Sea Kittens (1-1) squared off against Spring League Champions Da Hittas (2-0) Thursday July 3 at Bowman Park, and had any fans been in attendance they would’ve been treated to an entertaining 50 minutes of well-played, well-matched rec slowpitch softball. Not your typical hitters’ affair, this one featured solid defense, squelched rallies, and just enough timely hitting to keep the game in the balance until the bottom of the 7th, when the champs rallied for three runs to upend the Cats 6-5- their second one-run win in as many weeks of the Summer season.
Alex “Puma” Latzka opened the game for the Cats with a triple just inside the right-field line and trotted home on a sacrifice fly from the Sea Beast, John Corrigan to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead. The Sea Kittens defense helped starting pitcher Joe Hennessy wriggle out of a little jam in the bottom of the inning to preserve the advantage, and the Cats doubled the margin with a two-out RBI single from Hennessy in the top of the second, bring home Braden “Gas” Furness from second base.
Prime Puma- a bloop triple to open the game a set up the Cats’ first run- a run that would hold up for almost 4 full innings.
Da Hittas put their leadoff hitter on base in the bottom of the second, but All Day Kendra Haight made yet another defensive gem in the outfield, tumbling to catch a sinking liner and chucking the ball into the general vicinity of the infield upon seeing Da Hitta’s baserunner all the way at second base. The Sea Kitten pitcher was there to intercept and re-direct the throw to Erin “Mama Cat ” O’Brien to complete the unorthodox but inspiring double play. More defense followed- after loading the bases with two out in the top of the 3rd, Sea Kittens could not push a run across, but returned the favor in the bottom of the inning with another stalwart defensive stand.
But drama unfolded in the fourth inning. Hennessy knocked a two-out single to right, and Laura “Red Shoes” Hewitt poked a grounder to the 5-6 hole. The throw to second base skipped away and Hennessy dashed for third. Da Fielda’s throw to 3rd beat Hennessy, but to observers he beat the high tag… well, to observers other than the home-plate ump, who made an inning- and rally-ending “out” call.
Still down 2-0, Da Hittas got to work in the bottom of the 4th, and another call made a shift in the balance of the game. One of Da Hitta’s outfielders smashed a hard-sinking line drive to right-center field, where Corrigan met it and picked it cleanly before it hit the grass, but again the call from home- obscured by the crown on the Bowman outfield- did not go the Cats’ way. That baserunner and another came in to score on a two-out hit to center that evened the game at 2.
After stranding a Sea Kitten in scoring position for the fourth time in the top of the 5th, Da Hittas scratched home a run in the bottom of the inning to grab a 3-2 lead. That margin stood through a pair of 1-2-3 6th innings, and Sea Kittens were down to their final three outs.
Hennessy singled to open the Cats’ last bats, and Red Shoes took his place at first base after a fielder’s choice. Latzka’s attempt to shoot a ball to right field got picked off, and suddenly the Cats were down to their last chance. Haight delivered a loud single, and Red Shoes- seeing a misplay on the throw in- made a gutsy run to third. Corrigan dug in and boomed a double to the left-center-field fence. Hewitt scored, and Haight was waved around third in a dramatic now-or-never race to the plate. She scored, and Sea Kittens had a 4-3 lead. The Roadrunner, Jami Hauer, followed with her third hit of the game to bring home Corrigan, and the Cats went to the 7th needing three outs to secure the win.
Hennessy singles to open the Sea Kitten 7th
The leadoff batter for Da Hittas knocked a single to left, and the next batter hit a hard bouncer off Hennessy’s leg. the ball caromed to Hauer, but spun wildly and away from her- the unluckiest of unlucky hops in the moment. A run came home on the next hit, but the Kits got the next out. Alas it was the last they could secure. Da Hittas tied the game and loaded the bases, and the final batter cracked a clean base hit to seal the come-from-behind victory.
Results
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Da Hittas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Sea Kittens | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Da Hittas
| AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SF | IP | RA | WK | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sea Kittens
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SF | IP | RA | WK | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex The Puma Latzka | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kendra All Day Haight | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Corrigan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jami “Roadrunner” Hauer | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zen Master Rowe | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mama Cat O’Brien | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Braden “Gas” Furness | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Megan “Slam” Salm | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Hennessy | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Red Shoes Hewitt | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Salmon Snacks
- John for his fantastic catch in RCF in the 4th, even if Mr. Dave didn’t see or rule it so, and for the go-ahead double in the 7th
- Laura for her scamper from 1st to 3rd in the 7th
- Kendra for her tumbling grab in LF and double play with Erin (and Joe)
- Sea Kittens all around for a really fun, competitive game
- Heck, Da Hittas for a really fun, competitive game
- Jami & Joe each had 3-hit games
Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game
You didn’t have to see it to believe it. Vote here for the Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game!
What's your pick for the Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game?
- John's shoestring catch that was ruled not a catch in the 4th (50%, 3 Votes)
- Kendra's tumbling catch in LF & throw to Erin at 1B (via Joe) for a double play in the 2nd inning (50%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 6
Next Up
Sea Kittens (1-1) look to down Miller Low Lites (0-1-1) Thursday July 10 in an 8:30 contest on Bowman Field 1. The Low Lites feature crossover (5 players) with the Summer 2024 Base-ic Pitches squad, which the Cats downed 13-7 in the teams’ only matchup.
Game Notes
- The Cats are now 4-8-1 against Da Hittas, and have been walked off twice in the teams’ last 6 head-to-heads (each team having won 3 of those 6 games); overall the Cats and Hittas have played 3 1-run games in their 13 tussles.
- Da Hittas are now the Sea Kittens’ most familiar opponent- the 13 games between the teams are just ahead of Bat & Boujee and Hot Pitches (11 each)
- Sea Kittens fell to 21-20 in 1-run games in their history, and have lost 6 of their past 7 nail-biters
- Fun fact: Sea Kittens won the first 6 1-run games they ever played- including their first-ever game and Packer Inn I and Packer Inn II, and 10 of the first 11, before dropping 8 straight such games
Sea Kittens’ All-time Most Common Opponents
| Opponent | Games | W | L | T |
| Da Hittas | 13 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| South Side Badgers | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Magnetic Monopoles/ Infield Flies/Baltimore Factorioles | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Hot Pitches | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Bat & Boujee | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Steal Your Base | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Run Like Mad | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |