HOUNDS WIN 3RD STRAIGHT LIB. DIV.WITH WIN OVER SCOTTIES

This was big time – prime time-Pay For View- softball. You could have charged admission for this one and no one would have complained. Friday Night Softball at NBC, a hound win would give them their third consecutive Division title. Add to that a crowd of well over 200 in attendance with a sprinkling of opposing teams either sizing up one of adversaries for the playoffs or rooting against the dawgs so that they might have a share of the division title. A barbecue prepared by the always supportive NBC Booster Club outside of the centerfield fence made for an aroma that added to the ambience of the evening. Reporters from the Trentonian and the Burlington County Times were in attendance so that their readers could vicariously feel the pulse of this night. So now for the main event. Two teams that had faced each other previously and had players who had competed against each other since they were young uns. Two aptly named mascots, the hounds and the scotties. A base hit by the leadoff hitter by Bordentown started things off and the game was on. That was the only hit for the inning for the Scotties and the side was retired. Megan Berg started the hitting for the yappers with a single to right field but was thrown out trying to steal second. Bordentown had the leadoff hitter do the same in the second but again was not able to garner any threat from there. The hounds had Jules and Hannah walk in the second but were not able to capitalize on the threat. It was apparent from these beginnings that this tilt would be decided by a close margin as both teams were playing excellent softball as evidenced by the roar of the fans after great plays. So, we enter the seventh inning with no runs having scored by either team. This was going to be a nail-biter. In top of the seventh the scotties scored without recording a hit and the game seemed to be slipping away from the yappers. With the bases still chock full the Bordentown batter hit a fly ball to centerfield which is protected by the fleet Bon. In textbook fashion, Bon gathered herself caught the ball and whistled a dart to the waiting arms of Jules who tagged the runner out averting further damage. Whew, 1-0 but the hounds were down by one run entering the bottom of the seventh and had only one hit for the night, certainly not the recipe for a victory. When one out was registered it seemed as if the dawgs would be on the short end of the score. On a 3-1 count, Arch pulverized a pitch over the left field fence as astonished onlookers followed the flight of the sphere within close proximity to those still savoring their pregame meal and now able to relish this experience. Tie score and suddenly the tide had turned. When the next two hounds reached base it was obvious that the magnitude of this occasion had started to gnaw away at the resolve of the scotties. Extra innings and no one was heading for the exits because it was past their bedtime. After nine innings we still had a tie game and that meant the tenth inning would start for both teams via International Tie Breaker with a runner on second base. Gulp, here we go. With no one out the Scotties tried to send the runner to third but Alex Walsh covering the bag received the throw from Jules erasing the runner and probably was thinking, “Not tonight, not on my watch” Whew, bottom of the tenth, Taylor Gooden the runner on second and some thought that the speedy freshman was in the dugout sharpening her spikes prior to entering the game. A bunt by Bon sent Taylor to third and now the ever dangerous Bergie standing in the batters box. Probably one of the most exciting plays in sports now unfolded. Suicide squeeze. Everything must be orchestrated to perfection for this to work. Runner has to have complete trust in the hitter and regardless of the pitch, the hitter must get the ball in play. Check-Check and the slide by Taylor was Money In The Bank. Game over and the dawg pound erupted as they stormed the field to hug their teammates. As good a softball game as you will ever see.
NOTES- Wow, where do you start to look for heroes for this one? You can certainly start with Arch with another dominating performance on the mound and a thunderous clout to boot. This, though was more than Arch. This game was about the little things. The hounds played errorless ball in the field. Jules being a complete annoyance to the opposition by having a 19 pitch at bat working a 3-2 count and getting a walk. Seemed like not much, and by the way Hannah and Jules did the same thing again, but keep in mind that the Bordentown pitcher had just hurled a game the previous night against Burlington Township so long at bats were not what her throwing arm was looking for. How about this fun fact? Twelve hounds had strikeouts in the first five innings and two in the next five. The wear and tear caused by Jules was having an effect. Alex Walsh inserted into the shortstop position because of the injury to Siszie was flawless in the field. She also made a pivotal play when she tagged the runner out in the top of the tenth. Taylor Gooden racing home with the winning run in the bottom of the tenth was about as huge a play as you can get. From this writer’s view at first base, it was just goose bumps causing to see the dawg pound in the dugout, no actually in the fenced in pen outside of the dugout as they were just electric in cheering on their team with their chants of encouragement- rally hats on and total chaos causing chants. Again, as the game wore on, the constant vibrations of positivity emanating from the yappers had to have an effect on the opposition. You have to also have as the crowning touch of the evening when Arch presented coach a tub of Nanny’s treats after the game. Yummie. Three Peat as Liberty Division Champs. Has a nice sound to it.

Date: May 10, 2019     Time: 7:00pm      Venue: NBC - Field 25