NM State Aggies vs Sam Houston Bearkats Softball 4-8-23

Stunning Savannah Bejarano pictured here.

 

The Thursday night game was dispiriting and cold enough that I actually canceled my day off on Friday.  (It was just as well.  I had plenty of work to catch up on.)  Aggie Softball and Baseball were playing at the same time.  Ron also had a training session for his CDL test and wouldn’t be able to go when Softball started at 4:00.  I decided I didn’t want to go by myself, especially since a cold wind was going earlier in the day.

 

I listened to Baseball over the radio at work and followed the Softball on Gameday.  Missing Baseball was probably not a bad idea.  They lost 8-5.  It wasn’t that close.  The Aggies scored all of their runs in the last inning.  Ron did go to that game and told me that the wind wasn’t a factor and it was pleasant out. 

 

Ron later told me a story he’d gotten from fan Michael Friday night.  Gunner Antillon had been involved in a vehicle rollover earlier in the week, before he was hit in the face at a game last month.  That hit turned out to be a blessing.  They found he had brain bleed from the wreck at the hospital and were able to treat it.      

 

Softball, on the other hand, we were both sorry we missed.  They played Sam Houston in a double header.  In Game 1, the Aggies were down 6-4 in the fifth and came back with a 5-run inning to win it, 9-6.  In Game 2, starter Emily Dix came out in the first inning after giving up 4 runs with no outs.  Aydenne Brown relieved for a full 7 innings.  Once again, the Aggies were down 8-5 and had a 5-run inning in the sixth to win it, 10-8.  It was an impressive pair of comeback wins.

 

Saturday morning, Ron was taking his CDL test and wouldn’t be available to go to the Baseball game against CBU at 11:30, but would probably be done before the Softball game at 1:00.  I decided, based on Friday night’s results that I’d listen to Baseball on the radio and wait for Ron, so we could go to Softball together.

 

I was somewhat regretting my decision immediately.  Adam Young on the radio call reported that the Easter Bunny threw out the first pitch.  (I wonder if it’s still Sports Marketing babe, Emerson, in the suit.)  There would be an Easter Egg hunt after the game.  Darn it!  Even more so, the game was pretty good and going back-and-forth.  It would be tied 6-6 in the fourth by the time we arrived for Softball.  The Lancers threw out a go-ahead Aggie runner at home to end the inning. 

 

While I was waiting for Ron, I had a fight with my ear buds.  They lost and I had to hastily find another pair.  (It’s the damn eternally tangled cord thing that’s pissing me off.)  While driving over, a roadrunner crossed our path as it darted across an intersection.  I don’t know if that’s good luck or bad luck.  Ron had passed his driving test.  He was eating out of a bowl while driving with me, occasionally letting go of wheel and going into the other lane.  I don’t think he was doing that during the test.  

 

Upon entering the Softball stadium, Ron went to the bathroom.  I was waiting at the courtesy table when the Anthem started.  I took off my hat and stood at attention.  When I turned around, I suddenly realized there was a crowd behind me doing the same.  Was I a good influence?

 

The grandstand seemed a bit uncrowded (over 400).  I was surprised given the large crowds earlier in the season.  Families with kids might have been next door at Baseball, but there were some little girl softball players here.  They were wearing the eye black that was given being given out up front.  

At the Baseball game (boy, did I make a wrong choice), the Aggies loaded the bases and scored twice on a wild pitch and a sac fly, 8-6.  At Softball, Jordin King started for the Aggies.  I wasn’t in a position to see if she took a knee again for the Anthem.  I did watch her usual somewhat erratic pitching.  Eight batters came up in the first.  She walked three, gave up 2 singles, and 2 runs scored.  2-0 SH.

 

SH was decked in white and bright orange.  Daryn Grams looked really small and cute out in the circle for them, but she’s actually listed at 5’8”.  In the bottom of the first, Daryn looked a bit shaky with a walk and a single.  Jillian Taylor drove the runners in with a triple into the right field corner.  Jessica Carreon brought her in with an infield hit.  I thought it was an error on Daryn for a bad throw to first, but it was scored a hit.  3-2 Aggies.  Now, I was feeling a little better about my choice.

