25/06/2016
In a leadership over-throw reminiscent of the Gillard-Rudd battle, Troy Chandler took over the helm for today's game. There was some late running around trying to find an umpire and even a pen which meant he left the player's rego numbers off the team sheet, but eventually the game started.
Blake Halligan was given the pill and the defensive alignment took a different approach. Dave Taylor proved his worth in the first play of the game, managing to open his eyes up just enough to field the ball and record the first assist of the game.
The next pitch was one to forget about, mainly cause that ball will never be found again and it was quickly 1-0. A mix up of signals resulted in a HPB and two base hits before the third out was recorded meant we came to bat with the score 2-0.
Chuckles should have brought his K stamp as he needed to use it for 5 out of our first 6 outs.
With a runner on in the 4th, Wade "Woolshed" Moore showed us why he's a good catcher by allowing another runner on base. The 9-hole hitter plated the Angel's 4th run.
Leroy Urbina dented a ball to centre field and trotted to second to start things in our 4th. A hit from Wade Moore scored out first run and a hard ball to the right side lead to a fumble putting runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Todd Symons drove one to centre field to add to the scoreboard and also allowed our Doug "Forest" Barker to move up to second.
Dave Taylor thought he'd recorded his first hit of the season but it was just a tunnel ball by their shortstop that lead to him reaching base. Blake Halligan helped himself out by doubling to left field and plating the tying run. Todd Dunstall grounded to their shortstop again and a fumble allowed us to take the lead. On the play, Troy Chandler was doing his best windmill impersonation waving Blake Halligan home from second and an errant throw allowed him to score and give us the lead 5-3.
Blake Halligan kept the Angels on the ground in the 5th and 6th innings, courtesy of a 6-pitcher in the 5th, before Troy Chandler pulling rank and yanking the pill from his hand.
Troy Chandler allowed a lead-off single who subsequently scored but managed to hold the Angels out for the rest of the game.
The final result was a rewarding 5-4, especially given the Angels won all the chocolates last year and touched us up in our first encounter.