Baseball Journal April 2017

Owing to an impending, violent change to my life schedule, I wasn’t sure about bothering with a journal this year.  However, as long as there’s baseball that I can watch or listen to, let’s enjoy what we can.  Mostly, I’ve been listening over the radio (and Internet) and catching the MLB Free game.  As usual, this is highly biased towards the teams that I like and that I get to watch or listen to, namely the NM State Aggies, the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Texas Rangers, and the Colorado Rockies. 

So far, I haven’t bothered much with baseball on TV.  A big “Thank you” to Fox Sports for not bothering to show any baseball this month and instead focusing on European soccer matches.  That’s just great.  I guess the Yankees and Red Sox haven’t been playing on any of the weekends yet.  I missed all of spring training and did not see any of the World Baseball Classic, though I did follow along with the championship game.  I have commentary on that: USA!  USA!    

4-1-17

NM State Aggies vs Utah Valley Wolverines Softball

4-3-17

Opening Day!  It was a bad day at work.  I didn’t get to see or hear more than a couple of minutes of baseball (or the NCAA Basketball Championship).  I did catch some of the Rangers come from ahead loss to the Cleveland Indians on the MLB free game.  Rougned Odor did hit two homers in the game.  Sam Dyson took the loss in what seemed like ominous foreboding for the Rangers’ bullpen.

4-4-17

NM State Aggies vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Baseball

4-6-17

Opening Day for the Chihuahuas!  It was a sellout and then some with over 9,000 in attendance.  The late head groundskeeper, Nate Jones, was remembered.  He died at 24 in a car wreck in the offseason.  His field won a PCL award for the grass.  Those outfield suite seats aren’t that great a place to see the game, but I was able to get a good look at that grass.  It was so perfect, it looked like it should be vacuumed instead of mowed.  The Chihuahuas won.  There were a couple of homers and an inside the park home run (technically a single and three-base error).  Coach Rod Barajas later admitted that the huge crowd did kind of goad him into sending the runner home.  

4-8-17

NM State Aggies vs UTRGV Vaqueros Baseball

4-9-17

NM State Aggies vs UTRGV Vaqueros Baseball

4-11-17

[This was my actual first entry and the first game I got to really listen to.  Yeah, I started this over a week late.  I was still upset about Opening Day going badly for me.]  Up 5-0 over the Angels, the Rangers proceeded to squander the lead until the ninth when Sam Dyson came in finished the job for his second blown save of the year.  Of course, it was my least favorite player, Al Pujols driving in Mike Trout for the tying run.  In the tenth, Trout then robbed Jonathan Lucroy of the go ahead home run.  The Rangers lose in the bottom on a squeeze play.  6-5 Angels.  Adrian Beltre is still out and Joey Gallo is in.  He’s still striking out, but did a tremendous upper deck home run last week.

4-13-17

Rockies vs. Giants.  The Rockies new closer, Greg Holland, loaded the bases in the ninth up 3-1, but got a double play to end it.  Where was Buster?  Was he still out on concussion protocols?  Trevor Story was back in a short.  That was good to hear.  David Dahl is out with injury however.  Mark Reynolds is doing very well, filling in for the injured Ian Desmond.  If they could just get the whole team together .  . .

At the end of this game, I got the final score of the Mets and Marlins game I was watching earlier.  It was 9-8 Mets in extras.  Yoenis Cespedes hit two monster home runs while I was watching.  Meanwhile, the Aggies beat Sacramento State 8-4.  LJ Hatch went crazy in the game with a home run, two singles, and three stolen bases. 

4-14-17

Marcel Renteria went 9 innings and worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth.  He actually talked his way into staying into the game with three guys on.  Unfortunately it ended in a 2-1 loss to Sac State in the twelfth.  Sac State won the game with three hits and two errors.

4-15-17

NM State Aggies vs UMKC Roos Softball

4-16-17

8-7, Rangers lose to the Mariners.  Another Sam Dyson blown save.  There was an odd series of events in the inning, but ultimately he walked in the tying run.  There wasn’t even a batted ball that left the infield in the final inning.  The Rangers seem to have to find a new closer every year.  The Chihuahuas also lost, but there was an interesting scoring play for dogs in the game.  Jabari Blash tagged up on second on a deep fly ball by Collin Cowgill and scored.  The centerfielder fell down after making the catch, but that is still a heck of a sprint.

4-17-17

It was an afternoon matinee for the Chihuahuas and a blowout loss.  Catcher Rocky Gale made his pitching debut, throwing a 60mph fastball.  You could hear a heckler in the stands giving him the business, “Show us your fast ball!”  His line was one hit batter, one strikeout, a single (scoring two inherited runners), and a groundball out.

4-18-17

At least the Aggie baseball team put up a good fight against Texas Tech in Midland, losing 6-4.  They briefly had a lead.  In the fifth, in a four strikeout inning, the Aggies scored a, almost needless to say, unearned run.  They were playing under harsh conditions, namely every time the Red Raiders scored, a hockey horn blasted and then the Tech fight song played.

Meanwhile in Las Cruces, the Aggie softball team was getting clobbered by the Arizona Wildcats.  There apparently was no run rule.  In Game one, with over 500 in attendance, they lost 8-0.  In Game two, with over 800 in attendance (nearly a full house), they lost 11-1.  The Arizona pitcher in that game had 12 strikeouts.  Why am I smiling though?  She had a no-hitter going in the last inning until Kelsey Horton came up.  I don’t know if she just made a mistake or was trying to challenge Kelsey, but the result was a home run.  Having seen Kelsey bat, that must have been the angriest swing of the night.  Also, the team only had one error in the two games, so they didn’t beat themselves.

Back at home that night, I got to hear the end of the Rockies versus the Dodgers.  There was some drama in the bottom of the ninth, but Greg Holland got save, his eighth in a row.  4-3 Rockies.

4-19-17

El Paso Diablos vs Tacoma Rainiers

4-20-17

I came into this game late, but better late than never in a scoreless 13 inning game.  Joey Gallo doubled and was driven in by Delino Deshields for the 1-0 Ranger win over the Royals.  Meanwhile, how do you get 17 strikeouts in a game and have a 5-0 lead and still lose in extras?  Ask the Chihuahuas, as I listened to this night’s game in slowly unfolding horror.  They should have stayed the Diablos.

4-22-17

NM State Aggies vs Northern Colorado Bears Baseball

4-23-17

NM State Aggies vs Northern Colorado Bears Baseball

4-24-17

Twins over the Rangers 3-2.  All of the Twins’ runs were walked on base.  I finally got a look at Jose Leclerc.  Whatever he’s throwing, he’s making the batters look silly trying to swing at it.  Meanwhile in Denver, down a run to the Nationals in the eighth, the Rockies got five straight hits to start the inning before the Nat’s reliever was taken out.  Rockies win 8-4.  The Chihuahuas lost at home 12-1.  Probably a good thing, I decided to watch the Rangers instead. 

4-25-17

The MLB free game was a good matchup between the Astros and the Indians.  Dallas Keuchel pitched a compete game for a 4-2 win for the Astros.  Josh Reddick made a highlight reel catch in centerfield to rob Jason Kipnis of a home run.  However, Houston may have actually been the loser in the game, as Jose Altuve and Teoscar Hernandez had hard collision on a popup.  Both had to come out of the game, though somehow, Teoscar, who might have nearly a foot in height and at least 50 pounds on Altuve, came away the worst for it, as he left on a cart.  The Astros are already a bit banged up.  This isn’t good.

