Summary of the last few games

Thanks readers, you who still poke by here now and then, for your patience.  I have to admit there are days and games, especially this summer, when I am not much drawn to writing about baseball.  Don't get me wrong, I still love the sport, and I love my son Luke, but it is hard to celebrate or share with others his struggles.

Perhaps there will come a season when he will simply not enjoy baseball anymore and he will hang up his cleats.  Who know what real passions he will have as a young man.  Sometimes when you, as a father, see one slip away or change, and you see that talent and hurdles that need to be worked through you become wistful, search for wisdom to impart, or simply share in the struggles.  None of which are desired, but in another sense they are all that is truly desired in being a father - to be the one who is there when struggles and changes come.

All that is true, but perhaps overstated.  A written projection of a father's thoughts and fears.  For truly Luke has had more playing time this year that I had hoped for.  There was a time when I did not think he would make the team.  Right now he is up to his 31st at bat.  He has appeared in almost every game and started many.  He is on a top team in the league.  Coming into the final week of the season Post 81 is 15 and 4.  They have two games left before the playoffs.

Luke had a rough game two games ago.  He was at bat in the first inning with the bases loaded and hit a two RBI double down the left field line (that all the fans - and I - declared was fair) but the umpire iin a late decision on a field with no chalk line called foul.  I think that got in his head.  He struck out three times that day.  A bad day.

Friday we played Northampton and won.  Luke had a double.

Today we played Amherst and Luke made a late game appearance, playing third for two innings, and had an RBI single down the left field line.

We have had a great time playing badminton too.

Thanks for reading fans.

In which Luke has a good day and decides he likes baseball again...

Though bad days can come in clumps, and sometimes it seems you'll never get out of your slump, they end, the rain ends, the sun shines again, the shadow is turned away.

Luke was actually in a bad mood heading to the game.  Too hot, too much time hanging around lethargically in the room.  He was not even sure if he would play, and it was a long ride.  The farthest game of the year they said.  But Luke did start and he started with a smile.  There was another player who could not make it.  So play he did, this time against Ludlow.  Luke played third and batted ninth.  Luke came up in the top of the third.  I forget what the score was.  I think 3 to 2 in our favor.  Luke got down 0 - 2 and fouled off a few pitches.  Worked the count full, then slapped a single through the right side.  He came up again in the fifth and drove pitch deep in the gap in right for a double. He was very pleased.  In the sixth he came up again with a runner on third with the game tied or us a one run advantage.  I forget.  There was one out and Luke drove an 0-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single.  After that Post 81 scored three more runs.  We won 7 or 8 to 3.  Luke scored three times, drove in one and raised his average by over 100 points to get over .200.

He made a nice play at third too.

We got in the car to come home.  He turned to me and said, "I like baseball again!"  He was kidding, but it was a sign of relief from the frustration he had been feeling.

Another game tomorrow against Northampton.  Taylor will be visiting, so some pressure on Luke.

Agawam in the Heat

Yesterday, July 4th, Luke and I travelled to Agawam, the home of many of the players of last years Warriors team.  It was an 11 am game and the temperatures we already climbing into the 90s when we got there at 10 am.

Luke started the game as the DH.  Post 81 jumped out to a 3 run lead in the top of the first, but by the third it was a 3 to 4 game in their favor.  Luke flied out to left in his first at bat.  In his next at bat he came up with runners on first and second and nobody out, and we were down by one.   A clear bunting situation.  Luke laid down a good bunt and got the runners over and we tied the game.

Our pitcher soon ran out of the gas and they began hitting him pretty hard.  We got down about 8 to 4 when they brought Luke in to relieve.  He came on with the bases loaded and one out.  He struck out the first batter and got the next batter to fly out to left.  Actually our left fielder made a pretty sensational diving catch to save a few runs.

The next inning Luke was still on the mound, bottom of the sixth.  The first batter hit a single.  Luke struck out the next two.  Then the next batter hit a high floating pop into shallow right that dropped in.  Then the next batter walked.  Bases loaded two outs.  Up comes his old teammate.  I think Luke was getting tired.  He walked him on four pitches to walk in a run.  The next kid up knew a fast ball was coming and he cleared the bases with a double.  Then Luke struck out the next batter.  So four strikeouts in one and two thirds innings.  He was happy about that (not so much about the double).

