May 2 - @ Inferno

With the rain forcing the cancellation of Friday's game, it was almost a sure thing that Saturday's game would be rained out as well. But no, a small lull in the weather, prompted the decision to play as many games as possible on a full Saturday schedule. Announcements would come on a game by game basis, but as we were one of the early games that day, our game was on. Since our previous game was rescheduled, we faced the Inferno for a 2nd time in a row.

1st Inning
Purple Lightning up to bat 1st. Trying to avenge last game's loss, the Inferno put in their starting pitcher. It proved to be a good strategy as the Lightning girls had trouble getting their rhythm in the 1st. A combination of the rain and the early morning cold, as well as this new pitcher's accurate and fast pitching was the formula that the Inferno needed to shut us out of the 1st inning. In quick succession, the Inferno pitcher struck out both Janessa and Gabby. Tess was next. She managed to get a strong hit off the pitcher, but the ball went high and gave the Inferno 2nd baseman time to plant herself under it to make the catch and the 3rd out.

Tess was in at pitcher to start the game. The first batter hit a single, but managed to turn it into a triple as the ball went past Gabby at 1st and Caitlin in right field and bought her enough time to round the bases. With the runner on 3rd, the next batter went for the bunt, driving the Purple Lightning infield in. Gabby tried to make the throw to 1st, but the runner beat the ball to the bag and was safe while the runner on 3rd made it home to put the Inferno on the board. Jade came up to bat 3rd in the lineup. Tess got the strike out on Jade and the next batter for 2 outs, but hit the next batter with a pitch for a walk. The 6th batter came to the plate. On a passed ball, the runner on 2nd made it to 3rd with a steal. On another passed ball, the runner on 3 took off for home. Tess came in to cover home and Hylah tried her best to find the ball, but, having to weave through the umpire and the batter at the plate, was not able to get it on time to make the play and the runner scored. After getting back to the rubber Tess threw over another couple of strikes to get the 3rd out of the inning.

Purple Lightning 0 - Inferno 2

2nd Inning
Purple Lightning trailing by 2, Kelsey came to the plate to try to get the offense going, but was walked by the pitcher. Alli came to the plate. On the pitch, Kelsey tried for 2nd. The catcher tried to make the play at 2nd, but with the overthrow, Kelsey was able to make it all the way to 3rd. Alli hit the ball, bringing Kelsey home and putting Purple Lightning on the board. She made it to 1st, but the Inferno defense missed the throw to 1 and couldn't get control of the ball allowing Alli to turn the single into a triple. Next, the pitcher walked both Yazmine and Hylah to load the bases. Sara came to the plate, but this time, the Inferno pitcher was able to gather herself and get the strike out on Sara for 1 out. Caitlin was up next and with a walk, brought Alli in to score, tying up the game. Strike outs on both Maia and Alexis ended the 2nd inning for the Purple Lightning offense.

Tess back at the rubber for the 2nd inning with the rain picking up. The game ball was starting to get wet and Tess struggled a bit to keep it under control. The 1st batter walked. The 2nd batter was hit by a pitch and walked, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. The 3rd batter went for the bunt, but took a hard pitch to the chest for her troubles. Showing true grit, after a minute to recover, took her base and the bases were loaded. Walks on the next 3 batters brought 3 runs in for the Inferno. Tess was then able to get the batter swinging for the 1st out of the side. On her next trip to the plate, Jade made contact and sent a hard grounder through the Lightning infield for a single, bringing in 2 runs. The next batter brought the Lightning infield in with a bunt. Hylah fielded the ball, but the runner beat the ball to 1st and got on. Gabby, seeing the runner on 3rd take off, threw the ball back to Tess covering home. Tess got the tag and prevented the score, getting the 2nd out, but not before Jade claimed 3rd on the play. A passed ball on the next batter sent Hylah scrambling to find the ball. On a good lead, Jade made a break for it. Hylah tried to beat her to home, but Jade had a step on her and was able to touch the plate 1st to add one more for the Inferno. Tess was able to put an end to the Inferno rush by striking out the next batter, moving the game into the 3rd inning.

Purple Lighting 2 - Inferno 8

3rd Inning
Back at the top of the lineup, Janessa made her 2nd trip to the plate and got on base with a walk. Gabby was up next and Janessa stole 2nd. The Inferno pitcher managed to strike Gabby out for the 2nd time on the day. Tess came to the plate next and Janessa stole 3rd. Tess made contact again, this time sending a fly ball out to right center. The outfielder missed the catch and Tess rounded 1st as Janessa came across the plate, but the Inferno outfield was able to collect the ball and hold Tess to a base hit on the play. Kelsey was up next, but the pitcher sent her back to the dugout, but not before Tess managed to steal her way to 3rd base. On her next trip up, Alli walked. Alli made it to 2nd on the steal when Yazmine came up to bat. Unfortunately, a strike out on Yazmine held the Purple Lightning team to 1 run in the inning.