Meanwhile in Tucson, the Aggie baseball team was crushed by Arizona, 11-2.  Six errors leading to six unearned runs didn’t help.  You can accept another team being better than your team, but it’s hard to accept your team beating themselves.  The other team being really good, doesn’t cause errors.  That’s on you guys.  Even Adam Young’s call of the game was flat, listless, and defeated.  I almost hope there was some reason other than the game for him sounding depressed. 

4-27-17

Chihuahuas lose to the Salt Lake City Bees 13-5.  Halfway through the game, it was tied.  By the end, the Chihuahuas put catcher, Christian Bethencourt, in to pitch.  Tim Hagerty said this was some kind of experiment by the Padres to develop a super utility player that could play any position.  Okay. 

This has to be my favorite Internet baseball story of the year, Ranking the Rockies Walk up Music.  At last, news I can use.  Before I even read it, I knew it was going to be Charlie Blackmon’s “Your Love” by the Outfield at number one.  Is there anything better in baseball on a weekly basis than hearing the Denver crowd finish the opening verse when he comes to bat?

4-28-17

I got the latest issue of Sports Illustrated in the mail today.  It sucking mess of player and coach puff pieces and typical media agenda items.  Thanks goodness I got this subscription for free.  But the last page commentary by Steve Rushin had me giggling for the rest of the day.  In a rambling piece about baseball, he mentioned the “butterscotch” voice of Giants broadcaster, Jon Miller.  “Miller’s is the voice you want to hear on your deathbed, narrating your life as it flashes before your eyes.”  Wow, Rushin totally nailed that.

It was a busy night at work with month end processing and a busy night in baseball.  The Aggie baseball team was playing GCU on TV.  The Aggie softball team was also playing GCU, which I could follow along on Statcast.  And the MLB free game featured the Rangers playing the Hated Angels.  (The Chihuahuas were rained out on the road thankfully.  Otherwise I might have been totally overloaded.)

The Aggie baseball game featured an overhead drone view of the stadium.  It was very impressive.  I’m sure MLB teams will likely start using them too in the near future.  I caught a glimpse of the son of a co-worker manning a camera in the opposing dugout.  (I told his mom later.  She was thrilled.)  There was a shot of the stands where Athletic Director Mario Moccia was sitting with the football coach, Doug Martin, and the new Men’s basketball coach, Chris Jans.  Jans went into the booth to chat in the fourth inning.  Is it a bad sign that GCU hit a home run to start that inning?

Just to add to the frenzy, I noticed on Youtube that someone had pirated the Red Sox/Cubs game and was broadcasting it live.  I checked in on it occasionally, but couldn’t stay and watch.  Meanwhile, after going down 8-nothing in the fourth and about to be run ruled in the fifth, Aggie Softball erupted for seven runs to make a game out of it. 

Wait, I see that 6’11” baseball player in the Aggie dugout.  He’s not a myth.  Inspired by the girls, the guys managed to tie the score 4-4 in the fourth.  Unfortunately, Aggie Softball pitching didn’t hold GCU and they lost 14-8.  In Arlington, the Rangers lost to the Hated Angels 6-3.  Eric Nadel made a suggestion for pick off throws: the pitcher gets two throws, then it’s a balk.  He’s gotten no support on this.   (My suggestion is that a throw to any base other than home is a ball.  Along with this, we get rid of the balk rule or have lines 10’ away from the bases that the runners can’t cross until the pitcher moves.)  

Aggie Baseball had a three run lead, but lost it on a home run in the eighth.  Ruger Rodriguez blew his first save of the year.  There’s a light rain where I am, but it doesn’t get to the stadium.  In the tenth, GCU scored the go ahead run on a passed ball strike out with the bases loaded.  Groan.  I’m physically hurt.  The Aggies lose 11-9.  What a disappointing night for baseball. 

         

4-29-17

NM State Aggies vs GCU Lopes Baseball

NM State Aggies vs GCU Lopes Softball

 4-30-17

NM State Aggies vs GCU Lopes Baseball

I hear this from Tim Hagerty during Game 2 of a double header sweep by Chihuahuas.  The starting Salt Lake City pitcher for Game 1 was ejected before the game.  The incident was described as “a miscommunication.”  Tim said the umpire had told the pitcher to move his chair in the bullpen.  When the pitcher argued, he got tossed.  He came in in Game 2 as a reliever and gave up five runs.  He should have stayed in the dugout.

NM State Aggies vs GCU Lopes Baseball 4-30-17

For some reason, Ron was insistent that we go the ballpark 45 minutes early.  Either he really wanted to see the teams take infield, or really wanted out of the house.  Ron was also eager to see an Aggie defeat.  He was actively predicting a Grand Canyon sweep this weekend.  He seems to get equally happy celebrating victories and anticipating setbacks. 

Today’s giveaway card was pitcher Dalton Shalberg.  I actually saw him talking to the attendant who was handing out the cards before the game.  Perhaps he wanted a couple for friends and family.  Another good crowd was in attendance.  The weather was much better than Saturday’s, though there was still a light cold breeze going.  The sun was out and the skies were clear.  Though cool, I did get a trifle red.  (Yes, I did have sun block on.  It didn’t work.)

Today, we had radio for the game.  Even better, we got to chat with broadcaster Adam Young before the game.  He was coming back from the bathroom and stopped to talk.  I finally got to tell him I enjoyed his call of the Women’s Basketball post season.  I also told him that he sounded depressed calling the Aggie baseball game versus Arizona in Tucson last week.  Adam admitted he was frustrated with the team there.  I was kind of hoping he’d tell me that he’d just been having personal problems.  You don’t want your broadcasters taking losses that hard.

I apologize here for doing some name-dropping in the conversation.  I don’t want to come off sounding like I actually really know sports and media people.  I had written Tim Hagerty, voice of the El Paso Chihuahuas, last week and told him he should come up Las Cruces to see a ball game sometime (next year, he’s busy right now).  Tim wrote back and said he knew Coach Brian Green well.  Adam had nice things to say about Tim and confirmed that he’d called a couple of basketball games here.  I had no idea.  I also mentioned Women’s Basketball player, Brandee Walton, who I’d talked to at the ballpark last week.  Adam smiled and his face lit up talking about her.  She just has that effect on people. 

Somewhat ruining this post, I’ll tell you that all of the Aggie highlights occurred before the game started.  After warm ups, I saw a couple of guys on field that I identified as probably being basketball players.  They were practicing pitching.  Presumably, they would be throwing out the first pitches.  Catcher Jason Bush was getting a workout, having to walk to backstop to recover their efforts.  Need I even remark on their throwing motions?  This was going to be interesting. 

Meanwhile, the umps were coming out on to the field.  Ruger quickly assumed a way-too-friendly home plate umpire pose behind Jason, essentially squat spooning him.  One of the umps came over and corrected them and showed Ruger the right posture. 

Shortly thereafter, the moment of truth came and the PA introduced Aggie Men’s Basketball stars, Ian Baker and Matt Taylor.  Undaunted by their practice session, they actually went to the bump to throw.  Ian’s throw went clear to the backstop.  He was lucky he hit the ground.  Matt’s throw bounced a couple of times and eventually rolled into the catcher’s mitt.  So much for being two-sport athletes.  Ian and Matt are seniors and hopefully graduating.  Good luck and thanks for the great season of Aggie basketball this year.  I did see them talking to a couple of people in the stands later.        

