Little League Insanity!!

It wasn’t pretty. But it was intense…

We played the Mets last night in a matchup of the two bottom-feeders in Coeur d’Alene L.L. They haven’t won a game yet, although they have come close a few times and tied us to open the year… Us? We came in 1-8-1

The lead changed a few times, and heading into the bottom of the 6th and final inning, we were up 6-4. Our relief pitcher had already given up a run the previous inning, and was throwing nothing but somewhat-quick strikes – a SHARP contrast to our starting pitcher, undoubtedly the fastest hurler in the league!

He walked the first batter. The next kid up roped a line drive to second; then, with runners on 2nd and 3rd, they stole home on the ensuing pitch, while the next batter lined one to shallow right, thus tying the game at 6 even. In the midst of it all, we somehow netted two outs.

So there we were, tied 6-6 with the only team we’ve beat this season (and the only team we’ve tied!) in the bottom of the final inning. They had a runner on third, and I pulled the whole infield onto the grass, the outfield damn near on the infield dirt.

There was no way a bloop single would win this.

However, as our pitched lobbed what looked to be the final pitch of the game, I noticed our centerfielder standing deeper than the rest. I yelled, but he didn’t hear.

Boom!

The Mets smoked the game-winning hit deep into center. The crowd screamed, the Mets stammered out of the dugout to congratulate the winning run. Back that train up, baby! Miraculously, our CF threw his hand in the air and by sheer luck, CAUGHT THE BALL!! Batter out EXTRA INNINGS!!!

We exploded in the 7th inning. Three runs off four hits and a walk, including two hard doubles.

In the bottom half, the Mets failed to get more than one baserunner on, and couldn’t move him past second.

Whew!

I can honestly say this was the most intense game of any sport covering my entire coaching career. And, suffice it to say, even though our record still sits at 2-8-1, my all-time coaching record is floating barely over .500! Something around 60-58-1.

Goddamn it feels good to win!