Kelsey back in to pitch and Tess in to catch in the 3rd inning. Kelsey got up to full count on the 1st Inferno batter, when she hit a fast grounder down the 1st base line. Gabby was able to collect the ball and step on the bag for the 1st out of the inning. The 2nd batter connected and sent a high fly ball out to left field for a double. The Lightning outfielders weren't able to get to the ball and the runner was safe on 2nd. On the 3rd batter, a pitch got past Tess, and the runner on 2nd made a run for it. Tess was able to find the ball and make the throw to Janessa at 3rd for the tag and the out. Kelsey walked the next 2 Inferno batters to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Another passed ball sent the runners and Tess was able to find the ball again, but this time the throw to Janessa at 3rd went high and the Inferno runners were able to make it home. The ball getting wetter and wetter on every pitch, Kelsey started to have trouble finding her pitch in the 3rd and walks on this batter and the next 2 loaded the bases once again for the Inferno. The next batter hit a grounder down the 3rd base line. Janessa fielded the ball and tagged 3rd base on the force, but the runner going home was able to score on the play, making it 3 runs in the inning for the Inferno.

Purple Lightning 3 - Inferno 11

4th Inning
Coming into the 4th, the Purple Lightning girls had their work cut out for them as they were down 8 points. With the now steady light sprinkling rain and the threat of the game being called, they knew that their time to mount an offense was getting short. Unfortunately, the Inferno had the answer and put in a new pitcher, throwing off the Lightning's timing. Trying to make something happen and now anxious to get hits, the Lightning girls started to swing at everything and this allowed the new Inferno pitcher to strike Hylah and Sara out batting 1st and 2nd. Caitlin wasn't fazed though and she was able to get a hit, sending a grounder through the infield for a single. Caitlin stole 2nd on Maia's next trip to the plate. Maia also got a hit and sent Caitlin to 3rd The missed throw at 1st got Maia on base. Unfortunately, the pitcher was able to get Alexis swinging to strike her out, holding Purple Lightning to 0 runs in the inning.

Kelsey back in to pitch in the 4th. Trying to keep us alive, Kelsey was able to strike the 1st batter out. Jade was up next and she got hit by a stray pitch, getting her on base. The 3rd batter hit one out to left field for a single. With 2 runners on, Kelsey walked the next batter to load the bases. She was able to reel it in on the next batter to stike her out for the 2nd out of the inning. The next batter was able to connect and sent a high pop up to right field. Caitlin adjusted her position to get under it, but as she extended her hand to make the catch, the ball was just barely out of reach and it hit the ground. Caitlin was able to get the ball back in, but 2 runs scored on the play. Trying to get back to work, and coming close to the strike out, Kelsey put one over the plate that the batter was able to hit. Kelsey charged the slow grounder, but the runner was able to beat the throw to 1st and the bases were loaded again. A walk on the next batter, brought 1 more run in. Then Kelsey regaines her pitch to strike the next batter out, closing out the 4th.

Purple Lightning 3 - Inferno 14

5th Inning
Things were looking bad for Purple Lightning. Trailing by 11 runs, rain starting to pick up and time running out, this was their last chance to make something happen. Back at the top of the lineup, Janessa came to the plate. Janessa hit a high fly ball that hit the ground for a single. Gabby was up next and she was also able to connect, this time sending one out to left center that found the seam between the Inferno center fielders for a double. As she was coming around 1st base, the Inferno defense was able to recover to try to make the throw to 2nd. As she approached 2nd base, Gabby went down to slide and by all accounts was safe, but when she didn't get back up, it was clear that she injured herself on the slide. She jammed her foot on the base and her ankle started to swell up right away.

Due to Gabby's injury and the worsening weather and unsafe field conditions, the game was called.

Final Score
Purple Lightning 3 - Inferno 14

Shout Outs
Despite the injury, Gabby was able to keep her spirits up while being attended to and was able to joke around with her teammates, coaches and parents. She even asked if she got the hit and if she was safe, obviously putting the game and her contribution to her team above herself and her injury, which I thought showed great sportsmanship and fortitude. Great job Gabby!

I later checked in with Gabby's parents and they shared the good news that Gabby did not break anything. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that we wish her a speedy and full recovery and, in the meantime, her presence on the field will be sorely missed.