Okay, the actual game wasn’t quite as fun.  The Lopes scored 9 runs.  The Aggies got nothing.  There was no drama to spoil in this game by telling you that up front.  I’m not going to bother recounting all the scoring in a totally lopsided game.  I took about a paragraph’s worth of random notes. 

Joey Ortiz made a couple more great defensive plays in the top of the first.  He had a pick on a liner at his shoe tops and then a jump catch with the bases loaded that probably saved two or three runs (delaying the inevitable).  Joey got moved down in the order for this game, but unfortunately it didn’t help his hitting.  He’s still really good with the mitt.  In the top of the second, 6’11” Kody Jones made an on field appearance.  He was delivering balls to the ump for game.  I’m still fascinated and want to see him play. 

The softball team also arrived at the game, fashionably late and casually fashionable.  I might not have recognized them if they hadn’t come in as a group.  They clean up nice.  Unfortunately like the other young women at the stadium, they spent most of their time playing with their phones.  I was surprised and disappointed that the PA didn’t say something to recognize them, as they had just won a share of the conference regular season championship.  I wonder if the girls were as well, since the team got introduced at the ballpark a couple of years ago for winning the conference.  Maybe I should have gone over and said something.  (I’m pretty sure if they’d seen Ian and Matt’s first pitches, they would have told them that they throw like girls.)

I noticed the ballhawk kid was sporting a new (old) Aggie baseball jersey.  He must have been at the yard sale too.  He may grow into his, unlike me.  Even the team ballhawk was depressed this day, as he walked after fouls without any enthusiasm.  I was wearing my new jersey too.  This time it was tucked in.  I had my hat on backwards for a while, but that was just an ineffectual attempt at keeping the sun off my neck. 

In the sixth, a couple of young women behind us got excited about the Aggie trivia question and wanted to win it.  Unfortunately, they came up with the wrong answer as one of them set off to the pressbox.  I quickly told her that Brent Sakurai had the team lead in triples (which I knew without looking at the program).  I watched her give the answer to the attendant, and she did indeed win.  I didn’t get a “Thank you” when she got back.  Sheesh.  I wasn’t sure if they were pleased with the free What-a-Burger coupon or not.  They spent the rest of the game trying to figure out how to get more Twitter followers.  (I’m not kidding.)

There was an adorable little girl wandering around the aisles around us.  She was wearing a big bonnet and a big smile.  She waved around her two new Dalton Shalberg cards, obviously very happy.  Dalton would have been pleased if he’d seen her. 

By the seventh, I was actually rooting for the Lopes to get to 10 and run rule the game.  The radio never mentioned it, so it might not have been in effect.  I wish the PA would say something before the game about things like that.  In the eighth, Austin Botello made a great running catch in the outfield and into the wall.  It saved a run at least.  In the ninth, the Aggies got two on and the crowd actually cheered.  It didn’t even seem sarcastic.  Unfortunately, it came to nothing.  0-9 Lopes was our final.  The game took two hours and 59 minutes, but seemed longer.  Attendance was around 600, most of whom were highly disappointed.      

My player of the game is Jack Schneider of the Lopes for his seven innings of shutout starting pitching.  It was pretty much a team effort on the hitting.  The Aggies just didn’t show up for this game.  These are the series where you wonder if your team is ever going to win again.  The close loss Friday night may have set the stage for the team’s confidence steadily deteriorating until today’s pitching and hitting collapse.  Hopefully, they’re hitting bottom as a prelude to a rebound and another hot streak. 

“I hope you’re happy,” I said to Ron in the parking lot.  “I told you they weren’t going to win, dude.”  I asked to listen to the Chihuahuas game in progress when we got back into his car.  Tim Hagerty announced that the dogs just won, before going off the air for a break between double header games.  Well, that was good news and bad news.  (I’d listen to Game 2 when I got home.)

Inspired by our players’ walkup music (and since I need to pad this out to make it worth posting), I’ve composed my own rap.  I dedicate this to Aggie baseball.

Welcome to the Skew

At the N-M-S-U

In the LC

We make opposin’ teams pee

Pistol Pete is packin’

On your girlfriends we are mackin’

Your hits find our mitts

Your best pitcher

Is easier than our BP mista’

You got nuthin’ son

Just enjoy the view

Cause you in Las Cruces

And about to get Skewed

Okay, guys.  You promise to never to never get shutout at home while I’m watching, and I’ll promise to never compose anything else for you.  Oh, I’ve got more.  Don’t tempt me.

NM State Aggies vs GCU Lopes Softball Double Header 4-29-17

  

Ron and I arrived from the baseball stadium and joined Game 1 of the double header against Grand Canyon University in progress.  Freezing, Ron put on his new Aggie hoodie.  This may have been the first time I’ve seen him in long sleeves.  I put my jacket and ceased to be an obnoxious fan in a jersey.  Our baseball tickets did indeed get us into the game for no additional charge.  I picked up a rally towel on the way in.  (Later, they put out another batch for Game 2.  I got another two for other people.  I hope I didn’t deprive anyone.) 

Game 1

The stadium for the game was nearly full.  There were more GCU fans here than at the baseball stadium.  Ron’s favorite little fan was present.  She was wearing a cowboy hat and, admittedly, looked adorable.  I was sitting in a pile of sunflower seed shells at my feet.  (I hate slob fans).  We arrived in the top of the fourth with the Aggies up 3-2.  I didn’t bother with a scorecard, since it would have only been partially filled out.  We arrived at a dramatic moment.  GCU had two on and one out. Samaria Diaz got out of it, though that last out was a long fly ball to center. 

A little boy started crying in front of us.  An older lady front of him and his dad, who was holding him, told the boy that, “There’s no crying in softball.”  That didn’t help (and also isn’t true).  While there was another crying episode later (no idea why), he seemed to have a good time running around and playing with his sisters throughout the games anyway.  Shortly after we got there, the entire GCU baseball team arrived and sat up in the center of the stands with the other GCU fans.  It was hard not to be concerned about the balance of fan power shifting at that point.  It also made the Aggie baseball team look a little bad, though in retrospect, maybe it wouldn’t have been a good idea to have both teams in the stands together.

I noticed Kelsey Horton wasn’t in the field.  She came up to hit as the Designated Player in the bottom of the fourth and was clearly hurting.  I don’t know what happened to her.  No problem with her hitting though.  She promptly whacked a home run just over the wall to right center.  It was her fourteen of the year and I assume she’s still hitting well over .400.  Kaitlyn Rubio came up next and hit an even longer home run to the same place.  The inning ended with a runner thrown out at home, but 5-2 Aggies. 

I don’t think I’ve seen much of Kaitlyn playing, but bless her for being the only baseball or softball player with good walkup music (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell).  With Kelsey not in the field, there was some reshuffling with Kaityln at first and Fahren Glackin moved to left field.  This left the scrappy and dependable Amy Bergeson out of the game (I hope she’s not injured too).  Caity Szczesny was at second instead of right field, and Ron said he saw her limping at times, which might explain why she wasn’t in the outfield.

The GCU baseball players called for the giveaway shirts that were thrown into crowd.  One of them got one, but did hand it to an Aggie fan.  In the top of the fifth, the Lopes tied the score on a three-run homer.  Half the stadium erupted.  5-5 Tie.  The PA told the crowd to get up and dance.  A chubby young GCU fan worked it in aisles to the amusement of the baseball team.  Mid-fifth was the stretch and, knowing what was going to happen, I shouted out “Aggies!” for the “home team,” during “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”  Like visiting Cubs fans, the GCU fans tried to jump the song and shout out their team’s name.  