 

Little kids were finding Easter Eggs hidden in the stands.  I don’t know what was in them.  A boy came in from Little League wearing an impressive Las Cruces Rays uniform.  Volleyballer Ryleigh Whitekettle came in to support her friend, Jordin.  She was casually elegant with a just-out-of-shower look.  She left after a couple innings after Jordin was taken out.  We missed her.  Xitlaly Hernandez came in representing the Soccer team.  She’s everywhere. 

 

The “good” Jordin showed up for the second inning with three fly ball outs.  However, she also plunked a batter on top of her helmet.  It wasn’t a hard pitch as it just got away from Jordin.  The Aggies went down in order in the bottom.  Jordin issued a walk and hit another batter in the third.  Catcher Kendal Lunar had a passed ball.  For once, I correctly identified the difference between that and a wild pitch. 

 

In the sixth inning of the baseball game, Mathew Maloney came in with two on.  He gave up a double, which scored a run, but struck out two to end the inning.  8-7 Aggies.  In the eighth, Maloney finished his third inning of relief with a strikeout.  He came off the field pumping his fist and screaming, as he went back to the dugout. 

 

Back to softball, SH shortstop, Elia Hebel, made a great diving catch behind third base to start the bottom of the third.  This was followed by a walk and a single, but the Aggie runners were left stranded.  In the fourth, Jordin gave up a single and a walk and was relieved by Felicia de la Torre.  After a single loaded the bases, Hebel drove them all in with a double.  She was knocked in with a single later.  6-3 Sam Houston.

 

Baseball was in the bottom of the eighth.  With the bases loaded, Kevin Jimenez scored on a wild pitch.  This was followed by Mitch Namie driving in 2 with a single.  Hunter Antillon finished off the scoring with his first college home run, which scored 2 more.  Aggies up 13-7, which would be the final score.  And I officially felt like a dummy.

 

For Aggie Softball in the bottom of the fourth, they got two on, but left them stranded.  To the top of the fifth, Jillian did it again!  She made another awesome diving catch in center.  This time the cameraman was watching her and legendary broadcaster, Jack Nixon, called the play.  (And I can’t figure out how to link to the tweet.)  It just didn’t seemed possible Jill could get to that ball.  

Kayla Brown worked a walk to start the bottom of the fifth.  Hebel then made a play on a liner.  She next ended the inning by starting a nice DP.  Just to rub it in, the PA announced at the end of the inning that the baseball team was winning next door.  A few minutes later, you could still see the baseball team running around the field.  They may have been hiding Easter Eggs for the hunt after the game.  A bunch of kids then rushed the field to collect them.       

 

A striking, tall, and powerfully-built black girl was escorted into the stands and up to the press box, along with another athletic-looking girl.  The group then left about 10 minutes later.  Ron and I hoped that handsome young woman was a new recruit for the basketball team. 

 

Felicia only allowed a single in the top of the sixth.  She was doing her job trying to keep it close.  Jessica dropped a perfect bunt to lead off the bottom.  Though the ball stopped about a foot from home plate, Jess hustled it out for a single.*  She tried to steal second on a bobbled ball by the catcher.  The ump called her out, though it looked like Jess had beaten the tag.  Gabby Aragon hit a sure home run to center, but the wind knocked it down for the final out of the inning.

 

(* I give up.  I have a note about another bunt, but didn’t write down the player or the inning, and I can’t figure out when it happened.  A player was asked to bunt and after the first attempt, Coach Rodolph called time.  She then had to give a quick lesson in how to do it.  I don’t even remember what the result was.  All I could think at the time was, This is a heck of a time to have to be teaching this.)

 

Jordin came up into the stands to go up to the press box to collect retrieved foul balls.  She looked dejected.  Don’t they have freshman on the team on the team to do stuff like this?  The Bearkats scratched out a run in the seventh with a single, a stolen base, and two ground outs.  7-3 Sam Houston.  In the bottom, we were hoping for a third comeback win.  The Aggie dugout was singing.  Riley Carley hit a line drive homer to center, but that was all of the rally.  Bearkats win 7-4, as a cloud came over the field for the final out.

 

We’ll hand out the Gameballs.  Daryn Grams went all 7 for the Bearkats to get the win.  Elia Hebel did it on defense and went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI’s off her fourth inning double.  For the Aggies, I’ll give one to Jessica Carreon for going 2 for 3 with an RBI.  Jillian Taylor gets another for driving in 2 runs with a triple and for yet another highlight reel catch.  I get a raspberry for making poor choices.

 

We ran into Jack Nixon as we were leaving the game.  Neither of us knew he was calling the game at the time.  Still nervous about meeting him, I just timidly waved and said, “Hi, Jack.”  A Sam Houston fan came by with a couple of barking dogs.  Jack went over to pet them and said, “They’re just celebrating a Bearkat victory.” 

 

Speaking of celebrating, I took Ron to Cracker Barrel for passing his CDL test.  We’d been there before and I knew he wanted some more of their chicken strips.  It seems almost impossible, but the meal actually filled him.  On the way over, a squirrel darted out in front of us, like that roadrunner.  If there was a deeper meaning to this, I don’t know what it was.  

NM State Aggies vs CBU Lancers Baseball 4-6-23

Romeo Ballesteros actually wasn't in tonight's game.  He still has the great hair, though.

I feel like I really earned this giveaway.  I’d been lusting after one of these black and white baseball hats since last year.  Since the Men’s Basketball game where they were going to give these out was canceled, I’d been hoping they’d give them away at baseball or softball.  They’d been throwing them to crowd at Softball, but I can’t jump up and down for giveaways since there are so many other fans that want them more.  

I didn’t even know the hat was a giveaway tonight until this afternoon, so I was lucky there that I’d taken the day off for the game.  I guess for an odd Thursday night game, they wanted a good promotion to get a crowd, especially after having to postpone the Lobo game due to high winds on Tuesday (which I had scheduled to take off).  My time off was nowhere near as good as a co-worker, who went to a Savannah Bananas game over the weekend.  She was beaming and said, “You have to be there.  Video doesn’t do it justice.”

 

Unfortunately, Ron forgot he had a class today.  He’d be able to go, but we had to cancel getting lunch.  Then he showed up early enough to go for lunch anyway, but we’d already both eaten.  It was a bad foot to start off on.  (I hate to admit that I wanted the meal out about as much seeing the game.)  I had a meal at home and corn-in-a-cup at the ballpark.

 

We arrived at the stadium and received our giveaway hats.  Mission accomplished.  We received them from the hot Pan-Am girl intern.  Bonus.  A couple of Volleyball girls were there too, though I didn’t see them again inside.  As it turned out, there was a great turnout of female Aggie athletes at the park tonight. 

 

Most notably, the Women’s Basketball team came in lead by Coach Adams.  I smiled and waved at her as she went by and gave her a “thumbs up.”  I was very happy with their effort and results this season.  (I was told their tournament wins were the first postseason/conference tournament wins for the program.)  She threw out the first pitch with the team behind her.  They all left right afterward.  That was probably a good move.  (Meanwhile, I was checking the Men’s Basketball roster page recently.  It was empty, except for the new coach.  Housecleaning has begun.)      

 

While it seemed like a pleasant night out, there was a cold, stiff wind blowing in.  Though I was wearing three layers and a jacket, it was miserable to sit in.  This ended up being reason why I decided to go back to work on Friday, instead of coming to another night game.  Still, there were plenty of attractive young women in little cutoffs and exposed midriffs at the game.  Mostly, they went to go get blankets later.  One beautiful blonde girl and her friends, while walking at the foot of the stands, did all stop for the Anthem.  I was touched by their decorum.

CBU was in blue and white striped pajamas for the game.  It didn’t affect their playing.  Kevin Jimenez made a great play on the first batter.  He made a flat-footed throw from second base to get the runner at first.  Treyjen Meza, the Aggie starter, gave up a double, but struck out the next two batters.  On the final batter, the ball hit the knob of the bat and he was ruled out for leaning into the pitch.

