal April 28-30, 2018

4-28-18

While waiting to go to Aggie Softball I tuned into the Cubs versus the Brewers on FOX.  No, wait.  I’m sorry.  It was on a Mexican station.  Fox was showing a NASCAR Xfinity race that was called by a bunch of Cup drivers.  Well, it’s a step up from NFL Draft crap and German league soccer.  It was a cold, windy day in Chicago, but under a bright, sunny sky.  These conditions made for an adventurous afternoon in terms of fly balls.  While I was watching, I saw a fly ball drop in between three Brewer fielders, once in the outfield and once in the infield. 

Lorenzo Cain is definitely not a bad fielder; it was just very trying conditions out there.  He made a great basket catch later.  Ryan Braun at first also made an overhand catch on a foul.  Wow, Kyle Schwarber looked nearly unrecognizably thinner when he came up to bat.  I think he’s playing better.  I didn’t see the end of the game, but the Cubs won 3-0. 

After I got back home after the softball, I caught up with the Chihuahuas playing the Bees.  As if I didn’t feel bad enough about missing last night’s game, I found out that it had been a home run fest for both teams.  This game was a lot tighter.  It was 1-0 pups in the sixth.  The Bees tied it in the top.  The Chihuahuas scored one in the bottom, but the bees matched it in the seventh.  Finally in the eighth, Diego Goris put the pups up for good with a three-run homer.  The final was 7-2 Chihuahuas with a light rain falling.  There was a huge crowd there for fireworks, which went off without any trouble. 

I watched the local TV sports news hoping to see something about the softball game.  (That didn’t happen until Sunday night.)  I found out I missed a great boxing match broadcast nationally from El Paso.  Local fighter, Abie Han was in an undercard fight.  His sister Jennifer Han, also a boxer, was there.  Boy, she’s good-looking, especially for someone who gets hit in the face for a living.  Abie was overmatched, but really gave it everything.  At one point, both boxers were on the canvas MMA wrestling.  He apologized after the match for losing.  The sportscaster came on and said, “There was no need to apologize, Abie.  That was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen.”  Surprisingly, my boxing expert friend at work (well, actually the expert is his girlfriend) was watching, but didn’t know about this match, so it might not have been shown since it was an undercard.

     

4-29-18

I spent most of Sunday trying to stay awake.  Even last night after Aggie Softball, I was a bit knocked out.  I listened to four games over the radio, but really wasn’t entirely into any of them.  The most interesting event I saw on TV was a polo match.  If I’d gotten the station number right and tuned in at the beginning, I’d probably have written a separate piece about it.  What I saw was of it was still quite a spectacle.  It was fast and dangerous.  (One of the riders got bloodied taking a mallet to the head.)  The crowd was glamorous like a Kentucky Derby, even more upscale.  Even the commercials were impressive.

The Rangers played the Blue Jays in the morning.  It was over pretty quick (for an American League game) with a 7-2 Jays win.  It didn’t seem like the Rangers’ day, so I switched over to another game before the end.  I tuned back and heard the broadcasters’ roundtable.  The highlight clip was Matt Hicks saying, “I noticed an extra police presence in the Rangers’ dugout looking for that stolen out.”  The other guys groaned.  Matt apologized.  Eric Nadel said that was the worst game clip ever.   

The Aggies and Chihuahuas started their games at the same time in the afternoon.  I decided to go with the Aggies mostly.  They were in Phoenix playing Grand Canyon University.  The Lopes got two runs in the first.  Mason Fishback hit a homer in the second.  A huge cheer went up from the crowd.  Adam Young, broadcasting, thought that the crowd was about 50/50 for each team.  I think I could hear Marcus Still’s dad cheering. 

Adam sounded pretty upbeat during the game.  Maybe it was the pleasant weather there.  In the bottom of the second, a batter’s interference call was part of an inning-ending double play.  Even hearing it explained twice, I still didn’t entirely get what happened.  I liked some of the Lopes’ walk up music.  One of them used Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.  By the fourth, it was 3-1 GCU.  Tristen Carranza got into an argument with the ump over balls and strikes.  Adam had a disagreement with the official scorer over not giving Nick Gonzales an error on a play. 

I definitely figured out it wasn’t the Aggies’ day in the fifth, when Alex Pinedo threw the first pitch of an intentional walk to the backstop, allowing a runner at third to score.  Joey Ortiz at short did make a great play behind the mound lying on his stomach to get the final out of the inning, but it was 5-1 GCU at that point.  Brock Whittlesey came in for the sixth with two on, but gave up a double to make it 7-1.  Caleb Henderson got a two-run homer in the ninth, but it was an 8-4 loss to GCU. 

It wasn’t the Chihuahuas’ day either.  Allen Craig was back in the lineup and hit a homer, but the Bees got up a good lead during the game.  In the ninth, the pups made a comeback, but the bases were left loaded with the final out.  6-4 Bees was the final.  