The baseball players also started jazzing the ump in the bottom of the inning.  Given this was something they couldn’t do safely during a game, they were laughing and clearly enjoying it.  On field, the Aggies managed to score two on an error.  Kelsey was intentionally walked.  Kaitlyn hit a two-run double.  Victoria Castro knocked in an RBI with a single.  The GCU baseball team started leaving in one’s and two’s, but later returned with hot dogs and such.  (I hope the concessions served our guests better food than I usually get.)  Alexis Maynez drove in two with a ball that hit the top of the outfield wall and bounced back in.  That was 7 runs and they batted around.  12-5 Aggies.

The PA announced that the team’s Thursday night game is Star Wars night and that they’d be giving away an Aggie Star Wars shirt.  Ron made plans to go.  I wonder if it’s the same Aggie Empire shirt I have.  Next inning, Victoria drove in two more runs to end the game on a run rule, 14-5 Aggies.  The GCU baseball team loaded up on a team bus outside to presumably head back to the hotel.  We retreated to Ron’s car to warm up before Game 2.  (No stars awarded for this game, since I didn’t see the whole thing.)

Game 2

Back in the heated bathroom at the stadium, because of all the layers I was wearing, I had trouble finding something while standing over the urinal.  Ron, also wearing layers, said he’d had the same issue.  We got hot chocolates and returned to the stands.  We still had a good crowd for this game.  The PA almost made it through the lineups before the game started.  The umps were not delaying the game under these cold conditions for anything.  She had to finish in the bottom of the first.   

Kayla Green started Game 2 for the Aggies.  Things got off to a rough start for her with a hit and an error.  A sacrifice, another hit, and a fielder’s choice drove in two Lope runs.  Megan Hart and Tatyana Battle entered the stadium to represent for the volleyball team, but the cold got the better of them after a few innings.  Athletic Director Mario Moccia also came in and sat by the pressbox and chatted with some fans. 

In the bottom, after a walk and a sacrifice, Kelsey was pitched around for another walk.  Kaitlyn had a long at bat that ended in another walk and bases loaded for Victoria Castro.  I was writing something at the crack of the bat.  I looked up and saw a bright, yellow softball sail over the scoreboard in center.  It was a grand slam home run and probably the furthest hit ball I’ve seen at the softball field.  This chased the Lopes starter out of the game.  A reliever finished off the inning.  A GCU fan caught a foul in the stands and gave it to an Aggie fan.  Unfortunately, they were only exchanging suckers for retrieved balls.  They may have run out of souvenirs since there were a bunch foul balls in these games.  4-2 Aggies after one. 

Kayla did not have a better second inning.  Four runs scored, three off a home run.  Her offspeed wasn’t going for strikes, and they were tee’ing off on her fastball.  GCU took the lead 4-6.  There was some kind of robbery on another t-shirt toss into the crowd.  I think one kid snatched a shirt from another.  He was boo’ed by the crowd.  In the bottom, Kelsey was issued another walk, but the Aggies didn’t score.  Hayley Nakamura’s at bat had the oddest play of the game.  One of her foul balls somehow lodged high up in the netting.  The ump gave it a shake to dislodge it to a round applause from the crowd.

The Aggies put up two runs in the third to tie it.  It was a circuitous route to get there.  Victoria took a strikeout to start the inning, but the umps lost count of the balls and strikes in the at bat.  Everyone was confused.  Fahren hit a solo home run and Caity took a walk after, but both had lengthy at bats, fouling off pitch after pitch.  They actually ran out of balls briefly.  Destiny Blueford came in for the Misty Hoohuli to drive in Caity.  Misty was probably given the start for Senior Day.  After the inning, I took some trash to a barrel and said, “Hi,” to the older lady we’d met at the Yard Sale.  She was also at the baseball game.    

Pom poms were tossed to the crowd.  The little girls in front of us went crazy for them.  In the bottom of the fourth, Kelsey was given another walk.  She came hobbling out for Amy Bergeson as her pinch runner.  With two on, Victoria came up to hit another home run.  This one went over the sponsor board in right center.  She was seeing the ball well tonight.  GCU went to another pitcher.  Ron identified her as the Game 1 pitcher.  Nikki Butler drove in another run to make the score 10-6 Aggies.

In fifth, Kayla gave up a double and a single that made the score 10-7.  Sam (Samaria) came back in to finish the inning.  Unfortunately in the sixth, she lost her stuff and gave up a run, leaving two on.  Coach Rodolph put Kayla back in.  I’ve seen Fahren used in spots this season.  There are two other Aggie pitchers listed on the program that I’ve never seen.  We’ll never know if Kayla had enough left in the tank to finish the game cleanly.  Destiny called off Caity on a short pop up to right field and dropped it.  This scored a run and put another runner on.  One out later, a three-run homer sailed over the center field fence and gave GCU the lead, 10-12.  (I admit I never quite figured out who the #6 hitter was for the Lopes.  It seemed to change every inning.)

The Aggies were able to get some runners on in the fifth (including another intentional walk to Kelsey) and the sixth, but couldn’t bring them around.  The Lopes started off the seventh with a home run that seemed to break the Aggies fans’ spirits.  In the bottom of the seventh, with no one on, one out, and a three run lead, they finally pitched to Kelsey, who seemed to be hurting worse with each plate appearance.  She promptly singled to center.  Victoria unfortunately struck out with two on, which she also did in the fifth.  The third Lopes pitcher seemed to be fooling her with offspeed stuff.  And the game ended on a ground out.  Lopes 13, Aggies 10. 

It was like watching Shakespearean tragedy.  There was even a cackling crone, namely a GCU fan that was screaming her head off for her team on every rally.  Our easy star of the game is Victoria Castro, who drove in seven of the Aggies’ 10 runs.  I don’t know what Kelsey Horton’s injury was or how it happened, but even hurt she scared the hell out the opposition.  She gets the newly created Grim Determination award.  The star of the game for GCU would appear to be Aggie pitching, which left no lead safe.  I suspect the problem here is overwork on arms not yet ready to take on this much stress (maybe next year). 

In any case, with the Game 1 win, the Aggies are conference co-champs, and since Grand Canyon isn’t eligible for post-season play, that means the Aggies get the number one seed in the tournament.  (Take that crone!)  With the loss, a hasty Senior Day ceremony was conducted.  The PA recognized the seniors on GCU, as their team lined up on first base foul line.  Aggies, Misty Hoohuli and Haley Nakamura, two the team’s three island girls from Hawaii were given a presentation. 

With that, Ron and I finally left the campus.  By the time I got home (waving off any talk of dinner), it was after 9:30.  Figuring in the hour we spent having lunch indoors, we spent over eight hours outdoors in cold and windy conditions.  At least it didn’t rain, and we got to see one win today in between two hard losses, and I got a baseball jersey out of it.      

NM State Aggies vs GCU Lopes Baseball 4-29-17

Welcome to “The Longest Day.”  We start at the Aggie Athletics Yard Sale.  This event was suddenly announced on various Aggie Internet feeds earlier in the week and then in paper.  I don’t think they’ve done this before.  I mentioned it to Ron, and he was interested in going.  We got there about 15 till 12:00, which was the announced start time.  As we pulled up, there was already a mob scene picking over the items that had been unloaded from the Aggie football trailer.  Yeah, apparently there was a market for used Aggie sports stuff in town.

