CLICK HERE for updated team and players statistics through Game #18For the first time in four years of Warriors' baseball, the team narrowly avoided a forfeit. The Warriors lost both games of the tournament doubleheader--in large part due to absent players. In fact, the top four offensive players (according to our statistical leaderboard) missed one or both games of the doubleheader.
I'm proud of the nine players who battled in that second game--nearly upsetting a 3-0 Elmhurst team despite being short-handed.
The Southside Hitmen had too much fire power for the Warriors in the first game. The Hitmen scored 11 runs on 11 hits, while the Warriors were held to just two hits in the game (by Robbie Maxfield and Jack Lebert). Robbie was particularly impressive as a lead off hitter--reaching base twice and putting the ball in play each time against a tough pitcher who struck out 12 hitters in this outing.
Ryan Novak battled as the Warriors' starting pitcher for six innings against the hard hitting Hitmen in very hot, humid conditions. When the Hitmen broke the game open with four unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning after a two out infield error, I went out to the mound to make a pitching change. Ryan convinced me to let him finish the inning--and got the hitter to tap a grounder back to the mound to end the inning. It's players like Ryan (and we have several), and the toughness he demonstrates under the most difficult conditions, that motivate me to continue coaching youth baseball.
It's also players like Ryan Knightly who give me confidence that what I'm doing still makes some sense. Despite being unable to play baseball due to a broken bone, he continues to call whenever he is unable to attend a team event! He felt bad that he was out of town and unable to be at the games to support the team today.
Once the first game ended, the Warriors were faced with an exodus as players scattered to participate in other events. However, C.J. Brucki rejoined the team and the Warriors called up its new alternate, Roberto Gonzalez, to bring the roster to nine--the minimum number to play the game.
As it turned out, the Warriors were fully capable of beating the Elmhurst Wildcats--even with the reduced roster. Some timely hits early by the Wildcats, a lack of timely hitting by the Warriors and some questionnable calls by the umpires led to a late inning rally by the Wildcats. With just a little deeper roster, this game was very winnable.
Tim Prendergast threw four good innings for the Warriors. He allowed five runs--four of which scored after two out singles by the Wildcats. Allowing five runs was reasonable given the small strikezone--and it was good enough to have the Warriors in a tie game going into the fifth inning of play.
The Warriors continued to threaten in this one--but rarely produced a timely hit. Twice the team failed to score despite getting a runner to third base with less than two outs. The Warriors managed just six hits in this game--and just eight hits throughout the entire doubleheader.
Another promising sign was Tyler Knight's performance. Tyler reached base three times in the second game--including a double to deep rightfield. He also pitched a scoreless seventh inning--and had some real pop on his fastball. The Warriors will be taking a closer look at Tyler's pitching during tomorrow morning's game.