The ESPN Radio Sunday night game was the Yankees versus the Angels.  I don’t like either team, but listened anyway.  They interviewed Albert Pujols during the pregame.  Well, I admit, he said all the right things when asked about hitting, and Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani, and I think he meant them.  Hmm, still haven’t changed my mind about him yet.  The Yankees won 2-1 off a two-run homer by Gary Sanchez.  It was also a series sweep for the pinstripes. 

4-30-18

Strangely, for what is usually my busiest night (month end), I was able to listen to a couple of games, albeit in an unsatisfying fashion.  I joined the Chihuahuas and Aces in progress with the Aces up 4-0.  This is Cody Decker’s current team, so Tim Hagerty chatted about him a bit.  By the third, it was 6-0 after a home run by Anthony Recker, who I remember watching playing for the Cubs. 

At this point, I switched over to the MLB.TV free game between the Giants and the Padres.  Once again, the video was blacked out.  We do not get Padres’ games here locally.  I don’t understand this.  As much as I would actually like to subscribe to the website, if my circumstances were a bit different, how can I, if they’re blocking video of at least five different teams.  Two of those teams are my favorites and neither are broadcast on local television.  And I don’t think they stream the playoffs either.

However, in this case, I was okay with losing the TV, since they put up the Giants’ radio call with the “butterscotch” tones of Jon Miller doing the play-by-play.  It’s like having your favorite grandpa telling you about the game.  He even makes the sponsorship spots sound poetic.  The game was almost irrelevant, since I’d be willing to listen to Miller tell me about player contract negotiations in excruciating detail and probably enjoy it, but the game started off well for the Giants.  Andrew McCuthen tripled in a run in the first with Buster Posey bringing him in with a double.  It was 3-0 Giants after one.

I glanced back at the Chihuahuas score and, of course, they’d scored 6 runs in the fifth to tie it.  I paused the Giants and put the pups back on.  I was just in time to hear the Aces retake the lead 7-6, but they left the bases loaded with Recker up next.  By the eighth, it was 8-6 Aces. The Chihuahuas had their chances in that inning with two on.  In the ninth, they’d loaded the bases via three walks with two out.  The Reno coach went out and made a mound visit.  The team was apparently low on pitchers for this series and had to extend everyone.  It was a good talk.  The pitcher struck out the final El Paso batter for an 8-6 Aces’ win.

I went back to the Giants game and un-paused it.  Surprisingly, it picked up where I left off.  I think I’m used to Twitch pausing, where it resumes with the live feed.  Unfortunately, when I went to pause the stream again later, I saw the score and thought the game was over with a Padres’ win and started watching something else that was live (namely DizzyKitten on Twitch doing ASMR).  The game was not actually over.  That wasn’t the final score.  When I went back to it, I saw that the Giants had scored three in the ninth off Brad Hand to win it 6-5.  It was about time for me to leave work, so I skipped ahead to listen to the winning run being scored.  So, tonight was kind of a mixed bag of listening.

NM State Aggies vs Seattle U Redhawks Softball Game 2, 4-28-18

Continued from Game 1.

Is this picture a spoiler?

Ron and I took cover from the late afternoon sun in his car and rehydrated with some hot water.  They said it’d be a half hour between games, but it was more like 20 minutes.  I was listening to the PA and writing down the lineups while standing outside by the car.  Back inside the stadium, a few more people had shown up and we lost our seats.  We sat down lower and closer to the field.  Some members of Aggie Volleyball were among the new arrivals.  They looked like they’d been at practice.  Fahren Glackin’s dad threw out the first pitch.

The first two innings were scoreless between the Redhawks and the Aggies, just to increase the tension, as the winner of this game would be the regular season champion.  Kelsey Horton made a great jump catch of a liner in the second.  There was a scary moment later, as Amy Bergeson in left ran into the fence going for a foul ball.  It looked like she went face-first into it.  No!  Not her sweet face!  She was okay though and stayed in.   

There were t-shirt tosses in both games.  I stood and tried in the first game.  Savannah Davison from Aggie Volleyball got one here.  (Tatyana Battle’s changed her hairsyle a bit.  It looks good.)  Analise de la Roca started this game for the Aggies and was throwing hard.  In the third, she was helped out with more good defense.  Caity Szczesny made a play on a liner in right, and Jeanelle Medina caught a liner at her shoe tops at third.  There was a delay right after.  The ump called out the grounds crew to redraw the batter’s box and circle.  The PA asked the fans to give them a hand afterward.

Carley Nance for the Redhawks looked truly unhittable for her first two innings.  With Analise only giving up one hit over three innings, it felt like one run might win this.  Shelby Shultes led off the third with the first Aggie hit.  Destiny Blueford came in as a pinch runner and stole second.  Caity came up and slapped a double.  The crowd veritably exploded as Des came around to score. 