The makeshift yard sale was being held on the largely unused practice field between the baseball and softball fields.  At the gate, there were a couple of young women were handing out free Subway sandwiches.  They had a box full of them.  I declined, since we were planning on getting lunch before the game, right after shopping, but that was very nice of them.  Inside were a huge number of football jerseys hanging on the fence and on tables.  As tempted as I was, I passed on them, doubting I could find my size, and moreover, doubting I’d have much use for them.  The prices on the jerseys had already been reduced from $25 to $10. 

This was good, since I’d found a couple of baseball jerseys, which was what I’d come looking for.  I picked the likeliest one to come close to fitting me.  So, now I’m officially an obnoxious sports fan (as pictured above).  There were also a pile of athletic shoes, but, as I found out later, all of the normal people sizes were bought by a local retailer for $700.  There were a bunch of women’s volleyball jerseys that probably would have fit me, but the women’s cut on them, wouldn’t have made me look good.  There were light jackets, shorts, and sweats too, but all in extremely large sizes. 

Ron picked up a few items, including an Aggie hoodie.  Somehow, in a pile of plain athletic t-shirts, I found one medium shirt.  I considered myself lucky.  The exit line to the two checkers was very long.  We met a nice older lady that frequented Aggie games there.  Also very nice were the people running the checkouts, especially given the crowd.  I did notice a member of the Aggie soccer team, who I think was working there.  I got separated from Ron while I was looking at girl who uncannily reminded me of somebody, and spent another 10 minutes in line.    

Having some time before the baseball game, we went to Schlotzsky’s for lunch.  I ordered the brisket mac and cheese, which was a nice warm dish, which was what I needed.  Journalism calls this “burying the lead.”  You see, it was about 50 degrees with a 20 mph cold wind, making it miserable outside.  There were also big, heavy clouds overhead, which thankfully today didn’t produce any rain.  Though layered up, I was already cold, and we planned on seeing the scheduled baseball and softball games today.  Also having lunch there today was the Aggie Men’s Tennis team.  They were a very international lot of fellows.  (Unfortunately it wasn’t the girl’s team.  I would have liked to have seen if Eli Arnaudova is as gorgeous in real life as her pictures on the Aggie sports website.) 

I found out Ron had actually been at last night’s baseball game against Grand Canyon University.  This surprised me, since he’d e-mailed me that night and asked where he could get the game online.  I told him it was on the Aggievision station on cable, but what he was really looking for was a radio game call, since he was there.  That game was a bit of a heartbreaker.  During the game, he chatted with Athletic Director Mario Moccia.  They mostly talked about the game, so no insider information this time.

At the stadium, we discovered that that wind was blowing straight into the stands.  Oh boy.  The pressbox was empty, so no game call today either.  Ron found today’s giveaway card of Marcel after the game started.  (He never found the Ruger Rodriguez card that was supposed to be handed out on Friday.)  Today’s PA voice was very chatty.  He mentioned that the average temperature this time of year is 90 degrees.  “Somehow, we’ll persevere.”  I finally recognized him as the soccer PA, whose call of the halftime fan competitions was one of the most entertaining things at those soccer matches.  Before the game, he announced that today’s baseball ticket would get you into the softball match for free.  Presumably, this was because the scheduled events were going to overlap.  It was nice gesture to the fans. 

I had a great view of the low-hanging clouds around the Organ Mountains from my seat.  Ron got a text from his wife at home.  She was reporting rain and hail.  Thankfully, no harm done, and it wasn’t anywhere near the stadium.  A fellow with Parkinson’s Disease running a support group threw out the first pitch.  It was a lefty toss that “Caught the outside corner for a strike,” as the PA said.  (And it did actually.)  He got a big hand from the crowd and congratulations from the entire team.  If you can believe it, the crowd was great, in spite of the weather.  They were bundled up and many had blankets.  We had a celebrity sitting next to us, Striking the Wonder Dog, who retrieves tees at Aggie football games.  Oh, how I wanted to leap over and hug and pet said dog, but his human support staff didn’t seem keen on fan interaction (no matter how longingly or often I looked at the dog).

“Yeah these Grand Canyon guys are nuthin’!  We’re gonna send ‘em back to their hole and bury them!  These guys suck!” said an obnoxious fan in his new baseball jersey.  After a couple comments like that, Ron couldn’t look at me without laughing.  Meanwhile in the outfield, smoke from the Diamond Club barbeque drifted out onto the field.  Music from the nearby softball field, were practice was going on, was also coming into the baseball stadium, providing something of a soundtrack for the first half of the game.      

And a thousand words into this, we start the actual game recap (which probably won’t take a thousand words).  Kyle Bradish started for the Aggies with his 6-0 record.  In the first, freshman Joey Ortiz, who’s slumping with the bat, shows why he’s in the lineup anyway, his glove.  On the first batter of the game, he ran down a foul by the bullpen, and then caught the second out in foul territory.  In the bottom of the first, Striking laid down and took a nap.  That seemed like a bad sign.

The top of the second ended with a great leaping catch on a liner by Tristan Carranza.  By the bottom of the inning, Striking’s owner was holding him.  I came to the conclusion I needed a dog on cold days like this.  There was some confusion in booth.  They started alternating between different announcers, and forgot to announce Brian Kiser in his at bat.  I actually stepped up and shouted it out myself.  This new shirt was having an effect on me.

The top of the third was eventful.  The bottom line is that three Lope runs scored.  Bradish walked three in a row, including walking in a run.  During a long meeting on the mound, a GCU fan shouted, “Get a phone number!  Let’s go!”  I wonder if he was wearing a team jersey.  A guy wearing the same style jersey I was walked in.  It got huffy for a moment, like we’d shown up at a party wearing the same dress.  (That might not have been the best analogy.)  The inning finally ended on a nifty flip from LJ Hatch to Brent Sakurai at second.  0-3 Lopes.

The sun finally came out in the top of the fourth, but it didn’t help the wind or temperature.  Austin Botello made a great running, over the shoulder catch in the outfield.  LJ followed that with a great stop on a dive and throw to first for the final throw.  Unintelligible notes follow.  I probably couldn’t feel my fingers at that point, but the scorecard shows that the Aggies bookended an error with a couple of hits to score twice.  Unfortunately, Bradish surrendered a two-run homer in the next inning.  2-5 Lopes.

By the top of the sixth, I’m in the bathroom.  It’s heated, and I don’t want to leave.  Going back to my seat, I see the Lopes’ left fielder make a great diving catch to rob LJ of a hit.  By the top of the seventh, the first game of the softball double header had started.  The girl PA was doing the announcing.  There was lots of yelling from there from this point on, but no telling who was winning.  Two guys in front of us were discussing the yard sale, but then switched over to NFL Draft talk IN EXCRUCIATING DETAIL.  (I can’t escape it.  The Draft is my least favorite sporting event, perhaps because it isn’t actually a sporting event.)  Bradish surrendered another run and gave way to a parade of relievers, who ended up giving up another run.  Lopes 7, Aggies 2.  The end.  (I stopped taking notes after the sixth.)

My player of the game is easily Lopes’ starting pitcher, Jake Repavich.  He went 8 and 1/3 and gave up 2 runs, 1 earned.  The best I can say for the Aggies is that their fielding kept the score from being worse.  From here, Ron and I made our way the softball field to see what all the fuss was about there.

