DHH Couldn’t Dodge the LED Bullet

Defense was the key in last night’s 5-1 victory over the DHH Dodgers at Independence Park.  The win elevates LED to .667 for the season – the best start yet.  Conditions at the field were brutal with all the rain lately, but the game had to go on.  There was a three foot wide swath of standing water along the first base line, so the bag had to be moved in four feet (closer to second).  This changed not only the location of the right foul line but also the location of the first baseman.  There was also standing water and mud at shortstop and the conditions made base running tricky for both teams.

From second base, Paige “Dottie” Ovens put out six DHH batters, four with throws to first, one a fielder’s choice to second and one by snagging a line drive.  From the mound, Rick “ROI” Ward threw out three batters at first and snagged a fly.  From third base, Jayson Newell threw out four batters at first.  Eric Burton even managed to throw out a runner at first and participate in an out at second from the swamp at shortstop.

Lauren Stuart Illing, Eddie James, and Gary Beadle all snagged flies in the outfield in dramatic fashion.  Third base coach Will “Rounding 3^rd” Day added color commentary to his long list of softball skills by detailing the live action (does that mean he is a 7-tool player?).  He described Lauren’s perfect “3-point touchdown stance” she brought out to catch her fly.  He also described Eddie’s diving catch as being a “double roll with a half pike” and said “he nailed the landing!”  Gary’s catch required a sprint to just behind second base with a Willy Mays bucket catch.

But the king of outs participation was none other than Steven “The Diva” Grissom who participated in 10 putouts at first and added number 11 unassisted.  Steven added a dramatic play when he refused to let a potential overthrow pass, leaping and snagging the ball in his outstretched glove, and landing directly on the bag just before the runner arrived.  Matthew Wattigny also had two putouts at his turn on first base. 

And the icing on the defense cake was the pop-up caught behind the plate by Zeppelin newcomer Stephanie Reed Hartman.  She did a great job in her first outing with the team.

Steven and Jayson led the offense in scoring.  Steven went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs and Jayson (safely in the #3 spot in the lineup) went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, scoring once.  Paige and Eddie both went 2 for 3 and scored twice.  Eric, Gary, Lawles Bourque, and Christian Pennington all had singles, but Christian stretched his out to a double on an overthrow to first.  Matthew and Christian both hit solid line drives to first that would have been in the gap had the first base been on the real line.  Sadly, Lauren drew the unlucky #4 spot and couldn’t get a hit after her strong performances at the plate in the last two games.  What is it about that #4 spot?

Finally, Lawles predicted he will be naming his first son Eric Gary Lawles Bourque and that he will be a car salesman!  If you want to know what it means, ask a Zeppelin.

Up next for the Zeppelins is the House of Representatives and the mighty bat of Daniel Waguespack.  LED defeated the House in a scrimmage earlier in the year but it will still be a tough game.  The game is set for Tuesday, July 22.

Singles:  Steven (3) Eddie (2), Paige (2), Jayson (2), Rick (2), Eric, Gary, Lawles.

Double: Christian

RBI’s:  Jayson (3), Steven (2).

Many thanks to all who STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE for LED.

PLAYERS:  Christian Pennington (Business Incentives), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Gary Beadle (IT), Jayson Newell (Business Development), Lauren Stuart Illing (Business Development), Lawles Bourque (FastStart), Matthew Wattigny (FastStart), Paige Ovens (Business Development), Rick Ward (Business Development), Stephanie Reed Hartman (Small Business), Steven Grissom (Deputy Secretary).

FANS:  David Carter assisted the Zeppelins by coaching first base.  Shane Illing (Lauren’s husband), Nancy Ward (Rick’s wife) and Beth Newell (Jayson’s wife) all came out to watch the game and support the team.  Anne Villa sent the water and Powerade to the field again with Eddie.  Christian (bless him) lugged the equipment bag after the game.