Field of Dreams -vs- Field of Screams

It was like old times on the streets today as 2 gangs battled it out: the Bloods taking on the Cripps, welcoming back some returning players as John Withers returning to the game for his second week in a row and Bo coming of the DL for the Bloods. Eddie came along for the ride contributing a 1.000 batting average on the day with 5 singles to his credit. The Cripps had returning Fran, back from his road trip, along with Dr. Phil making his presence known with the usual antics, and our scorekeeper/DH Denis bouncing right back from his last week mishap as if nothing had happened :-)

Looking at the old Del Webb location, which I wish I could picture here but website technical difficulties won't allow it, our current field which emits plenty of 'screams' is rivaling the old field of dreams in returning foul balls to the play area and not allowing balls past the catcher to go all the way to troublesome creek as the new bridge area will do if a catcher should allow a past ball - most likely :-0 The game today exhibited much of the enthusiasm and comradery of old!

Bloods battling the Cripps

The game opened with fewer players than we ended with for a change as we added players this week instead of losing them to various activities as has happened in recent weeks. The Bloods visiting twinning went rather quietly despite the quote of the day:

Quote of the Day: "They got all the hitters"

Heard from the Cripps in the early goings, crying before they were hurt. The Bloods eking out only 2 runs on a John Withers triple after a few singles sprinkled the bases with runners in scoring position. The Cripps regaining there composure answered, being led by veteran Phil Dunaway's leadoff triple blast of his own that sparked Manny and Fran to a HR and triple respectively - scoring 3 runs before being shutdown by the Bloods offense and the Cripps pitching, fanning 2. The subsequent inning led to 4 more runs on another Manny blast that eluded the Bloods outfielders after Fran, Bob L. and Phil loaded the bases with singles. Wasn't looking to good for the visiting Bloods with the game standing at 7 to 2 for the Cripps..

Not dismayed, the Bloods drag themselves up by the bootstraps and wailed away in their second twinning to maximize their runs, adding 10 to their score as Bo led the charge in the 3rd with a deep lining HR to right field after Roger 's Triple drove in Bill T. from second following his double and Eddie advanced Roger home on one of his many singles of the day as previously mentioned :-) That being followed by a John single to put 2 on the pond for Bo's 3 run dinger. They didn't stop there, the fireworks continued as in the 4th after loading the bases Chuck came through with an RBI single followed by a Bo RBI single and Roger clearing the bases with a 3 RBI triple. Feeling pretty vindicated, the Bloods stomped back onto the infield to shut down the riot of the previous Cripp outing.

Unfortunately for the Bloods the clash was to continue as the Cripps answered back with fireworks of their own. Despite Roger's vow to catch a Manny shot, which he did but it was too long to be captivated by the Automatic marker and it garnered the Cripps another 3 runs after already having scored 2 on Denis 's ground rule, light pole ricocheting triple scoring Bob L. from first and a Mark single scoring Denis! The beating didn't stop there. In the 4th Rick's 3 at bats including 2 singles lead to Fran's 3 RBIs on his triple and double while Bob L., having a banner day with his 3 for 4 appearances, doubled in a run of his own. All that after the dust settled left the Cripps on top at 16 to 12 going into the final 5th inning.

With one down, Roger lined a HR to left field away from the Manny Meister, to elicit Manny's ever popular quote: "No one's gonna get that one" to start a rally as Eddie singled, AGAIN, and John powered a homer just far enough to make Manny step across the Automatic line allowing a 2 RBI homer after much lobbying by Roger to convince Manny he shifted his feet back into fair territory to appear to have made a legal catch :-0 reenacting the Manny HR that was caught in the automatic zone. In the thrilling finale the Bloods needing 1 more to tie and send the game into the bottom of the 5th went down on 2 strikeouts, not giving the Cripps the satisfaction of putting them out, or a chance to rally in the bottom of the inning.

**** FINAL: ‘Killers’ – 15

‘' – 16 (w/o a 5th inning to their name ;-) ****

A bunch of hacking and slashing going on during the rumble on Paperwhite today but most importantly - No injuries reported after the may lay!!

HOME RUNS: Manny (3!) - MVP honors, Bo, Roger, John

TRIPLES: Phil, Fran (2!), Denis, Bill T., Roger, John

DOUBLES: Fran, Bill T.

SINGLES: Rick (3!), Bob (3!), Phil (3!), Fran, Manny, Mark

Eddie * batting 1.000 (5!), Bo (2), Roger (2), John (2), Chuck

RBIs: ( Manny with more than half of his teams RBI total!! :-)

Manny (10!), Fran (4!), Roger (5!), John (4!), Bo (4!),

Denis, Mark, Eddie, Chuck

Stickball Y'all -

Next game Monday

7/ 31 @ 10AM

on Paperwhite