   

NM State Aggies vs Northern Colorado Bears Baseball 4-23-17

This is my fourth day in a row writing game recaps.  I may be a little unenthusiastic here.  Sunday started pretty cool with a cold, stiff breeze.  Thankfully, it warmed up and the wind died down pretty quickly after the game started.  Ron was with me for today’s game.  We entered the gate with university President Gary Caruthers in front of us.  He stuck around and took in most of the game, but didn’t go up for a radio interview.  Missing breakfast, I picked up a soda and popcorn at the concessions.  Then I picked up an Austin Botello card at the courtesy table.  Unfortunately, I left my tickets there.  Some nice person put them under a weight, and I found them there after a couple of frantic minutes of searching myself. 

Before the game started, Ron went back out to get a hot dog, which he must have inhaled, as he was back for the anthem.  The four-time conference winning Women’s Golf team threw out the first pitches, and then they shook hands with the team.  Given how major league players love golf and that the golf team seems pretty good looking, I’d think they might be fairly popular with the baseball team. 

Adam Young and Nolan Fox on the radio broadcast mentioned that this game was under a curfew, though that cutoff time was four and half hours away.  Both teams certainly played quickly anyway.  Andy Frakes started the game for the Aggies and immediately helped himself out, snagging a soft liner at him and recording a put out at first.  He had a five pitch first inning.  With the Bears up to bat, I have to mention how much I like their helmets.  They’re a shiny, sparkling blue, none of that dull, flat matte finish crap that major league teams are using these days.

The bottom of the inning brought in a few more spectators to an already decent crowd (attendance 557, or something close to that).  A small murder of crows camped out in centerfield briefly.  They didn’t cause any problems, but did later scatter when a hit rolled by.  Aggie hitting caused Bear starter, Aaron Hamilton, some issues though.  Eight men came up to bat and five of them scored.  The runners were also very aggressive on the basepads, including a double steal.  The big blow was a Mason Fishback three-run homer that put the Aggies up 5-0 after one.  That shot actually hit the scoreboard in left center and bounced back onto the field.

Frakes worked a fast top of the second by throwing strikes, only 14 pitches so far.  I’ll go ahead and make a quick summary of the next five innings of Aggie at bats: Fishback worked a walk in the fourth.  (He then got his first steal on a delayed steal no less.)  Don’t worry.  I’ll add some details.  Adam and Nolan talked about Brent Sakurai’s parents from Hawaii being in town.  They’re going to be around for a couple of weeks to see him play and travel to Tucson this week for another one of his games.  They’re even coming back next month for Senior Day.  That is showing some support for your kid and racking up the frequent flyer miles.  Of course, if you already live in Hawaii, where would you bother going with a free trip? 

In the third, a Bear runner got to second.  Frakes and Sakurai started exchanging complicated signs in between pitches.  I hope that was just an elaborate decoy and not for real.  Aggie hitting did not help themselves out.  In the bottom of the third, the home plate umpire made a late call on a borderline pitch as Tristan Carranza was already starting down the line for a presumed walk.  Carranza jogged backward to continue his at bat to amusement of the crowd, but probably not the umpire, who ended up ringing him up on the next pitch. 

The Bears manufactured a run in the fourth after a double, 5-1 Aggies, but the Aggie defense really helped out Frakes to limit the damage.  Brent made a great play running to his right and falling away to throw out a runner.  Marcus Still in center robbed a sure double, running and diving flat out to make a catch and end the inning.  How did he come up with that?  I hope somebody got video of that play.

Frakes gave way to Matt McHugh in the fifth.  A leadoff double would later score on a passed ball, 5-2 Aggies.  The most exciting play was a high popup that threatened to fall into the stands.  The girl who brought the freshly baked cinnamon rolls yesterday got up and ran away from the projected impact point.  I think I saw her with Carranza after the game.  He should teach her how to catch a fly ball.  Got to see the Infield Fly rule invoked in this inning, which was a good thing, since LJ Hatch dropped it on the transfer, or he was trying to deke out the runner at second.  Some interesting fan gear showed up.  A kid was wearing, I swear, a Fresno Tacos hat.  His dad had on a more conventional Chihuahuas hat.  In the bottom of the fifth, Brent struck out looking on a pitch that looked well outside.  Was the ump still mad?  Botello then struck looking on another questionable call to end the inning.  Yep, still mad. 

Top of the sixth, and it’s a banner day.  I finally get the Aggie trivia question.  I’d figured out, and I’m letting you in on this, that their questions are all based on information on that day’s program.  “When did Coach Brian Green graduate from NMSU?”  I waited for a few seconds to see if any kids were running to the pressbox, then I went.  As I opened my mouth to give the give answer to the stadium staff member, a lady at the end of the row shouted out the answer.  “He was here first ma’am.”  So I got the free What-a-Burger coupon.  On the way back to my seat, a guy asked me about my “Aggie Empire” Star Wars-inspired shirt.  It was from Aggie sponsor, Sports Accessories, of course, and would indeed be a great gift for a Star Wars fan and NMSU alumni.  But it wasn’t a complete trip to the pressbox.  I was hoping to get a peek at the female PA voice.

Kris Krosses’ “Jump” started off the seventh.  Well, I enjoyed it anyway.  In the bottom of the inning, the Aggies finally got something going on the bases and knocked Hamilton out of the game.  With the bases loaded, Botello was hit by a pitch by the new pitcher to force in a run, 6-1 Aggies.  And another late strike call on Dan Hetzel to bring him back from a walk. 

Well, there is some equity in the eight.  A delayed strike call brought back a Bear hitter.  But after a walk, McHugh gave way to Kyle Bradish.  Adam was surprised that the Aggies’ ace starter, who’d been given the weekend off was brought in, but I was not.  I’m sure Coach Green wanted to make sure that Bradish didn’t get rusty from being off too long.  For his first relief outing, he worked a seemingly effortless inning and 2/3 to end the game and get his first save.  Our final was Aggies 6, Bears 2.  We were done in a tidy two and half hours, and the Aggies won without getting nine hits for the first time this season.

With this sweep, the Aggies go to 11-1 in conference.  After the game, the Northern Colorado players lined to shake hands with the Aggies.  My stars of the game are Mason Fishback for his first inning three-run homer and all three Aggie pitchers.  Certainly, Marcus Still’s “Superman” catch in the fourth will make the end of year highlight reel, if not go viral.  Aaron Hamilton also gets a star.  He had a rough first inning, but really settled down impressively after that.  I should be happier with the win, and pizza and frozen custard for dinner, but conversation about my future at work put me a funk.  There’s also a dilemma for next Saturday as Aggie baseball and softball host GCU at conflicting times.  How to choose?  

NM State Aggies vs Northern Colorado Bears Baseball 4-22-17

I was flying solo today with Ron having a family lunch.  I was still happy to go on such a beautiful day in the high 80’s and a breeze to keep things cool.  The Aggies had nearly won last night by run rule, so I was excited to see if the streak would continue.  I think I was behind second baseman, Brent Sakurai’s, family in line for tickets.  I wonder if they brought any pineapples with them from Hawaii to be the team’s new mascot.

I picked up three player cards on the courtesy table inside.  Cool.  At the concessions trailer, I got a hot dog, corn in a cup, and $1 ice cream.  I had issues with the ballpark food at the Diablos game this week, but this hot dog’s bun went stale before I finished it.  The food just isn’t that great at Aggie events (except for the cinnamon roasted almonds, which aren’t available at every event).  The crowd was pretty good inside, but it was great when it came to enthusiasm.    