 

Between innings, the Pan-Am Girl tossed t-shirts to the crowd.  She seemed to be enjoying it.  It was the first time, I’d seen her doing her job with a smile.  Some members of the Softball team came during the next toss.  They almost came to blows over a souvenir, but Jillian Taylor’s sure hands came away with the prize.  She also had to leave early, because she was in shorts and probably freezing.  (I thought I saw players working out at the Softball field next door, but maybe it was something else.)

 

In the bottom of the first, the wind knocked down two sure home run balls, but a bunt, a wild pitch, and a sac fly brought in Keith Jones II after he’d singled to start the inning.  1-0 Aggies.  Meza notched two more K’s in the second.  Damone Hale made a great leaping catch in center for the final out.         

 

Volleyballer Ryleigh Whitekettle came in with pitcher Jordin King.  They greeted the other Softball players, who were sitting below us, but didn’t sit with them.  I eventually identified one of the softball players as catcher, Kendal Lunar.  She was sporting a huge bruise on her thigh.  Ron remembered her taking a hard foul ball last weekend (though I didn’t record that).  Some Soccer girls came in.  I think I saw Xitlaly Hernandez with them.  She wasn’t wearing a leg brace.  That’s good news. 

 

The Aggies busted out in the bottom of the second.  Nolan Funke doubled.  Connor McGuire made a nice smother on a grounder at second for an out, but it moved Funke to third.  Edwin Martinez-Pagani beat out an infield hit by diving for first and drove in Funke.  Two more batters got on via a single and a walk to load the bases.  Hale drove in a run on a fielder’s choice by hitting the pitcher, Spencer Bengard, on the leg.  Spencer came out.  After a walk, Nick Gore singled to drive in two more runs.  The Aggies added four for the inning to make it 5-0.

 

Unfortunately, Meza had a bad inning, as well, in the third.  He gave up two walks (including a pinch hitter for McGuire), a single (which brought in a run), and hit a batter.  Mitchel Simon came up with the bases loaded.  He’s the conference leader in home runs.  Meza struck him out.  The next batter, Dustin Garcia, was number two in homers, but tied Simon with a monster grand slam blast to right center.  The wind couldn’t stop that one.  Meza finished the inning with another batter ruled out for leaning into a pitch.  5-5.

 

There was a senior lady in the next section, who was cheering the team and calling them by name.  She was doing a great job.  Funke led off the bottom of the third and singled.  After a strikeout, EMP doubled.  Funke rounded third and headed home, but was nailed on a couple of great relay throws and the catcher’s tag.  After that, EMP made it to third on a wild pitch.  A can-of-corn fly ball to center by Hunter Antillon should have ended the inning, but Clank!  The centerfielder dropped it and EMP scored.  Ryan Delgado was brought in and got the last out.  6-5 Aggies.

 

Meza and Delgado both worked a one-hit inning in the fourth.  Simon, wanting his home run lead back, blasted a leadoff homer to left in the fifth.  The wind was still blowing in.  Meza got another strikeout, but gave up a double.  He caught a grounder off the next batter and threw out the lead runner at third.  Meza made several tosses to first and nearly picked off that runner, but was taken out before pitching to the next batter.  He was at 107 pitches.  Hayden Walker came in and finished off the inning.  6-6.

 

The crowd was bleeding out as the sun went down and the temperature dropped.  The Softball girls stuck it out.  They were dancing to the PA music and doing homework on their laptops or watching videos on their phones.  Delgado only gave up a single in the bottom of the fifth.  Walker worked a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, which included another pinch hitter in the 9-hole.  In the bottom, shortstop Josh Paino made all three putouts for CBU.  On the last, he slide across second to field the ball.

 

To the top of the seventh, Walker got in trouble with a single and a hit batter.  He was relieved by Matthew Maloney, who induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.  The CBU manager did challenge the call, but the umps upheld it.  Delgado worked a quick bottom, as did Maloney in the top of the eighth.  The Aggies had three groundouts in the eighth, including another good play by Paino and Jake Skipworth at first. 

 

The Aggie dugout was loose in the ninth.  They were head bobbing and waving their arms to Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA over the PA.  The inning began with yet another pinch hitter in the ninth spot.  When that batter walked, he was replaced by a pinch runner, whose number wasn’t listed on the roster.  That’s five players used in that position.  (Now I know what those extra slots are for on the scorecard.) 