Once again, the outfield played up in the infield for Rachel Rodriguez at bat, but she worked a walk.  Kelsey came up.  They tried to walk her, but she fouled off a couple of pitches.  Maybe with two strikes, it seemed safe to pitch to her.  They were almost right.  She just barely hooked one around the left field pole for a three-run homer.  4-0 Aggies.  On a technical note, I noticed Kelsey was standing further back in the box than the last time I’d seen her.  She’s great either way, but might hit home runs quicker this way.

        

In the fourth, volleyball coach Mike Jordan and his family came in.  He didn’t sit with his players though.  Several people went over to see him, including the official Aggie fan kid, who sat down next to him.  On field, Analise was having trouble with the strike zone, mostly in that the ump was squeezing her.  I’d noticed Coach Kathy Rodolph wearing the ump out from the dugout earlier.  I even heard a “Come on, Blue!” like she was sitting in the stands with a beer.  Finally, Analise even stopped after a ball call and asked, “Where was that?”  A walk eventually resulted.  Kaylee Ree got on with a fielder’s choice, then Maddy Kristjanson came up and homered.  The contingent of SU fans went nuts.  Coach Kathy pulled Analise immediately and put Game 1 starter, Samaria Diaz in to finish the inning.  4-2 Aggies.

In the bottom of the fourth, after giving up a pair of singles, Caity blasted one to left center.  As she rounded first, she held on to her helmet and almost jumped out of her shoes as the ball went over the wall.  It was her second home run of the year.  It was hard not to feel good for her.  Rachel was up next and the Redhawks put a different shift on her, thinking she’d hit it to the left.  She hit it right into the shift and got it right by the third baseman.  Kelsey fouled out to deep right field, but Nikki Butler would drive Rachel in.  8-2 Aggies.

Sam gave up a double in the fifth, but no damage was done.  Once again, the Aggies were in a position to run-rule the game if they could score twice.  The first two batters went down, before Jeanelle and Caity singled. 

Rachel was up again and this time the Redhawks played her straight up, but she walked to load the bases . . . for Kelsey Horton.  The crowd started stomping its feet on the metal bleachers during her at bat.  She took three balls and fouled off a couple of pitches.  One foul nearly hit Victoria Castro outside the dugout as she feigned injury.  I don’t know where the last pitch was, but it was somewhere where Kelsey could square it up.  Bang!  A grand slam walk off, regular season-winning home run to left center.  And everyone kind of saw it coming.  12-2 Aggies final by run-rule.

I felt a bit bad for the pitcher, Shianne Smith.  She’d come in the last inning and gotten Kelsey out, but that last at bat was an almost untenable position to be in.  Before this at bat, the third baseman Alyson Matriotti, had talked to her.  I’d noticed they’d held hands during the Anthem.  All I could say to Shianne would have been, “Hey, it was Kelsey Horton.”  This team is going to be seeing Kelsey in their nightmares.

Our gameball to anyone not named Kelsey goes to Caity Szczesny for going 3 for 3 with 4 RBI’s and a homer.  Not bad for someone who probably had a sore foot from the previous game.  Good to see the bottom of the Aggie order getting it done for this game as they scored 7 runs.  Analise de la Roca and Samaria Diaz combined for an excellent 3 hit, 2 run pitching performance over 5 innings.  Lastly, Kelsey Horton went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI’s.  I’ve already started molding the statue which will one day stand outside the stadium.  I can see it now. 

Mommy, why is there a statue of a naked girl with a bat there? 

Don’t look, dear.  Hurry along.

(Hey, I see her as like a Greek goddess of batting.  It’s entirely appropriate.)

The PA thanked the Seattle U fans for attending and urged everyone to stick around for Senior Day ceremonies.  The Redhawk seniors were all announced and given roses.  The three Aggie seniors were then announced and their records and accomplishments were read off. 

Amy Bergeson, in addition to being a tough cookie, has been an excellent left fielder.  Fahren Glackin achieved the program record in hit-by-pitch, but more over, she “Pitched the game of her life as the winning pitcher in last years’ conference championship (5-13-17).”  Lastly, Rachel Rodriguez managed to pass her sister in hits (Stacy was also announced as she just graduated with a masters degree), and she got the winning hit that forced that championship game.  In addition, Rachel was a total sweetheart when I met her in February (2-11-18).

On the way out, Coach Jordan was hanging out by the ramp.  He was in a good mood and shaking hands with people.  I almost think he recognized me from our last meeting at the autograph signing.  I shook hands with him, and said that I wished that his team played spring games.  Apparently, he has a hard time rounding them up just to practice this time of year. 

Out in the parking lot, the Seattle U players were having a meeting.  They didn't have a bus and may have arrived via several cars.  Ron had to get going to his caretaking job, so no after-game meal or ice cream to celebrate.  That was a bit of a downer, but I certainly got back home in way better spirits than when I left.  Sunday night, I got to watch video of Kelsey’s slam on the local sports with the tagline, “How do you win a regular season championship like a boss?”  The video was courtesy of Athletic Director Mario Moccia.  I’d seen him at the game without his girls.  I’d thought he wasn’t really paying attention. 

Okay, on to the tournament in two weeks.