HOUNDS LOSE IN SEMIFINALS TO LIONS

As the number two seed in Central Jersey Group III NBC was the home team against Middletown North who was the number three seed. The winner would go to the finals against the winner of Steinert and Burlington Township. The hounds had defeated the lions earlier in the season by a score of 3-2 so the hounds had reason to believe that they had the upper hand against the lions. The game plan of the dawgs was to keep the first two batters in the lions lineup off of the bases and therefore use this as a game plan for victory. Even through the two aforementioned were on base in the first no runs scored and so it seemed the yappers were in good shape. In the third inning the second lion batter hit a single and the fourth batter in the lineup hit a double in the right centerfield gap and a run scored. Those would be the only hits given up Arch for the game. The hounds were having problems solving the pitching of North and entered the bottom of the fourth trailing 1-0. With Jules on base for the second time via a walk the skies opened up with a downpour and lightning and the game had to be suspended. This actually appeared to play into the hands of the dawgs as the momentum that had been seized by the lions had now been quelled. The game would continue on Friday at 1 o’clock. When the lions arrived 40 minutes late because of the Memorial Day weekend traffic, it seemed that the softball gods were smiling on the hounds. When Hannah reached base as the game reconvened and there were runners on first and second and the pitcher having difficulties finding the strike zone, well, it seemed to be the recipe for a hounds rally. This wasn’t in the cards and although the dawgs once again had two base runners on in the fifth, the lions were able to check every move that was made by the dawgs. The final heartbreaking score was 1-0 Middletown North. Arch struck out thirteen and as earlier indicated only gave up two hits,yet the hounds were still on the short end of the score.
NOTES-For the second consecutive year, the dawgs bowed out by a score of 1-0. The season would end with a loss that seemed to erase a season where the dawgs had victories over top teams in the state. At one time, NBC was ranked 7th in the state and seemed poised to make a deep run into the playoffs. This didn’t come to past and the hounds have an offseason to regroup and make another run next year. Amanda Gonzalez will graduate this year and as the captain, Gonz led the team in a variety of ways. She took underclassmen under her wing, encouraging them at every turn as well as being the consummate teammate. Gonz patiently waited , never complained and when it was her turn, Gonz always answered the call. Younger players should see the example of how Gonz led by her example every day. Thanks Gonz. For the rest of the dawg pound, the hope is that the goal of next year will be to use this experience to become stronger and better as a team.

Date: May 23, 2019     Time: 4:00pm      Venue: NBC - Field 25