In his final at bat he struck out.  

Post 81 went on to lose by about 11 to 5.

Another game today.  The boys will not be advancing to the national tournament.  They needed the win yesterday, but they play on.

Post 81 defeats Amherst

For the readers of this bog it was as ever a mildly bittersweet evening in Amherst.  Sweet because Post  81 defeated Amherst 6 (or so) to 1.  Our best pitcher (in my personal estimation) Garret Hudson was on the mound and he dominated the Amherst nine.  I think he struck out 13 in nine innings.  Luke did not start and this was hard on him because Garret is usually the third baseman.  Since Luke was not the back up, another young man Kevin started and played well.  Kevin is a fine ball player and has played with Luke in previous years.  Luke came on in the 5th inning to replace Kevin because his glasses / goggles were fogging up.  Luke had one plate appearance in which he lines a 1-2 pitch to the third baseman ( sharply hit ball) for an out. He was discouraged, but as Noah wrote from Uganda, he was not even on the team at this age.  Luke has much to learn and has gotten a good deal of playing time.  He knows that, but sitting on the bench is always frustrating.

More after the game tomorrow.

Return from the break. Post 81 defeats West Springfield.

I took a few days off.  Maybe more.  There have been a few games here where Luke has scuffled and that made me less than inspired to write about the games.  I guess there are bound to come years like this.  Luke is having trouble hitting the ball.  I think that affects the rest of his game.  He has been called in to pitch a few times and done reasonably well.  Nothing to write home about, but here I am writing a blog about it.  One of the games, the last game I think was agains East Springfield.  Our starting pitcher hit the first batter, then the next batter reached on an error, in the midst of pitching to the next batter he blew out something in his shoulder.  Real tough.  Nice kid too.  So the coach points to Luke on the bench and calls him in to pitch.  Two on, nobody out and a 3 - 1 count on the third hitter.  Luke throw a ball, one pitch to load the bases.  Then the wheels come off.  Ouch, can this team hit.  I think Luke ended up giving up about four runs over two innings.  The team goes on to beat us about 13 - 4.  They pounded each of our pitchers.

I forget the other game we had that I did not write about.

We won today, kind of a squeaker, 4 - 3.  Luke sat on the bench.  The team we played was pretty weak it seemed.  The top of our order, hitters two through four did most of our damage.  I think we have a number of hitter who are struggling.  Post 81 has games again tomorrow and the next day.  Luke hopes to get in to those games.  His spirits are okay, subdues but positive.

I will write what news I can after those games.

Thanks for cheering from afar.

Post 18 beaten by Westfield 11 - 4

Another short post by Luke's father.  Not a great game for Post 81.  We were down 3 to 1 after one inning and things went downhill from there.  Luke started at third base and made a few plays, but did make an error.  It was very hot, around 90 degrees and the boys, Luke in particular, looked beat very early on.  Luke walked in his first at bat and them grounded out to the left side on a tapped off speed two strike pitch.  He struck out his third time up.  He pitched the final inning.  Lots of hard hit ground balls.  I think his arm was sore.  He ended the game on a hard line drive right back at him that he cught and doubled a runner off second.  I think he gave up two or three runs.  I am not sure if they were earned,  I think maybe one was.  As he says, a bad day.  He, and the rest of his teammates are glad for a day off baseball tomorrow.

Post 81 defeats Easthampton 1 to 0

Luke started the game playing SS and batting sixth.  It was a battle of pitchers all night.  Our pitcher, Garrett Hudson, was outstanding and won the day.  He struck out 15 or 16 in seven innings, while pitching to the minimum 21 batters (the one hit he allowed got picked off).

We only had two hits, but one of them followed an error and a stolen base leading to the games only run.  That came in the third inning (I think).

Luke did not get any plays at shortstop, so he was flawless.

He had three plate appearances.  Two pop ups to the left side and one hit by pitch.

So a quick game.

Another one tomorrow.  I am not sure if Luke will play.