 

The runner was sac’d to second and moved to third on a fielder’s choice.  Simon came to bat.  Both dugouts were yelling encouragement.  On the last pitch, Maloney let out a massive grunt.  Simon made a huge swing, missed, and let out a curse as the crowd roared.  Maloney pounded his glove and stormed off the field to his cheering dugout.

 

Still tied in the bottom of the ninth, KJII worked a walk to start the inning.  Hale came up and is probably the best bunter on the team.  He fouled off the first pitch.  The ump called an outside strike on the next, as Hale let it go.  The dugout started chirping and the ump turned and gave them a warning.  With two strikes, Hale was still bunting.  He missed and struck out. 

 

KJ came up and singled to left.  After a slight bobble, KJII took off to the third.  About halfway there, Ron and I both put our hands up over our faces and shouted, “No!”  Jones found the ball waiting for him.  Kevin, meanwhile, attempted to take second during the play and was nailed there.  Instead of having two on with one out, it was an inning-ending double play. 

 

With the cold, the last thing the remaining crowd wanted was extras, but we were all deeply involved now.  As of the ninth, the Softball girls had put away their electronics and were intently watching.  Noah Estrella relieved Maloney for the tenth.  Dustin Garcia singled to start the inning and stole second.  Noah got the next two outs, but then walked a batter.  Paino came up and hit one up the middle.  The ball hit the mound and squeaked past a diving KJ.  That drove in the run that put CBU up 7-6.  Apparently out of bench players, the 9-hole batter did bat for himself for the final out.

 

Delgado was finally off the mound and Jacob Wilson came on.  Gore led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Funke attempted to bunt.  It went to Wilson, who spun and threw out Gore at third.  It wasn’t the Aggies’ night for bunting.  It also deflated the rally and the game ended with two strikeouts.  Lancers win 7-6. 

  

Partisanship aside, it was an aesthetically interesting game and perfectly heartbreaking for a fan otherwise.  I was glad I got to see it.  Adam Young’s comment after the game on the radio broadcast was spot-on, “CBU is a team that won’t beat themselves.”  The Aggies had their chances, but didn’t execute on the little things they needed to do to beat such a well-coached team. 

 

For Gameballs, Dustin Garcia gets one for his near back-breaking grand slam.  Ryan Delgado did actually crush Aggie batting for over 6 innings with no runs allowed.  (That said, the Lancers had 15 strikeouts and the Aggies only had 5.  Treyjen Meza had 8 of those K’s.)  For the Aggies, Nick Gore gets a nod going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s.  Hayden Walker and Matthew Maloney teamed up for over 4 innings of scoreless pitching and kept the Aggies in it. 

 

The game took 3 hours.  That’s pretty good for 10-inning game.  Thank goodness for new pace-of-play rules.  This would have been 3:45 last year, easy.  Attendance was listed at 603, which seems high.  By the end of the game, it was way less.  I can’t even remember doing anything when I got home, other than warming up.  (And the wind outside picked up and got worse.)  Sometimes, you suffer as a fan, even for a good game.

Card Show: Holidays

 Here's a few of holiday cards.

I just got this Easter card from Aunt Judy.  I called her and she was busy putting together eggs for an Easter Egg Hunt with my nephews.  I remembered that they are teenagers.  She said that she'd texted them and asked if they still wanted to do a hunt and they immediately texted back, "Yes!"  Who could blame them?  

This is a Valentine card from Aunt Judy (and her dog, Tucker).

She also sent me a Halloween card.  There were a surprising number of old Halloween cards in my mom's old scrapbooks, some of which I posted.  I didn't know it was such a big greeting card holiday.

There was a coloring contest at work last Halloween.  This was my entry.  It wasn't my best effort.  The winning entry was really well done.

Okay, this is it for now for daily collection posts.  What's it been?  Like three years?  I'm out of  material I got from my mom.  I'd like to do a series of posts of my NASCAR diecasts, but I'm not sure if I can get decent pictures of them.  I'll test it out some time.  For now, I'll just be doing sports posts when I've got something to report on.    

Card Show: It's Your Birthday

Some cards from my last birthday.

