A fellow snake in the grass joined Scott Ellefritz down the third-base line during a Wednesday game full of landmarks. Only this snake in the grass was a real snake. Look. There's a picture of it.
The snake lay coiled comfortably for a full inning.
"I'm not going to range too far to my left," Josh Paul said.
Ellefritz and Jim Wince helped glove the frightened animal and chucked it part of the way down the left field line.
Storm clouds and distant lightening strikes threatened play early as VLB members Mike Verre, Wince and Brian Mier scrambled to assemble the new VLB L-screen.
After only a light rain the game continued and conditions turned blisteringly humid as the Bandit outlasted the Crushers 14-12.
Andy Moeller led the River Bandit charge with a 5-for-5 afternoon. The Crushers led 1-0 before Ellefritz's squad of thieves uncorked for three runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.
With help from Chris Polton's two-RBI triple, the Bandits took a 14-7 lead, and things looked comfortable. Ellefritz needed to leave early, expecting his team to cruise on to the win.
It didn't turn out to be so easy.
Jen Francescon led off the top of the ninth inning with a base hit sparking a rally. The Crushers scored four times and trailed 14-11. Jon Escajeda came to the plate with two runners on and two outs. Matt Veto was on the mound and called for a meeting.
"I think we should intentionally walk him," Veto said. "We've got Ian (Leatherman) on deck."
"I think we should pitch to him," Mier suggested. "We've got a three-run lead."
"I don't have anything to offer to this conversation," Sean Bachman said. "I've just always wanted to do this."
The final decision was made to put Escajeda on to face Leatherman. The crazy lefty swung and nubbed a dribbler toward second. In a moment of indecision, no play was made and the lead was down to two.
"Yes! That's why you don't pitch to me," Leatherman said.
With the bases still loaded, the Bandits finally secured the final out and the victory.
In a Veto League first, Jen Francescon and Susie Francescon became the first sisters to play in the VLB. Jen was 1-for5 with a run in her debut, while Susie went 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
Susie, who will be a junior in high school next year, also became the youngest female to play in the VLB and the second youngest player this decade. Nick Goodknight played as a freshman last season.
The snake lay coiled comfortably for a full inning.
"I'm not going to range too far to my left," Josh Paul said.
Ellefritz and Jim Wince helped glove the frightened animal and chucked it part of the way down the left field line.
Storm clouds and distant lightening strikes threatened play early as VLB members Mike Verre, Wince and Brian Mier scrambled to assemble the new VLB L-screen.
After only a light rain the game continued and conditions turned blisteringly humid as the Bandit outlasted the Crushers 14-12.
Andy Moeller led the River Bandit charge with a 5-for-5 afternoon. The Crushers led 1-0 before Ellefritz's squad of thieves uncorked for three runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.
With help from Chris Polton's two-RBI triple, the Bandits took a 14-7 lead, and things looked comfortable. Ellefritz needed to leave early, expecting his team to cruise on to the win.
It didn't turn out to be so easy.
Jen Francescon led off the top of the ninth inning with a base hit sparking a rally. The Crushers scored four times and trailed 14-11. Jon Escajeda came to the plate with two runners on and two outs. Matt Veto was on the mound and called for a meeting.
"I think we should intentionally walk him," Veto said. "We've got Ian (Leatherman) on deck."
"I think we should pitch to him," Mier suggested. "We've got a three-run lead."
"I don't have anything to offer to this conversation," Sean Bachman said. "I've just always wanted to do this."
The final decision was made to put Escajeda on to face Leatherman. The crazy lefty swung and nubbed a dribbler toward second. In a moment of indecision, no play was made and the lead was down to two.
"Yes! That's why you don't pitch to me," Leatherman said.
With the bases still loaded, the Bandits finally secured the final out and the victory.
In a Veto League first, Jen Francescon and Susie Francescon became the first sisters to play in the VLB. Jen was 1-for5 with a run in her debut, while Susie went 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
Susie, who will be a junior in high school next year, also became the youngest female to play in the VLB and the second youngest player this decade. Nick Goodknight played as a freshman last season.
RSS Feed
