Kittens Clip Eagles’ Wings

More than thirty score weeks had passed since Sea Kittens dashed through the red clay dust of Olbrich Park in pursuit of softball glory, or at least in pursuit of a good time and story.  The squad’s return to the diamond delighted players and spectators alike, as the Cats (1-0, MSCR Kenosha League) thrice rallied from behind en route to a thrilling 14-12 win over Swingin’ Eagles (0-1). The Zen Master, David Rowe, made his third consecutive Opening Night start for Sea Kittens.  Rowe immediately energized the audience by striking out the first two Eagles he faced before serving a big ‘ol roadkill meatball to the Eagles’ hulking #3 hitter, who tore into the meat and dropped it well over the center-field fence for a 1-0 Eagle advantage.

After dismissing the Cats quickly in the first, Eagles stretched its advantage to 3-0 in the second inning, but Dan Dynam-Oele knocked in and scored the first run of the Sea Kitten season with a home run to open the bottom half of the inning. Katherine “Sunshine” Curtis followed with a solid single down the third-base line and a Man-Aaron Jossart hit set up the Cats’ offense.  Joe “Coffeecat” Hennessy and Kyle “Boom Boom” Magyera  each delivered a run-scoring double, and gave the home team its first lead of the season.

The 4-3 Sea Kitten advantage lasted for three batters in the top of the third inning, as the Eagles gashed the Kitten defense for 6 runs, capped by a 3-run home run that put the visiting side up 9-4.  The Kittens reared back and answered, knocking four consecutive singles to open the bottom of the inning, and Jossart clubbed a 2-run double to draw the Cats within a run.

Rowe and the defense found a groove in the 4th, finally retiring the Eagle offense without allowing a run.  With two out and one on in the bottom of the frame, Rowe and the Roadrunner, Jami Hauer, created hard-to-describe havoc on the basepaths and tied the game.  Mama Cat Erin O’Brien followed with a line drive go-ahead double over the Eagle center fielder’s head and Oele brought her home with a hit to extend the Sea Kitten lead to 11-9.

Controversy bubbled in the 5th inning.  The Eagles’ first basewoman opened the inning with a double, and a pinch-runner took her spot at second.  Rowe buckled down and retired the next two batters, but the fourth Eagle up in the inning drove a ball to right-center field.  Hauer got on it quickly, hit her cutoff, (seriously- a Sea Kitten outfielder hit the cutoff!) and Hennessy fired a strike to home plate, but the ball scooted away from Curtis just as the Eagle runner arrived.  After a moment’s confusion, the inning was over, the runner having been called out for violating Curtis’ sanctum- home plate- rather than stepping on the black mat.  The Kittens quietly scooted off the field before anyone thought differently, and then politely went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.

After two quick outs in the top of the 6th the top of the Eagles’ lineup fluffed up once again. A pair of base hits set things up for their big-hitting third baseman, who delivered his second homer of the game, a 3-run shot to give his side a 12-11 lead.

Worried that the game clock was ticking down, the Cats had to approach the bottom of the 6th as their last chance.  Magyera notched his third hit of the game with one out, and Alex Latzka stepped to the plate, 0-3 in the leadoff spot after a horrific pre-game jinx was cast upon him.  He broke the spell with a gapper that rolled to the right-field fence, and Magyera felt the terror that is being chased on the basepaths by the Polish Puma.  The inside-the-park blast put the Cats ahead 13-12, and two-out hits from Rowe, O’Brien, and Oele gave the team an insurance run to play with.

Perhaps delighted by the pluck of both sides, the ump signaled for the Eagles to bat in the 7th, time limits be damned.  Sea Kittens would need to record another three outs to claim victory, which they did with an uncharacteristic lack of drama.

Salmon Snacks

• Kristin for making her Sea Kitten debut.  
• Laura for not getting hugged out at 3rd base in the 2nd.  Pretty sure the big guy forgot about the ball because he wanted the hug.
• Dan for a 4-4 game at the plate, including a HR and 3 RBI
• Kyle for a 3-3 game from the 11-spot, including  a double & 2 RBI
• Erin for the big double & a clean game at 1B
• Jami for all the quick recovery of hits to right-center
• KC for that beauteous single to left in her first AB of 2021

 

Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game

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