 

Card from my Aunt Judy (and Tucker, her dog).  It came in a package with a couple of shirts.

Card from work with a bunch of well wishes from co-workers.

Dad accidentally gave me two cards.  One was tucked inside the other.  

Card Show: Charity

I had a few greeting cards piled up since the last time I posted them.  These cards are from various charity solicitations.   

Call me a sucker, I love this card from Easterseals.

USO card with a Rockwell (or Rockwell-like) painting from a Coke ad.  The USO keeps sending me letters with somebody else's name on them.  I stopped sending them money, since they can't even get my name correct.

I don't know if this is from a USO card or some other veterans organization, but it looks good.

A card from the American Red Cross.  They've recently gotten caught facilitating mass illegal immigration, so don't expect any more contributions from me for a while.

NM State Aggies vs GCU Lopes Softball 4-1-23

 

I’m not sure if this is AI art or not, but I like it.  I’m going to have to do some recaps before going over today’s game.  First, I forgot to talk about the Aggie Women’s Basketball team last week.  When last we left the ladies, they’d just lost a heartbreaker in the WAC Championship, but their season wasn’t over. 

 

They were invited to a small tournament in Lexington, Kentucky, and I listened all three of their games over the radio.  After the WAC loss, no doubt the team wanted some redemption.  Again, they made it to the championship game, but were oddly playing CBU, another WAC team.  Unfortunately, it was another heartbreaking close loss, 63-61.  They played very hard, but just didn’t get a bounce or two.  I went back over their schedule.  I have the team losing five games by 3 or less points.  It’s been hurtful, but encouraging. 

 

Back to Softball, after their last home tournament (and me meeting Volleyballer Ryleigh Whitekettle, a season highlight), the girls lost a couple of series in Utah, a double header to Arizona, and a dropped game against the Lobos.  This weekend they were facing a very good GCU team.   

 

Friday night, I was busy at work with Quarter End processing.  Ron was there for the double header in the evening, while I listened on the radio.  In Game 1, the Aggies took a 1-run lead into the seventh inning.  After the bases were loaded with one out, Aydenne Brown, the next game starter, was brought in and closed it out, 5-4. 

 

Game 2 was an 8-5 GCU win.  What was notable about the game, however, was the 20-minute delay while the umpires and coaches debated a rule.  The rulebook was brought out onto the field.  One of the umps even made a phone call, perhaps to the league office.  I’d be more shocked by this were it not for the fact that I’ve seen this happen before.  Ron was incensed, especially since he thought they got the call wrong.  (From what I heard and from looking it up in the rulebook, maybe.  I actually had the El Paso Chihuahuas’ home opener on at the time that delay was happening.)        

 

Saturday morning, it was a brilliant day.  There was a light breeze to compliment a warm, sunny day.  Ron and I drove over to the stadium and noticed the next door Soccer field was being re-sodden.  TV cameramen were set up around the stadium, as the game was being broadcast on regional cable.  (Commercial delays would be an irritation throughout the game.)  Once again, there was no program for the game at the courtesy table, but there was a lovely team photo card for autographs later.     

 

A great crowd of 700 showed up.  (No Ryleigh, though.)  A good, happy buzz permeated the group.  The grounds crew was dancing a little to the good PA music today.  There were quite a few GCU fans.  The Chapin High School Softball team was there to cheer on a grad playing for GCU, Kristen Fifield.  Fan Danny was there.  I chatted with him for a few minutes.  He was finally sold on Coach Adams taking over the Women’s Basketball team.  Coach Rodolph was back from illness for the Softball team, though Associate Coach, Cat Heifner was still out sick.    

 

For GCU’s player introductions, Fifield was identified as a Chapin grad to a cheer from the team.  The PA apparently mispronounced one of the Lopes girls’ names, as the team shouted out a correction.  We were expecting Aydenne to start today, but Jordin King was tapped.  She also took a knee for the Anthem.  The GCU girls gave each other a confused look upon seeing it.  2020 called.  They want their protest back.  Given that I already had poster card, I reconsidered going for autographs later.  During the game, I decided, Okay, if they win, I’ll go. 

