Zeppelins Struggle in the Mud Against the DOTD Intermodal Team

They say that bad playing conditions favor the weaker team, and it may have rung true as the Zeppelins lost some spring in their steps last night against the DOTD Intermodal team, playing on a field in terrible shape.

There was standing water at home plate, just beyond first base and down the third base line. Eddie James tried to drain the water from home plate with paper cups, but the plate had to be relocated anyway for the safety of the batters. Many Zeppelin batters were just barely put out having to tiptoe down the baselines trying to avoid the mud and standing water, in what otherwise would have been hits. The conditions impacted DOTD as well, but they managed to put more hits into the outfield which gave them more time to get to first base.

Both teams put up hits early in the game. LED batted at the top of the first and scored two runs quickly on a single by Eric Burton, a triple by Eddie which scored Eric from first, and a sacrifice fly to left center by Russell Richardson, which scored Eddie from third. Gary Beadle then hit a line drive to right center, followed by singles from Chelsea Harris and Paige Ovens to load the bases, but the Zeppelins couldn’t bring in the ducks on the pond.

Intermodal struck back with hits into the gaps at the bottom of the first, driving in four runs to take the lead. Defense on both sides eventually adjusted to the playing conditions and runs in the remaining innings were harder to come by.

The DOTD team had an outstanding female shortstop, certainly a recent strategic hire, who turned in a nearly flawless performance both on the field and at the plate. The Zeppelins kept hitting to her and to her second base teammate who rarely let anything get through the infield.

The Zeppelins fielded 10 players and tallied 12 hits while Intermodal fielded 12 players, tallying 13 hits. In the seventh inning Eric put his rally cap on and went out to coach first base. He then proceeded to call his wife out at first (who was clearly safe) thereby dashing some of the come-back spirit. There followed some talk about “the couch” but it wasn’t clear exactly what they were discussing.

The Zeppelins are set to face off against the powerful House of Representatives next week, on Wednesday, July 24, at 6:00 p.m. at Perkins Road Park (Kenilworth). Eddie will be leading the team so please come out and support the Zeppelins.

Hits: Eric (2), Eddie (3 for 3 with a triple), Russell, Gary, Chelsea, Paige, Leigh Ann, Katie and Christian.

RBI’s: Eddie and Russell.

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

PLAYERS: Chelsea Harris (Communications), Christian Pennington (Business Incentives), Eddie James (Business Development), Eric Burton (Business Incentives), Gary Beadle (IT), Jason El Koubi (Assistant Secretary), Katie Richardson (Russell’s wife), Leigh Ann Burton (Eric’s wife), Paige Ovens (Business Development), Russell Richardson (Business Development).

FANS: Mills Richardson (Russell’s son) and Susan Bigner (Business Incentives).