Next Outing: League resumed back up after Spring Break. There are 9 games remaining in the regular season where they play home & home series against each league team. This week starts with the 3rd place team and one where we beat them 6-2 the first time around. My son didn't start that game but came in to end it in the 7th with an 8 pitch, 3 up-3 down inning.
Yesterday was at home. His arm was feeling a little tired but his back was more of an issue as it was a bit tight. You could tell as he didn't have his normal pinpoint control. He ended up walking two batters (only had 3 walks total on the year coming into the game). The game was nip an tuck with us getting the lead in the bottom of the 1st 1-0. Top of the 2nd he gave up a lead off double (on a 2-1 hanging curve), a hit batter, then a 2-0 get me over curve that was hit to Left Center. The LF drifted with a banana route and let it drop. That scored a run and ended up a single because all the runners held up because it should/could have been caught. He worked his way out with a couple weak contact outs. We then took the lead 3-1 and they promptly added a run to close it to 3-2. It was obvious to me that the other teams's approach was to sit off speed as they were attacking all breaking balls even in FB counts. Seems the book is out that he likes to go with breaking stuff when behind in counts and they were sitting on it.
B4 we took a 3 run lead on a single my son that scored two. His first two AB's were real tough as the ump was calling balls in the other batter box strikes. Each of the first two AB's he fell behind 0-2 on four pitches that were well out of the zone. Nothing he could do. He battled well to foul off the next couple pitches each AB to eventually put the ball in play but it just ruined the AB opportunity having to protect and deal with those calls. Sometimes that's baseball. He did benefit from those calls as a pitcher so he can't complain too much.
T5 he got the first two batters out on 2 pitches. Then walked the next guy on a full count. He then went full to the clean up hitter and tried to shake off the catcher but the coach had given the no shake off sign so he had to go with it. A full count CB which the kid crushed out to LF. My son wanted to throw a cutter because this kid had hid his CB hard a couple times already but the coach had other ideas. Sometimes that happens. It was a bit disconcerting because it was obvious this team was sitting off speed based on their approached after 4 inning of play but sometimes the coach has other ideas.
After that (brought the game to 5-4) it was first time all year where he lost a bit of composure on the mound. He didn't like the call and it turned out bad and he was a bit flustered. Coach did a good job of taking a mound visit and calmed him down and he settled back in and got the next batter. Then struck out the side in the Top of the 6th pounding the zone with FB's. It was a good adjustment and it was the first time he took control of the game with his mound presence and set the tone. A great mental step after struggling most of the game and just not having his "good stuff".
Team put the first two runners on in the B6 and my son (the #3 hitter) came up and was called on to bunt. He placed a perfect sac down the 3B line and was a bang bang play at first that was called out. It could have gone either way. Next guy flew out to short CF so no tag. Next guy bailed them out with a 2 run single to get some breathing room. That brought the score to 7-4. They went down with a wimper in the 7th with no baserunners and a couple weak hit balls and a K. Final stat line on the mound was 7 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 7 K, 4 ER on 97 pitches. At the plate he went 1-3 with a sac and an RBI. Team is now 16-1 and 6-0 in league. Next game tomorrow on the road against this same team.
Season to date:
- Pitching: 6-0, 0.91 ERA (46 IP/6 ER), 21 H, 5 BB, 4 HBP, 65 K, 6 CG, 1 No hitter, 1 Shutout
- Hitting: .382 (21 for 55), 14 R, 13 RBI, 7 2B, 6/6 SB, .470 OBP, .979 OPS
**** Side note: I was talking to my son last week about stealing bases. He isn't the fastest guy but is above average for HS. What he excels at is reading the ball off the bat and just game situation reads. I asked about his steals because he always seems to go on great pitches to steal on and I wondered if he was getting steal signs or the "green light". He said most of the time he is given the green light so up to him to go or not. He said the reason he is able to pick right most of the time is that when he leads he peaks at the catcher's signs and goes on off speed pitches. I was blown away as I would have never thought about doing that when I was playing because I was more worried about getting picked then trying to steal signs. Just something that impressed me and figured I would share.
(I hope I don't bore too many of you with the game recaps. They are interesting to me when I read other peoples so I hope you guys get a kick out of them as well).