Jordin started off the game with a couple of strikeouts for an easy first.  GCU started a flaming redhead, Hailey Hudson.  However, she wasn’t Lexy Coons, one of my player crushes.  The Aggie dugout was really spirited today for their first at bat.  Behind Hailey, Macee Barnes at second ended the inning by catching a low liner by Kayla Bowen, and then crawled to touch second to double off Paige Knight, who had doubled before Bowen.

 

Jordin began the second with another strikeout, but yielded a home run to left to the next batter.  It was a no-doubter just from the sound off of Madison Schaefer’s bat.  What happened next was a single, a walk, and a wild pitch.  Jordin exited to no applause.  Laurali Patane didn’t have it either.  She got a quick hook after coming in mid-at bat and walking that batter, another walk, a run-scoring wild pitch, and a run-scoring single.  Emily Dix finished off the inning.  Paige made a good play, spinning around on a grounder and throwing to Jayleen Burton covering third for the force out. 3-0 GCU.

 

The Chapin team was recognized by the PA in the bottom of the second.  After a pair of singles, catcher Kendal Lunar doubled the runners in.  Devin Elam was the trailing runner.  She fell down trying to slide and came up limping, but smiling.  GCU took out Hailey and inserted Meghan Golden.  She was a stocky young woman, but with a great offspeed pitch. 

 

When Jayleen came to bat, the GCU defense came up with an extreme shift.  The infield played in with the corners crashing, and the outfield shifted to leave no one in right field.  Ron had warned me about this.  Last night, Jayleen got annoyed with it to the point where she reared back and hit her first college home run.  3-2 GCU after two.

   

Dix worked into a bases loaded jam in the third with two walks and a hit batter, but worked out of it without any damage.  In the bottom, Paige singled, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double.  I noticed GCU brought an attractive photographer with them as she took pictures at the rail.  Danny went over and chatted her up at one point.  Don’t let his senior citizen status fool you, he’s an operator.

 

The top of the fourth was the “Grand in the Stands” contest for the students.  Unlike the Lunchbox Contest last month, they got a winner on the first try here for $1,000.  Jayleen made a good play on a liner in the inning, where Dix only gave up a single.  In the bottom, Hannah Lindsay started off with a sky-high popup that was dropped on the infield.  (Scored a hit because the first baseman had to dive for it.)  Jillian Taylor beat out a surprise bunt to put two on, but both were left stranded. 

 

I questioned Jessica Carreon coming up as a pinch hitter with two on, but actually she was a sub for Kristen Boyd in the third that I hadn’t noticed.  I think I saw Krissie later with her thumb bandaged.  Jessica also got the extreme shift treatment.  She made a good running catch in the next inning.          

 

A bunch of hats and shirts were handed out during the game.  One of the Chapin girls was going insane for everything thrown to the crowd.  She got a couple souvenirs.  It was getting a little hot out.  I was appreciating my unfashionable floppy hat.  A stiff, cool breeze blew across the stands every so often and was welcomed. 

 

Ramsay Lopez led off the fifth with a home run to center.  Wait a minute!  Isn’t she one of ours!  Well, she was, but Ramsay defected, err, transferred a couple of seasons ago.  After a second homer by Kaitlyn Brannstrom and a pair of singles, Dix was relieved by Felicia de la Torre, who ended the inning with a strikeout.  5-2 GCU.  The Aggies went down in order in the bottom. 

 

I think I saw Xitlaly Hernandez from the Soccer team going through the crowd.  I hope I didn’t.  She was limping along in a leg brace.  (If it was her, she’s also changed her hair coloring.)  The hot Pan-Am girl was also here in little cut-offs.  Meanwhile on field, Felicia had it working and blew through the sixth with a couple of strikeouts.  Kayla led off the bottom with a single.  She got to second after Jillian was hit by a pitch.  Kayla advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Devin finally scored her with a grounder to third.  Kayla just slid under the tag at the plate.  5-3 GCU.

 

Felicia finished the top of the seventh with four pitches and three lineouts.  Kayla caught a low one taking a knee.  See, there’s when taking a knee on field is okay.  At the PA's insistence, I tried putting on the "rally hat," but that just doesn't work with a floppy hat.  Golden got the first two outs of the Aggie seventh.  Riley Carley came up and kind of casually stroked one out to left.  It wasn’t a hard swing, but it cut the GCU lead to 5-4. 

