2007 Playoffs Game 3

AP - Maple Wood, WA

The Fog returned to Maple Wood for the last time this year as they took the field to battle the #1 seed Excitable Boys. The night was hot and the Fog were looking to end their consecutive losing streak to their arch foes.

As the home team (As Graeme would say, what does that mean), the Fog took to the field and despite the windy conditions, saw a two run homer put the Boys on the score board with a two spot. Boyd opened the Fog half inning with a walk and scored on Peter's triple. Rob plated Peter and later scored on Nate's single. Fog 3 Boys 2.

Joe put the Boys down one two three in the 2nd, but the Fog couldn't get anything going in their half either. In the third after a lead off single and a three pitch walk, Joe struck out the next hitter looking. The next batter hit into the rare infield fly. The third out came courtesy of a grounder to second. The bottom of the third saw the game take a heated change, but not much else. After a Cook line out, Daunte singled. Ben then hit what appeared to be a routine grounder to short, but the throw was a bit late and the umpire felt the first baseman wasn't on the bag. Daunte scampered to third and was standing a foot off the bag daring a play. The Boys were livid, led by their first baseman who was storming across the infield and made a line for Daunte. Like a game of chicken, Daunte wasn't going to give in until the last second, when he put his foot on the bag, but like A-Rod, the first baseman gave Daunte a two handed shove. This provoked the Fog and now both teams were losing it. Once order was restored, the Fog had runners on 1st and 3rd and only one out and a chance to drive a stake into their opponents heart. Boyd then hit into a 6-4-3 double play, with Boyd being called out due to runner interference on Ben. Inning and drama over.

Neither team amounted any challenge in the 4th and in the 5th the Boys tied the game at 3 all. In the bottom of the 5th, Nate lead off with a single, Danny followed with a single, Shane then singled scoring Nate. Fog 4 Boys 3. Jess hit into a fielders choice, getting Shane at 2nd, sending Danny to third. Nolte hit a sacrifice fly plating Danny. Fog 5 Boys 3.

Would 2 runs be enough? A month ago the Fog had a 5 run lead going into the 7th and it wasn't enough with these guys.

The sixth saw the Boys send 10 batters to the plate and score 6. Boys 9 Fog 5. In the bottom of the sixth the Fog could only muster a single. In the 7th the Boys played add on by scoring two more. Boys 11 Fog 5. Was this our time to turn the tables? Unfortunately, no. Again all the Fog could muster was a single in their half of the 7th. Excitable Boys 11 Fog 5 and the Boys have their ticket punched for the championship. They now have to be defeated twice is another team wishes to call themselves champs.

In the end the Fog were undone by poor defense and lack of hitting. Unable to generate a long inning, other than the first when they scored 3 and sent 7 batters to the plate, The best the Fog could muster was one extra base hit. Failure to convert sure outs or complete double plays, prolonged innings and didn't help the cause.

The Fog return to the field on Monday at 6pm at Loyal Heights (we played their last Friday - sports/field turf) to face the Production Foundry, who the Fog swept the season series.

2007 Fog Stats