The girl announcer was back for this game.  It seemed like she turned down the flirting when introducing the players.  Maybe some players’ girlfriends said something.  She got through 2/3 of the visitor’s lineup before having to stop to introduce Bernie Olivas of the Sun Bowl selection committee, who threw out the first pitch.  She also welcomed a little league team to the game, who shouted “Play ball!” after the player introductions.  (There was also a “Go Cardinals!” shout.  I’m not sure what that was about.)  I appreciated that the stadium music volume was a little lower for this game (though the music kept getting cut off instead fading out).  Again, the Diablos game had music going all the time, but it never got overpowering.  That’s the way it should be.

There was no radio for the game, since it was an Aggievision TV game.  Given that my scorecard didn’t add up with the scoreboard at the end, I could have used Adam Young’s help as usual.  He probably interviewed Bernie during the game.  I wonder why he was not only at a baseball game, but at a rival university (as he’s affiliated with UTEP).  NM State Athletic Director Mario Moccia went up to the booth during the game.  Once again, he probably had to talk about losing another coach.  More on that in a moment. 

Jonathan Groff started off the game on the mound for the Aggies.  He was working pretty slow in the early innings, which turned out to be a good thing here.  After two previous chances [4-4-17 and 4-15-17], I finally got to congratulate somebody on the Women’s Basketball team on having a great season.  Brandee Walton, who had charmed the heck out of me when I got her autograph earlier this year, came to me.  She was working with the stadium staff for game and was going around handing out player baseball cards to the fans.  Unfortunately, this may not have been the greatest day to talk Aggie basketball with Brandee.  She seemed a bit down and have a lot on her mind, and there was good reason for that. 

Oh, I hate to backtrack and talk basketball here, especially since this was such a great baseball game.  I talked about this with a bunch of people I know, but not on the blog, because there wasn’t a reason to.  Last week, Men’s Basketball Coach Paul Weir left the program to go to coach our arch-rivals UNM in Albuquerque.  It was just a money move and upset a lot of fans.  Yesterday (Friday), Women’s Coach Mark Trakh left to go coach the USC Women’s Basketball team.  While this may likely be devastating loss for the Aggie program, it is a good move for Coach Trakh that he’s earned, and I wish him well.  It’s been a bad two weeks for Aggie fans and certainly the players too.         

With that context, I congratulated Brandee and told her how proud the fans were of the team’s performance this season, but had to ask her about the coach.  She sat down next to me, and we actually talked for a couple of minutes.  I feel like I'd be violating some kind of implied trust by writing out our short conversation, since what she told me isn't public knowledge and may be personal too.  Since I didn't tell her I'd be blogging about meeting her, it doesn't seem right to write it out.  Suffice to say, Brandee is sad about the coach leaving, and she is a wonderful person.  (Given some of the embarrassing personal stuff I've written about myself on this blog, restraint is going to seem like an alien concept.)

Back to the game.  In the second, Groff worked into some trouble.  The Bears used some “small ball” to manufacture a run, but it was just one.  0-1 Bears.  In the third, a member of the Women’s Golf team was present and recognized over the PA.  The team had won the conference for the fourth time in a row.  The girl seemed a bit embarrassed, even though she’s obviously great.  Inspired, Brent Sakurai drove in Marcus Still to tie the score in that inning.  He did it by beating out an infield hit that hit third base.  Hustle and luck.  By this inning, the fans, who were into the game, were getting annoyed with the strike zone.  It seemed a bit wide.  “Good guess, ump!” said one of them. 

Groff seemed to be working faster, but unfortunately gave up a home run to the first batter of the fourth.  1-2 Bears.  Again, the damage was limited.  A little leaguer went out for the broken glass challenge.  Unfortunately, he never got close to hitting the pane.  I hope he wasn’t the team’s pitcher.  A young couple sat down behind me in the bottom of the inning.  The girl made the immediate observation that the field needs a new scoreboard.  It really heartened me to hear them talk baseball and get into the game. 

Here came the fifth and Sakurai drove in another run to tie the score.  We went to the sixth.  Aggie trivia asked, “Who’s the tallest player on the team?”  I quickly consulted the program and, as usual, got the wrong answer.  Okay, but seriously, Kody Jones?  Who?  He’s a junior and (gasp) 6’11”?  Are you kidding me?  And this guy isn’t on the basketball team?  Also in this inning, a foul ball bounced off the press box and rebounded off the inside of the net.  No injuries.  And a fan came in wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers hat and a White Sox t-shirt.

Oh, what happened on field in the sixth?  Groff had his final inning.  The first two batters grounded out, and he struck out the final batter.  Unfortunately, he gave up another home run in between.  The wind seemed to alternate between knocking fly balls down and helping them out.  2-3 Bears.  To start the bottom, Austin Botello doubled and Dan Hetzel drove him in with another double.  This tied the score and chased the Bear’s starter.  Mason Fishback would bring in Hetzel, and Marcus Still would single in LJ Hatch (which was the card Brandee was handing out).  A third Bear pitcher got the last two outs to end the inning.  Finally, a big inning and the lead, 5-3 Aggies.

The seventh was the pivotal inning.  Alex Reyes started the frame.  He gave up a hit to the first Bear batter.  On the second batter, Brent made a great stop and, falling away from first, made the play on the runner.  Unfortunately, two walks and a hit batter later, and it was 5-4 Aggies.  Dalton Shalberg was brought in with the bases loaded and one out.  Whoever said baseball is boring has obviously not sat through one of these kind of high tension situations.  Shalberg was up to it.  A high popup to short, kept the runners from advancing and a strikeout looking ended the inning.  The crowd came to its feet, applauding, and Shalberg got a hero’s welcome in the dugout. 

In the bottom, Botello once again got it started with a single.  Hetzel then blasted a homer to left center.  The fielder scaled the wall trying to bring it back, but it was gone.  7-4 Aggies.  Meanwhile in this inning, a foul bunt actually popped high into the stands.  No harm done.  A gentleman picked it up and gave it to a little leaguer nearby.  Elsewhere, a young woman came back to her families’ seats bearing freshly baked cinnamon rolls.  What?  Where did these come from?  A guy came in with a couple of Coke Zeros earlier, and I was jealous enough.  I need some better friends at the ballpark.

Joey Ortiz had a quiet game hitting, but still had the mitt and ended the top of the eighth with a great pick and throw.  I’m still wondering about what I thought I saw in the bottom of the inning.  Greg Popylisen popped up to the pitcher with two on.  He then handed his helmet to Sakurai, who used it for his at bat.  I can’t have seen that right.  Aggie closer, Ruger Rodriguez came in for the ninth.  Firing 90+, he struck out the first two batters.  The crowd was clapping and stomping on the next two hitters, hoping for a strikeout.  They had two strikes on them, but both managed to single.  Brent was injured diving for one of those hits, but stayed in the game.  Ruger finally gave the crowd a backward “K” as he struck out the last batter looking.  Aggies 7, Bears 4, Crowd happy and exhausted.      

The game went three and half hours, but when it’s tight, tense, and has multiple lead changes, that’s okay.  I’m glad it was a passionate crowd that got to see this game.  They deserved it.  Let’s give the fan star award to, I think, Marcus Still’s family.  They were the loudest cheerers during the game, encouraging all the players.  They got the crowd singing “Sweet Caroline” in the eighth.  After the game, they were dancing to Kool and Gang’s “Celebrate.”  My star players of the game are Dalton Shalberg, for preserving that one run lead in the seventh, and Dan Hetzel, for his seventh inning two-run homer to put the game away.  The Aggies are now 10-1 in conference.  This may have been their first come from behind win this season, and they did it three times today!

