Lame Ducks Foul Zeppelin’s Clinch of a Playoff Berth

Defense was definitely king last night as the Zeppelins faced off against the Governor’s Office “Lame Ducks” at Perkins Road Park, resulting in a low scoring game.

Chelsea “Welsee” Harris led off with a double in the top of the first, and was driven in by a Jayson Newell single behind second base.  Paige “Dottie” Ovens and Gary Beadle both tacked on singles, but no more runners crossed the plate.

Up by one, the Zeppelin defense shut the Ducks down in order with a deep fly to Jayson in right, a deep fly to Gary in right center, and a heads up play by Paige at second base and Eric Burton at shortstop.  A Duck batter hit a long one and tried to stretch a double into a triple.  Eric and Paige worked on him and nailed him in a rundown to keep the Ducks scoreless.

Despite seven hits over the next four innings, including a double to the fence by Devin Harrison, the Zeppelins were unable to string enough hits together to score a run.
In the bottom of the fourth the Ducks answered back, hitting three in a row and scoring two runs. 

With no outs and another run threatening from third, David Carter put the next batter out at first unassisted while holding the runner on third. The next batter hit it to Rick “ROI” Ward on the mound, who whipped it in to Stephanie Hartman at home who tagged the runner and prevented the score.  The third out came from a pop-up to Rick, but the damage had been done.  The Ducks were now up 2-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, tough defense again ruled the day.  The first batter hit a single up the middle.  The second batter hit a short fly behind third, and Gary came out of nowhere on the run to grab it in his endearing Willy Mays bucket style.  The third batter hit a screaming line drive between shortstop and second, but a leaping snag by Eric and a rifle throw back to first closed the inning with the double play.

The Zeppelins finally answered back in the top of the sixth.  Devin led off the inning with a single over the left center fielder’s head.  A few batters later Eddie James hit a single into right which moved Devin to second.  Jayson’s single resulted in Devin scoring, tying the game at 2-2.

In the bottom of the sixth the Ducks plated another runner to take the lead 3-2.  The Zeppelins had one final chance to make something happen in the top of the seventh.  Leadoff batter Gary tried to put in a pinch hitter – Mills Richardson.  Mills had spent the game performing various roles from bat boy to advice man.  Arriving at the game with ALL of his equipment (ball, glove, two bats and a batting helmet) he was ready to take on any opponent.  The Ducks decided to be good sports and let him bat.  The pitcher moved up to toss him a short one (big mistake) and Mills sailed it over his head for a single.

With Mill’s performance fresh in the minds of every Zeppelin batter, the next few getting up to the plate received calls from the stands about not letting Mills show them up.  Gary started the inning off with a single, followed by Russell (dad) who thankfully got a single as well.  Each time Russell got up to bat, very vocal fan Janile Parks cheered him on with the nickname “Steam Roller,” which she coined after watching him run over a female catcher last week in his zeal to score.  With runners on first and second, Lauren Stuart’s single moved Russell to third, but the Zeppelins could not get him across the plate.

Jayson definitely earned the offensive player of the game award, going 3 for 3 and plating both RBIs.  And on a final note, the Zeppelins didn’t feel so bad about the loss to DCFS two weeks ago when, in the middle of last night’s game, one of the DCFS players hit the ball over the fence of his field, over the area separating their field from ours, over the tall fence beside the dugout, and into our field.  Apparently they can roll over any opponent.

Up next for the Zeppelins is the Department of Insurance.  LED has to win next week in order to guarantee a playoff spot.  The game is set for 6:00 on Wednesday, August 20, at Independence Park.

Singles:  Eddie, Jayson (3), Paige, Gary (2), Russell, Eric, Lauren (3), Rick, Stephanie, Devin

Doubles: Chelsea, Devin

RBI’s:  Jayson (2)

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

PLAYERS:  Chelsea Harris (Communications & Marketing), David Carter (BRAC Liaison), Devin Harrison (Business Development), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Gary Beadle (IT), Jayson Newell (Business Development), Lauren Stuart (Business Development), Paige Ovens (Business Development), Rick Ward (Business Development), Russell Richardson (Business Development), Stephanie Hartman (Small Business).

FANS:  As always, LED fans are the best in the league.  Janile Parks (Business Development), Brandon (Chelsea’s boyfriend), Katie and Mills Richardson (Russell’s wife and son), Shelly and Harper Harrison (Devin’s wife and daughter), Nancy Ward (Rick’s wife), Lori, Alyssa and Ian James (Eddie’s wife, daughter and son), Will “Rounding 3^rd” Day (Business Development) coached third, David Carter coached first and Anne Villa (Undersecretary) sent the drinks with Rick.  Gary lugged the equipment bag to the field and Rick lugged it back.