NBC HUSHES ROAR OF LIONS

Sunday night storms and Monday morning rain put this game in jeopardy. One of the umpires even commented prior to the game that he was surprised that this game was being played. Huge credit has to go out to a grounds crew who takes pride in the job that they do to help support NBC softball. Although the field was in great shape, the weather was still more reminiscent of a mid-March afternoon rather than April 15th. 30 to 40 mile an hour winds swirled around the field at game time assuring that any fly ball would be a possible adventure. Riley Gripp ventured that Texas Leaguers would be a commonplace problem. Additionally the opponent would be Middletown North who would enter the game ranked number 4 in the state with a 7-0 mark and having given up nary a run. Gulp!!!!! Certainly not the recipe for a positive outcome. I mean the weather was such a factor that even some of the most rabid hound supporters could be seen peering out from the warmth of their vehicles. Brrrrrrr.
The lions were retired in the first and then Archie really hit her stride as she registered six consecutive K’s through three. Offensively, the dawgs were putting the ball in play which would seem to be contrary to what other teams had been able to do against the pitching of the lions. Thing is that these yappers didn’t seem fazed by the hoopla garnered by the lions and were not just satisfied with hitting the ball. Sure enough in the bottom of the fourth, Jules Mayernik doubled into the left centerfield gap and Maddie Sisz reached base via an error. Hannah Alexander stepped into the batter’s box and laced an opposite field triple that scored the two runners giving the hounds a 2-0 lead. The lions would respond with two runs in the top of the fifth to knot the score at 2-2. The score would remain that way through seven although both teams had base runners on. In the top of the 8th the lions had two runners on but Arch still had a bit of fuel left in the tank and retired the fourth and fifth batters in the lineup via the K. In the bottom of the eighth Megan Berg led off with a shot to right center and kicked into overdrive and slid into second base with a double. Alexa Blue laid down a perfect bunt sending Bergie to third. The lions eventually intentionally walked Maddie Sisz to get to Hannah Alexander which seemed to be a challenge to Hannah. Hannah delivered a walk off single setting off a celebration in the dawg pound and the yappers bounded out of the dugout to congratulate the hero. Final score 3-2 NBC.
NOTES- This would be the third game out of four that the dawgs would be facing a pitcher committed to a Division I program. In spite of the alleged invincibility of the visitors it was the hounds who were the aggressors. They continued to pound the ball and these were not Texas Leaguers coming off of the bats of the hounds but solid shots oblivious to the winds. The hustle of Berg was the difference in the eighth. Rather than settle for a single, Bergie showed her uncanny ability to read the situation to motor into second to set the stage for Hannah’s heroics. Early in the season the unsung player on the roster has to be Jordan Jackson. While the much publicized junior class has receive the lion’s share (pun intended) of the press, JJ has continued to put in solid at bats as she continues to fly under the radar and grow as a player. Probably the biggest violation of the day had to be the photographer from the NJ. Com. Clad in attire more suited for a journey to Long Beach Island with the battery mates, the footwear included sandals and no socks. Yikes, hopefully the pictures turned out from the near frozen observer.

Date: April 15, 2019     Time: 4:00pm      Venue: NBC - Field 25