Walking out, I saw Brandee shepherding the little leaguers in the “kiss and cry” area to meet the players.  She seemed extra stressed.  It’ll work out for her.  Outside the stadium a couple of, well, hot chicks were lounging by an RV with a barbeque going.  They even had Adam Young’s post game going on a TV inside.  When Coach Brian Green said he wanted this to be an RV/tailgate program, this must have been what he meant.  What a tremendous day at the ballpark.  

El Paso Diablos vs Tacoma Rainiers 4-19-17 Part 2

Continued from Part 1

It took me long enough in this recap to get to the first inning.  Actually this game was the best part of being at the game.  Chuck and I were both keeping scorecards, but he’d forgotten to bring a pencil, so I lent him my pen, which had consequences later. 

Chris Heston started the game for the Rainiers.  This was a bit of a surprise for me, since I didn’t know where he’d gotten to lately.  The last I’d heard of him, Heston had pitched a no hitter for the San Francisco Giants in New York.  There was some brief hope he’d be the next great Giants pitcher.  I was using that winning image as my wallpaper for a while.  Likewise, I’d watched Rainier second baseman, Gordon Beckham, play several times for the White Sox, and he was one of my favorite players on the team.  (And now, WGN America doesn’t even show baseball games.) 

The night started well for the Diablos as pitcher, Tyrell Jenkins, had a clean inning to start the game.  In the bottom, Franchy Cordero led off with a triple and was driven in by Corey Spangenberg. 1-0 Diablos.  The top of the second had three plays I’m still in shock over.  The first batter grounded to Spangenberg at third, who dropped it.  As I was looking down to write “E5” on my scorecard, I looked up and saw that he had thrown out the runner.  ALWAYS WATCH THE ENTIRE PLAY BEFORE MARKING IT.  Jenkins walked the next batter.  He then picked off the runner, who hadn’t even strayed far enough to try to dive back.  It seemed like he tripped or came off the bag.  Jenkins walked the next batter.  He picked him off and the runner was diving back.  Two pick offs in a row?  Every time I think I’ve seen everything in a ballgame, I’m surprised shortly thereafter. 

The bottom of the second didn’t have much action, but I did suddenly see Chico in the upper level Westar Bank section casting a fishing line down in to the lower level.  I’m not sure what was going on there.  Also, a huge military cargo jet flew over.  It just seemed to defy gravity.  The biggest play of the entire third inning was a foul ball that fell into a nearby section and was dropped by a fan, who was boo’ed.  The people next to us were pretty loud and having a good time with audience participation.  They got right into the “We want a hit!” chant.  When the player at bat got a free pass, they changed to “We’ll take a walk!”  Dance Cam between halves featured a couple of attendants dressed as Diamond Girls dancing to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

Clank!  Rainier Daniel Vogelbach bounced a two-run home run ball off the sign on the Big Dog House in right field.  Jenkins finished the fourth inning with a strikeout and two on in scoring position.  1-2 Rainiers, and that could have been worse.  The Diablo half of the fourth started off with a great Rainier defensive play, as DJ Peterson caught a foul ball going into the third base camera well.  OMG, are the fans in front of us using a selfie stick?  Sitting at a ball game, you need a selfie stick, really?  I’m just embarrassed.  Thankfully, the players didn’t notice. 

Spangenberg had a great diving stop and put out to start the fifth.  Meanwhile, catcher Tony Cruz earned his pay, getting hit on a backswing.  No obvious harm done.  Diego Goris tied it for the Diablos on a monster solo home run into the centerfield green seats (the elevated lawn overlooking the field).  Back in the old Diablo days, players hitting a home run would stand beside the stands by the dugout with their helmet out.  Fans would line up to give them tip money for the shot.  (I’m thinking probably a couple of phone numbers too.)  Yes, really.  Tips for home runs.  Cruz then doubled (I told you he was fine) and Franchy singled him home to give the team the lead.  3-2 Diablos.  

Chuck had gotten up to get a meal in this inning, and I continued his scorecard for him.  Of course, the hardest play of the game to score came up.  Rainier catcher Tuffy Gosewich attempted to pick off Carlos Asuaje on second.  The throw went into centerfield.  Asuaje hesitated for a second, then broke for third, where he was put out by the centerfield.  I have this as a Caught Stealing, but I think the official record disagrees.  Needless to say, the third base umpire was not a popular person after that play.  Thereafter, he got a steady stream of abuse on any call involving him, perhaps correctly.  In the sixth, the Rainiers answered with a run driven in to tie the score. 

In the top of the seventh, I ran out to get a drink refill and a pizza pretzel.  I still kept up with the game, via radio and a TV monitor by the concessions (clever).  I did miss the grounds crew dragging the base paths and doing a dance routine to Seals & Crofts’ “Diamond Girl.”  I think the PA called them the “Diamond Boys.”  The significance of this goes back the Diamond Girls that used to perform at Diablos games.  They were the team cheerleaders in little shorts and tops in team colors.  I think they were high school girls.  They’d sashay to the top of the dugout and perform a cheer routine to the song.  It was attention-getting.  I’m sure there are plenty of El Paso high school cheerleader girls, who’d be happy to perform this summer, if given an outfit and some direction.

Meanwhile in the Diablos’ half of the inning, a single, a sacrifice, and a hit by Spangenberg brought in Cordero to give the team a 4-3 lead.  The top of the eighth featured some kind of ice bucket Diablos’ trivia challenge with the loser getting wet.  In the eighth, the wheels came off for Rainier pitching.  Nine men came to the plate with five of them scoring.  However, this was not without controversy. 

Goris’ apparently hit a bases clearing double to center, only to have one of the runners called back to third.  The ball had bounced out of play and was ruled a ground rule double.  The crowd muttered in confusion, not having the radio call on like I did.  The new “pitch-less” intentional walk sent a runner to first without any preamble.  Tim Hagerty on the radio seemed to disapprove of the new rule.  I’m not sure what the fans thought. 

With the bases loaded, Asuaje sent a high fly ball into the near unobservable left field corner.  It looked out, but the third base umpire ruled it fair.  Chuck, using a pen, scratched this into his scorecard.  The video started to show a replay, and then immediately stopped before showing the ball in flight.  Meanwhile, the umpires convened and then sent the runners back to the bases.  You can imagine the crowd’s reaction, even knowing that was probably the right call.  Chuck’s scorecard was wrecked.  Back at the plate, Asuaje did go ahead and rap a two-run single.  9-3 Diablos. 

The ninth inning entertainment featured a girl in an NM State shirt playing a balloon-pumping game.  Good to see we weren’t the only Las Cruces natives in the park.  The Rainiers did score one run to bring the final score to Diablos 9, Rainiers 4.  The most exciting moment of the inning was actually a foul ball that hit the roof.  Experienced fans started yelling immediately and about three seconds later, the ball rolled back off and into a, thankfully, deserted section.  It’s that proximity of danger that makes the game so involving.  I give my star of the game to Diego Goris, mostly for his home run.   

After unfortunately having to end my brief affair with our usher, I went to the bathroom.  Again, I hit my head on the shelf over the urinal.  Next time, I’m using a toilet in a stall.  If traffic getting to the stadium was bad, we had no idea how much worse it would be on the way back.  Construction shutdown two lanes of the interstate, and it took a half hour just to get past it, and then another half hour to get home.         So the trip was bad, we missed the giveaway, and I didn’t like the expensive, ballpark food.  But gosh darn it, we had a great time.  Credit the great game and the atmosphere, including the cute girls and throwback uniforms.  Good show Diablos.  I’ll probably be back again before the construction finishes in another year, but I’ll certainly enjoy it more when it is done.