09/12/2014
Was it the cool air of the season beginning to set in? Perhaps the addition of new bats to the lineup? Whatever the trigger, WHISKEY came out to play last night. Featuring a nearly flawless defensive outing, WHISKEY out-dueled their opponents 18-6 in their second outing of the Fall season. After a heartbreaking late-inning 9-12 defeat last week, the bats were being swung and the leather slung.
"I felt pretty good going into the game tonight", said third baseman John Zelzer, "but sometimes that doesn't mean anything." Zelzer's hunch proved founded, hitting a bomb for a double and going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and some dazzling defensive work, tallying 2 assists and 1 put-out.
A frightening moment came early in the 2nd inning when WHISKEY shortstop, Jason Lippa, went down hard on the infield dirt after narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with the opposing first baseman who crossed into the basepath. As a testament to his incredible athleticism and sheer strength, Lippa would stay in the game, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Lippa's flirt with the DL didn't hinder his defense, making two stunning backhanded plays, gunning down the speedy Daniel Waddams at first from one knee, then making an incredible back handed reach on a bases-loaded, hard-hit grounder to his right and flipping the ball to Zelzer at third for the force-out to end the inning. "Saved two runs on that one", said Lippa. "It's all in a day's work", Lippa said with a grin and a wink.
“Nine times out of ten there’s no way he could make that throw!”, exclaimed outfielder Brad Halm in reaction to Lippa’s put-out at first. Halm would go on to have an outstanding night, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a triple and some incredible routes to track down fly balls in the outfield.
Along with Halm, Tim Cronin, Maddog Bill Dabney and Jessica X put up an unmatched defensive blockade in the outfield, virtually shutting down any scoring opportunities mounted by the opposition. The outfield combined to go 6-for-11 at the plate, and set the tone defensively with their range in the alleys.
On the mound, Ryan Negley was masterful, despite being a recent victim of theft as his treasured mitt was stolen from the back of his car. “You grow really attached to these things – I’d guess that it’s like losing a child, if not worse. I’m really shaken up right now”, said Negley before the start of the game. The stress of the ordeal may have momentarily gotten to Negley in the first as he gave up a 2-run home run but soon after he settled in and induced many ground-ball outs, 2 K’s and 1 walk. “I had a loaner mitt and it took some getting used to but Skip is always talking about perseverance and discipline so I asked myself, what would Skip do? The answer was simple and that got me through the night.”
Rounding out the play on the evening were a trio of ladies in the infield led by Nicole Waiton at First, Jen Radjeski at Second and Sarah Luther behind the plate. “Our ladies win ballgames – it’s as simple as that”, said skipper, Lippa. “We simply didn’t have one weak spot in our defense tonight.” The ladies of the infield led the charge through Waiton’s plate discipline, Radjeski’s bomb of a hit and Luther’s hustle to beat out an infield grounder at first. “I just ran!”, said Luther. It was apparent to all in attendance tonight that it wasn’t her legs that did the work, but her heart. “She’s a tremendous player – an incredibly talented athlete; just a pleasure to play along side with”, said Dabney of Luther.
With the temperatures dropping to the 40’s overnight, old man winter is knocking on the doorstep of the Mile High City, however this crew can play through it. WHISKEY’s next game is set against the Fainting Goats at Lawson Park on Wednesday, 9/17. First pitch is at 6:30pm – come on out and support your WHISKEY!
