Keeping it short and sweet...

Ahh the Sunset... Jackets and Shorts

Faced with 3 games in 4 days, the Lions executed their "less innings played = less pitches thrown" plan to perfection, resulting in a three inning (!!), 14-0 decision against St. Stephen today in this first game of the season-ending gauntlet. In doing so, they got a taste of what they'll be seeing the rest of the season and in the playoffs. St. Stephen showed up with 13 players but batted only 9, wanting to "turn the order over" and get back to their top hitters as frequently as possible.

Coachie - a step ahead of opponents

While the Lions are proving themselves to be a potentially dominating team, even they are beginning to run into end-of-season nagging issues. Ryan (day-to-day) missed again today with a sore arm while guys playing in different leagues have been racking up the pitch counts. John C (100 pitches yesterday) and Stephen E (75+ pitches yesterday) were either unavailable to pitch or needed to be kept on a short string for their arm's sake. Fresher arms in the stable (Ryley and John K) were going to be needed at some time today or during this week (there will be 3 games including the first playoff next Sunday), so the Coaches went with a strategy that paid off - they started Nick, he of the no-hitter last game.

First, the Visitor Lions batted and put a quick 3 on the board with RBI hits by Nick (2 RBI's) and John K as the team batted through the order.

Nick promptly struck out batters 1-3 in the bottom half of the first, and it was right back to the Lions. RBI hits by Nick (a 2 RBI Dingah! to deep left Center!), and John K highlighted a 5 run outburst where the Lions once again batted through the order.

Back on the mound, Nick started to show some residual fatigue from Wednesday's outing (as well as a lot of LAX since then!) and a couple runners got on base via walk. Here the Coaches made a decision you don't see enough of these days, bringing Stephen E to the mound to finish out the inning. Three strikeouts later, the side was retired with the two runners left stranded on 2nd and 3rd.

In the third, the Lions put together their best inning of the game, once again batting through the order for 6 big runs. RBI's by Nick, Stephen E and John C (2 RBI's) as well as Liam and Morgan led the charge, putting the Lions in position to win early with a 14 run lead.

In to finish, Stephen E struck out the first batter; the second hit a grounder to Ryley at third with a solid throw to Liam for the out (the only ball put in play against the Lions); and the last batter went down swinging. Stephen E's 5 strikeouts, no hits, no walks, combined with Nick's 3 strikeouts, no hits, and two walks concluded three stellar innings of pitching and another big win for the 6-0 Lions.

Next game Tuesday, St. Cecilia, and then Wednesday, the big one against #2 Epiphany. And on a side note, it was great to know that Coach E. was on his way to check out Epihany's win against St. Philip right after our game, and that he and Coachie will have a little more than the standings to go on by way of preparation for Wednesday. Thanks, Coach E!