Drama, Temper Tantrum and a Come Back

AP - Beacon Hill

The Fog had their final regular season game last night and it lacked nothing. The game already had the added bonus of being a true away game as the Fog were playing their first ever game on Beacon Hill at Maple Wood. As game time approached both the Fog and Kangaroo & Kiwi Pub (KKP) had only 8 players. Joe had missed an exit thus delaying his and Graeme's arrival. Tonight also marked the first game of the season for Dante, having been activated from the injured reserve only hours before, Dante was eager to see his first action and earn his 2006 Fog Softball letter.

With only 8 guys the Fog fielded a make shift defense: Boyd behind the plate, Peter on the mound, Nolte at third, Cook at short, Nate at first, Derek in left, Dante in center and Aaron in right. Just as Peter was beginning to take his warm ups, Graeme was seen sprinting to the field and able to make it in time before the first pitch. Quickly Graeme was moved to short and Cook to second. 9 is better than 8. At this time it should be mentioned that Boyd was already having issues with the umpire, during warm ups prior to the start of the game, the umpire had set up closer to Boyd than he would have liked and placed an knee or elbow to his ribs. Boyd took offense to this and demanded the umpire to move. A heated debate ensued, denying Peter further warm up pitches. Boyd, seeing that Joe was sauntering to the field, delayed even further to have our 10th man added, but the umpired said "Play Ball", Boyd wanted a clarification as to when Joe could join, hoping that this dialog would allow the sauntering fancy boy enough time to make the field. The umpire retorted play ball, and already having gotten Boyd's goat, he now had his entire herd. Meanwhile, Peter was motioning to Boyd to receive his 5 practice pitches prior to the start of the inning, Boyd locked in a epic battle of wills, refused, finally Peter released a practice pitch. Boyd picked up the ball and hurled it as far as he could into the outfield. The temper tantrum was complete with the umpire saying to Boyd, one more and you are gone. Order may have been settled, but the inning was far from over.

Any pitcher will tell you that without proper warm up pitches, it is tough to find a grove. Likewise, any pitcher will tell you that having less than a full defense will make pitching hard. Peter had the blessing of both events, and before the inning was over, the KKP had scored 10 runs.

KKP also had their issues, namely only 8 players, thus they had only three outfields and three infielders. The Fog, still feeling that the best out is a fly out, only managed 3 runs in the bottom of the inning as other 2 batters found the fly ball to be to their liking.

Joe returned to the mound in the second, thought it was his first, and having failed to listen to his key's, treated the inning like it was the first and gave up another three runs. The Fog scratched out one in the bottom of the 2nd to trail 13-4 after two. Having returned to earth following his pregame episode, Boyd pulled Joe aside and reminded him that the sun was in the batters eyes and that his pitches needed some height and depth. Joe allowed two runs in the 3rd before shutting down the KKP for the final three innings.

Down 15-4 heading into the bottom of the third, the Fog finally got the offense going, with a 5 spot to make it 15-9. After a scoreless top of the 4th, the Fog added 3 more to make it 15-12 and KKP knew that any flirting they had of winning was likely hopeless. After a scoreless top of the 5th, the Fog took their first lead at 16-15. Joe, having settled down into a Felix like groove, again keep KKP off the score board and the Fog finished off KKP with 6 more in the bottom of the 6th for a huge come from behind 22 to 15 victory.

The game wasn't without it's comedy either. In the bottom of the 5th, with one out and one on, Boyd his a ball to third. The third baseman fielded it cleanly and let look a rocket of a throw. Two problems: one, the first baseman had gone to second for the force, leaving no one to receive the throw and two, the ball and Boyd were on a collision course. It was as if the third baseman had a flashback to his kickball days when you could get a runner out by hitting them with the ball. Fortunately, the ball didn't hit Boyd and no one on the Fog strained a rib cage muscle from laughing so hard.

The Fog's first playoff game is Monday, July 10th, game time and opponent to be determined. The Fog will either be the #3 or #4 seed.

This post has been recorded for thos that with to listen on your ipd

2006 Final Regular Season Stats