“Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.” (Ted Williams)

The Zeppelins faced off against DOTD last night at Perkins Road Park to play what was a tight, lead-trading match until the two teams were tied 5-5 going into the final inning.

DOTD started off the top of the first by scoring one run on a solo homer by their pitcher.  The LED defense cracked down and got out of the inning leaving them with runners stranded on second and third.  LED was unable to plate a runner at the bottom of the inning, and left Paige Ovens and Jayson Newell stranded on base.

At the top of the second DOTD plated another runner to bring their lead to 2-0.  LED answered back by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning.  Eddie James started the rally with a single to the right side of the field.  Gary Beadle then produced his own single to deep right, which Eddie stretched into a two base advance, landing on third.   Chelsea Harris hit a hard line drive into left center which plated Eddie.  Eric Burton then hit into a fielder’s choice ending in Chelsea being out at second but pushing Gary on to third as a setup for the next hit.  David Carter then hit a single to plate Gary before the inning ended deadlocked 2-2.

DOTD then tacked on two more runs in the top of the third with the same four-man combination they would come to rely on later in the game.  The Zeppelins answered back with a run in the bottom of the third. Paige led off with a single to the left side and Jayson legged out a single to the right side.  Corey followed up with a single to load the bases.  Ashley hit a fly that backed up the shortstop toward the outfield, allowing Paige to tag up and score, and narrowing the DOTD lead 4-3.

The Zeppelins held DOTD to no runs in the top of the fourth, while coming back to add two more runs in the bottom of the inning.  Gary led off with a single to right field followed by a single from Chelsea to left field.  Eric again hit into a fielder’s choice leaving Chelsea out at second but pushing Gary to third for a score on the next hit.  Matthew hit a fly to the second baseman who then made a bad throw trying to nail a runner not tagging up.  This allowed Gary to score and Matthew to get the RBI.  David then got up and hit another great shot to the right side, plating Eric, and putting the Z’s up 5-4.

DOTD answered with another run at the top of the fifth with the same quartet of guys.  LED was unable to answer at the bottom so the inning ended with the score tied again at 5-5.  Neither team scored in the sixth, so the game went into the final inning to determine the winner.

Having gotten back to the top of their lineup, DOTD then brought up the same quartet of guys and coaxed a few LED miscues to plate all four, putting the game out of reach at 9-5. 

The Zeppelins have nothing to feel bad about and everything to feel good about because for the second game this season they have had to play at a disadvantage.  The other teams only fielded two women (one behind the plate), which means LED’s coed team is in effect playing against a mostly all-male opponent.   The fact that the team can hang in these odds is a testament to the strength of LED’s female players.  GEAUX GIRLS!

Next week LED will face the House of Representatives, and our old friend/former co-worker/homerun hitter Daniel Waguespack, on Wednesday at 6:00 at Perkins Road Park. 

Hits:  Chelsea (2), Corey, David (2), Eddie, Eric (2), Gary (2), Jayson (2), Paige (2) and Russell (2).

Doubles:  Ashley

RBIs:  Ashley, Chelsea, David (2) and Matthew

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

PLAYERS:  Ashley Falcon (Civil Service), Chelsea Harris (Communications & Marketing), Corey Dorsa (SEC), David Carter (BRAC Liaison), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Gary Beadle (IT), Jayson Newell (Business Development), Matthew Wattigny (FastStart), Paige Ovens (Business Development), and Russell Richardson (Business Development).

FANS:  The Zeppelins had two LSU athletes in the dugout for the game pulling for them.  Ashley’s little sister Alayna plays softball for LSU (as did their other sister Allison), and Ashley’s roommate Hannah Robinson played tennis at LSU with Ashley’s cousin Megan Falcon (LSU’s only three-time singles All-American and the highest ranked NCAA seeded player in the history of LSU tennis). 

Hannah has an even longer family history with LSU sports.  Her grandfather is former Tigers football standout Johnny Robinson, who starred in LSU's 1958 national championship team and went on to play professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs.  Her great-grandfather is former LSU men's tennis coach W.T. "Dub" Robinson, for whom the Tigers' tennis stadium is named. 

After the Zeppelins game ended the three girls got out on the field and participated in some fast pitch action.  Unfortunately for Corey who was playing catcher for them with no equipment, he was smacked in the neck by a foul tip on a 65 mile-per-hour pitch from Alayna.  If you see him today ask to see the bruise!  The group then decided they would continue play without a catcher.