Canterbury Baseball Club
by Sean Callahan 18 September 2005
The Dragons (8-3) scored three unearned runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to squeak by with a 10-9 victory on a dreary day at Avonhead Park. Shane Rata reached first on a dropped third strike to score Yoshimitsu Fuchigami with the go-ahead run. The Dragons come-from-behind victory followed the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies improbable last at-bat victories earlier in the day.
The Wizards (3-8) appeared to have a rare-victory in hand, leading 9-8 going into the top of the seventh, but defensive lapses and some wild pitching gave the game to the Dragons.
Shane Rata started the inning with a easy grounder to short, but the Dragons' Chad Denny, subbing at first, couldn't handle the wicked throw from Leigh Ryman. The Wizards got the first out on a fielder's choice and a second one on an infield pop-up before the wheels fell off.
First, Andrew Peasey fouled off three pitches before working a walk. Fuchigami followed with three more foul balls, including one that was catchable, before lacing an RBI single in the hole. Another error at shortstop loaded the bases for Sean Rata. Rata blooped one to short and it was the Dragons' Kristoffer Batchelor's turn to drop the ball at first base to allow the tying run to score.
Callahan quickly fell behind Shane Rata 3-1 before thowing a strike. Rata swung at the next pitch, but Callahan threw it in the dirt and catcher Scott Woyak was unable to corral the wild pitch to allow the go-ahead run to score.
The Wizards got the tying run to third in the bottom of the seventh, but Fuchigami struck out Ryman and Allen Hu to end the game.
The Wizards took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Callahan's liner eluded a diving Fuchigami in center for a three-run home run.
The Dragons got one back in the top of the third when Fuchigami singled in Kris Batchelor.
Denny struck out the side in the bottom of the third and his teammates were able to give him a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth, courtesy of another "own error" by the Dragon playing first base for the Wizards (note to self - don't let the opposition provide the first baseman when you're playing short-handed). The Wizards escaped further damage when Denny ventured too far off third base and was nailed 2-5-2.
The Wizards tied it in their half of the fourth with an unearned run, as Callahan walked, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
The Dragons took the lead back in the top of the fifth against Callahan with their own unearned run, courtesy of two mislayed grounders.
Nicholas Batchelor tied it with an RBI-single in the bottom of the fifth, before Woyak cleared the loaded bases with a long triple and then scored on an errant throw before Fuchigami could record his first out. Fuchigami would have the last laugh, retiring nine of the last eleven batters he faced, without surrendering another hit.
The Dragons received another unearned run in the sixth to make it 9-7, as two more groundballs eluded the Wizards defense after there were two out.
And then the train wreck...
Notes: Denny finished with nine strike outs in four innings.... Next week's game starts at 12:30. Be there at 12:00... Practices on Tuesday & Thursday from 5:30 to dark (or the security guard locks the gate).... We're running registration again on Saturday from 11am to 2pm.... The senior season will start on 23 October.
The Wizards (3-8) appeared to have a rare-victory in hand, leading 9-8 going into the top of the seventh, but defensive lapses and some wild pitching gave the game to the Dragons.
Shane Rata started the inning with a easy grounder to short, but the Dragons' Chad Denny, subbing at first, couldn't handle the wicked throw from Leigh Ryman. The Wizards got the first out on a fielder's choice and a second one on an infield pop-up before the wheels fell off.
First, Andrew Peasey fouled off three pitches before working a walk. Fuchigami followed with three more foul balls, including one that was catchable, before lacing an RBI single in the hole. Another error at shortstop loaded the bases for Sean Rata. Rata blooped one to short and it was the Dragons' Kristoffer Batchelor's turn to drop the ball at first base to allow the tying run to score.
Callahan quickly fell behind Shane Rata 3-1 before thowing a strike. Rata swung at the next pitch, but Callahan threw it in the dirt and catcher Scott Woyak was unable to corral the wild pitch to allow the go-ahead run to score.
The Wizards got the tying run to third in the bottom of the seventh, but Fuchigami struck out Ryman and Allen Hu to end the game.
The Wizards took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Callahan's liner eluded a diving Fuchigami in center for a three-run home run.
The Dragons got one back in the top of the third when Fuchigami singled in Kris Batchelor.
Denny struck out the side in the bottom of the third and his teammates were able to give him a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth, courtesy of another "own error" by the Dragon playing first base for the Wizards (note to self - don't let the opposition provide the first baseman when you're playing short-handed). The Wizards escaped further damage when Denny ventured too far off third base and was nailed 2-5-2.
The Wizards tied it in their half of the fourth with an unearned run, as Callahan walked, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
The Dragons took the lead back in the top of the fifth against Callahan with their own unearned run, courtesy of two mislayed grounders.
Nicholas Batchelor tied it with an RBI-single in the bottom of the fifth, before Woyak cleared the loaded bases with a long triple and then scored on an errant throw before Fuchigami could record his first out. Fuchigami would have the last laugh, retiring nine of the last eleven batters he faced, without surrendering another hit.
The Dragons received another unearned run in the sixth to make it 9-7, as two more groundballs eluded the Wizards defense after there were two out.
And then the train wreck...
Notes: Denny finished with nine strike outs in four innings.... Next week's game starts at 12:30. Be there at 12:00... Practices on Tuesday & Thursday from 5:30 to dark (or the security guard locks the gate).... We're running registration again on Saturday from 11am to 2pm.... The senior season will start on 23 October.
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