 

Paige worked a walk.  The GCU coach came out for a talk, but didn’t change pitchers.  A guy next to me told another guy, “Kayla’s gonna come up and win it.”  In an interview after game, Kayla had also told the dugout she was going to win it before she came to bat.  First pitch, POW!  Kayla slapped a monster jack to right.  It may have gone over the trees.  Aggies win 6-5!

 

Kayla Bowen gets an easy Gameball.  She worked every part of the ballgame and really wanted a win today.  Felicia de la Torre’s lockdown relief effort set the stage for Kayla’s heroics.  Jillian Taylor gets one for getting on base in all three of her at bats.  For GCU, Kaitlyn Brannstrom gets a Gameball for going 2 for 3 with a home run. 

 

Autographs

After not meeting the team at Aggie Baseball last week, I was going to get the opportunity here with an autograph session.  I was waiting for them to set up on field by the front gate with the Chapin team.  They weren’t line for autographs; they were waiting for a ride.  Kristen Fifield on GCU came out to them and talked to the coach.  She seemed devastated by the game.  “I tried so hard, coach,” she said.  A straggling parade of depressed Lopes players walked past.  They are a good team and nationally-ranked in some categories.  I did see some Twitter postgame videos of a couple of Aggie and Lopes players hugging.

 

Eventually, they let the fans on to the field.  This was a first.  I was standing in line for autographs for a girls team with mostly a bunch of adult men.  Where were all of the teenaged girls that I’m usually embarrassing myself standing with?  Here’s also where I usually go into detail about meeting the team, but I didn’t have any meaningful interaction with them.  I told Hannah Lindsay that Shiyazh Pete had come to see her last month at a game.  She might not have heard me, but I got no response.  That’s it.  The girls were in a good mood, but they all had their heads down talking to each other.  I’m reconsidering going for any more team autographs.

 

That disappointment for me notwithstanding, Ron was elated and kept going on about Kayla’s home run for the rest of the evening.  We picked up a Pretzel Crust Pizza at Little Caesars for diner and went over to my dad’s apartment to watch the NCAA Final Four game between San Diego State and Florida Atlantic.  Who had that match up in their bracket?  It turned into a great game with an incredible finish as SDSU won on a last second shot.  We also watched the end of the Giants beating the Yankees during halftime. 

 

Ron and I went for Paleta ice cream bars after the game.  The shop is next door to me and I’ve been there many times, but surprisingly I’ve never been there with Ron.  He was impressed with them.  We went back to my apartment to watch the other Final Four game.  It was mostly a beat down.  Well, they can’t all be thrillers.     

Sketch Dump: Ilya 2, Drop 25

A sketch of Twitch streamer, Dizzykitten that almost looks good.  It sucks that nearly all of these pictures of pretty streamers are selfies in a mirror holding their phones.  

A final quick art page.  Starting top left and going clockwise: Teen Titan Argent, Sephie from Meridian, Arwyn from Sojourn, Shu Lien from a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon comic, a character from a Crossgen comic, and Persephone from a Wonder Girl comic.

  

Artemis from Wonder Girl.  Not the greatest drawings, but I like the inking and coloring.

Wonder Woman and Yara Wonder Girl.  Same thing, so-so drawings, but good inking and coloring.

Finally (Is it over?  Is it?), the best (and last posted) drawing of this sketchbook.  It's Cassie Wonder Girl.  I didn't even consider touching it with my questionable inking skills.  It's one of my best drawings ever.  I'd put it up with this pencil sketch of Shu Lien from a couple of years ago.  If only I could figure out how to draw like this all of the time.

The drawings I've posted from this sketchbook are chronologically out-of-order.  I had multiple problems getting the sketches scanned (photographed).  In the first two passes, I missed this sketch somehow.  For the second and third passes, I had to figure out which ones I'd missed, which was a pain in the butt.  It was a mess and most of the sketches weren't worth the effort, but it was worth it to have gotten this one. 

Okay, no more sketches for a while, until I finish another sketchbook.