IN A WILD ROLLERCOASTER OF A GAME, THE MIGHTY GIANTS PREVAIL OVER THE GO GO LIZZIES IN A FUN AND EXCITNG AFFAIR AT BICKFORD PARK
Counter clockwise from the top: With Lizzies catcher Michael (7) and TP umpire Kieran Ball looking on from behind home plate, Nigel (14) is poised to connect on a 2 RBI ground rule double to left field with the bases loaded that would allow the Giants to tie the Lizzies 12-12 in the bottom of the fourth inning at the Bickford Park South Diamond. Subsequently, Leo (5) would blaze home from third with Giants winning run. Nigel went 3 for 3 [two singles, double] at the plate with two runs scored and 5 RBI’s. In three trips to the dish, Leo went 1 for 2 [single, walk] with three runs scored and 2 RBI’s.
Lizzies game summary by Mike Lapenna
- Summer vacations have brought diminished rosters with Giants and Lizzies lending each other outfielders.
- The game featured pitchers and catchers getting their debut.
- It was a relatively tame affair until the last inning, when twelve runs were scored!
- In the top of the fourth, despite being down by three, the Lizzies managed to score seven runs to force Giants into their last bats.
- The Giants countered with five in the bottom of the fourth to secure a much needed win.
- In those last bats, the Giants should have had a clear home run, with a bomb up the Bickford Park hill in left field, but the ball bounced onto the blanket of nearby spectators. They respectfully passed the ball back, causing a ground rule double.
- It was one of more exciting games to date with it being more of hitting bonanza rather than a pitchers duel.
Giants & Lizzies Game Post by Scoop Gerbil
The Lizzies jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. After a pair of singles by Michael (7) and Leo (10) to open the inning, Roland (9) stroked a 2 RBI single to bring them home to roost.
After a two out single, Jonathan (13) would proceed to steal two bases to reach third. Jonathan would blaze home safely on a wild pitch.
Finding his rhythm, Giants starter Aidan (10) would eventually subdue the Lizzies insurgency.
Lizzies starter Michael (7) would strike out three in the bottom of the first to keep the Giants off the scoresheet.
In the top of the second, Giants reliever Will (13) struck out one to keep the Lizzies off the scoreboard.
The Mighty Giants offense surged to life in the bottom of the second as they parlayed five hits into four runs to take a 4-3 lead. With one out and a runner at third, Nigel (14) delivered a RBI single to bring Leo (5) home with the Giants first run of the game.
After a pair of singles by Thor (12) and Mark (9) loaded the bases, Emily (8) muscled a RBI sacrifice hit that allowed Nigel to come home to roost.
With two outs and runners at third and second, Will powered a 2 RBI double that allowed Thor and Mark to zoom homeward bound and put the Giants into the lead.
In a good effort, Lizzies reliever Jonathan (13) and his defense retired two Giants during the inning. The highlight was a nifty 1-4 putout where Jonathan corralled a hard hit ball off the bat of Leo (5) and made a quick throw to second baseman Leo (10) for the force out a Giants baserunner at second base to record the first out of the inning.
The Lizzies answered the Giants salvo in the top of the third by scoring a pair to retake the lead 5-4. With one out and two runners on base, Leo would pounce on a Giants error to motor home with the tying run.
Subsequently, with one out and the bases loaded, Molly (6) would hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Roland to come home with the go ahead run.
Giants reliever Nigel (14) would strike out one to quell the Lizzies rebellion.
However, the Mighty Giants replied with four in the bottom of the third to regain the lead 8-5. After Aidan (10) walked and Curtis reached base on a dropped third strike to lead off the frame and put two ducks on the pond, Leo hit a RBI single to plate Aidan and tie the game.
Nigel followed and powered a 2 RBI single that delivered Curtis and Aidan home to give the Giants a 7-5 advantage. Later, Nigel would steal home to score another run.
With their backs against the wall, the Lizzies refused to surrender as they donned their rally caps and gallantly scored seven runs in the top of the fourth to retake the lead 12-8.
After the first out, Roland, Alex and Jonathan would hit three consecutive singles to load the bases. Molly would follow and deliver a 2 RBI single to plate Roland and Alex and trim the deficit to one.
Next, Michael delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Jonathan to propel home with the tying run.
With two outs and a runner on third, Leo stroked a RBI single to bring Molly home and put the Lizzies out in front 9-8. Roland followed suit with a RBI single that allowed Leo to come home to roost.
After a single by Alex (14) put two Lizzies on the base paths, Jonathan delivered a clutch 2 RBI single that brought Roland and Alex home with two additional insurance runs.
Down by four, the Mighty Giants refused to quit in the bottom of the fourth as they proceeded to stage a frenzied comeback attempt to overtake the Go Go Lizzies.
After Mark singled and Emily walked to lead off the inning, Will delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Mark to come home and cut the margin to three.
With one out, Aidan and Curtis drew back to back walks to load the bases. Leo would follow with a RBI walk to bring home Emily and trim the shortfall to two.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Nigel stepped into the batter’s box and crunched a mammoth 2 RBI ground rule double into the grass hill bleacher blanket seats in left field to bring Aidan and Curtis home and tie the game 10-10.
Subsequently, Leo would take advantage of a Lizzies miscue to blaze homeward from third with the Giants winning run to bring the curtain down a WILD WILD WEST shootout at the Bickford Park Corrall.