Home Run Derby Results from Tuesday April 15, 2008

With a clear sky and a temp in the 60s, another round of Home Run Derby had to happen. This time our match grew from three to five people, and eventually a sixth (person) and seventh (dog) joined in the later innings of the game.

Results:

Billy -16

Justin McCrady - 15

Daniel Stegall -9

Justin Nardy -2

Marita Karl - 0

(Colin Webb - 1)

(Aeros - 6*)

* amount of wiffle balls eaten

This was a rather exciting game, and even though McCrady dropped his season record to me to 0-2, he actually put on the better performance. In that he hit five homeruns from the left side of the plate, and kept a lead until the bottom of the ninth. This is where my poise and experience came into play. My early rounds were marred by a strained upper back (which i did by simply swinging the bat. i know, i know pathetic). In the first inning I got zero home runs, by the second inning i had one, and then after that i found my stroke again and launched several over the fence. i can blame the back as to why i didn't launch more, but the entire field had to deal with a swirling wind that was keeping a number of would-be home runs from making their destination over the fence. Stegall was a first time player to our game and immediately launched into six home runs. the thing about daniel is that he loves the game. not as in baseball, but as in fun-oriented competition. and the reason why... he wins. all of the time, every time. whether its video, card, or other he wins. and the other thing here, is that daniel is an absolute saint. in all of the years we played music together, not ONCE did he raise his voice or did we even disagree on anything. so for him this competition is completely recreational. as for me, i take it to heart and i play for keeps!

so as the game progressed, nardy improved his home run season total to two, he would have had atleast five more if the wind hadn't knocked a couple back. despite her self-deprecating humor regarding her ability to play, marita made solid contact with the ball. it wasn't like she was swinging and missing, she was making solid bat on the ball contact that usually resulted in line drives. unfortunately for her, this is a game of home run, so consistent and steady contact only got her as far as 10 outs per inning.

in the final inning mccrady was holding on to 14 to 12 lead over me, he popped one more over the fence for what he thought would be insurance. i quickly assured him that it wasn't going to be enough. so with the score 15-12-9-2-0, i stepped up to the plate, and launch the first two pitches for home runs. down by only one home run i smack a couple shy of the fence before i sent another over the fence for the tie. as mccrady was picking up my home runs, he asked if it was tied, nardy gave him the glorious news, and mccrady just said "fuck you, schuh". around that same time i launched number 16 over the fence for a home run. i couldn't have scripted that better.

i should note that during the final two innings our group was joined by our friend colin webb and his dog Aeros. colin took a couple of post game swats and launched one over the fence, while Aeros took turns gnawing on the wiffle balls and his rubber frisbee.