Recounting the 9th

As you know or do not know, I play for the Lexington Knights in the Las Americas baseball league. I also grew up playing for many baseball teams over the years. Baseball is a great game because the game isn't over until you get that third out in the 9th. And oh, how hard it can be to get that third out.

We played Mineros last night and pulled off one of the best comeback rallies I have ever been a part of or witnessed in baseball. The Mineros had beaten us twice already this year and we were headed for a third straight loss to them. Their pitcher kept our bats quiet for the entire game and we trailed 6-1 going into the bottom of the 9th.

And then the fun for us began.

I led off the bottom of the 9th. I was fortunate to square up a ball and drive it to deep left center to get one of those Adam Dunn home runs that "don't matter because the game is already decided" home runs. This only made the score 6-2.

However, Brian followed with a base hit up the middle and then Bryce hit a ground rule double to left center. We all thought it was a home run because it appeared to us that the ball tipped off of the center fielder's glove and over the fence for a home run Jose Canseco style. Regardless, we now had runners at second and third, still down 6-2 but nobody were out.

Mineros decided to change pitchers. Their ace had gone 8 plus innings and until the 9th, we caught nothing but bad breaks against him at the plate.

Our next batter, Taylor forced a walk after taking several close pitches that just missed being strikes. His walk loaded the bases with no one out.

Adam came up and was called out on strikes on a pitch down and in. One out, still down 6-2.

With Mineros getting their first out and breathing a slight sigh of relief, Clinton came to the plate. He fouled off some pitches before lacing a line drive into center field. The ball actually tipped off the short stops glove and would have surely been a double play to end the game if it was caught. But the catch was not made and we were still alive. Clinton's hit was nominated for the Pontiac Clutch performance of the year. His RBI single plated Brian and we now trailed 6-3 with one out.

Brendan came to the plate with the bases still loaded. He popped a ball up to the first baseman for the second out and we were down to our final out.

Duke took his turn to bat and promptly hit a fly ball to right field that dropped in front of the right fielder for an RBI single. This made the score 6-4 with still two outs.

Jordan came to the plate with the weight of the game hanging in the balance on or above his shoulders. For every boy or girl who has played baseball/softball or any gamer that has played MLB the Show, this is the situation you dream of: being down a run or two, bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the 9th, and you are up to bat to make yourself a hero or a someone less than 1 and greater than negative one.

Jordan opted for the hero. He quickly got down in the count 1 ball and two strikes. The next pitch barely missed on the outside corner. From the vantage point of us, our loyal fans, and the opposing pitcher who was walking off the field because he thought it was strike three, it was 'kiss the baby' and 'warm up the bus Shorty' because this game was over. The rally would have been dead on a called third strike.

But this was not the script. The umpire called the ball a 'ball' and Jordan "Cookies" was still alive.

The next pitch will go down as one of my favorite baseball memories and is also the Dairy Queen/Sonic play of the game.

"Knights still trail by 2 with Jordan digging back in to the batter box. His brand new Locker Room bat had just come out of the wrapper three hours prior. Count is 2 and 2 and two outs. The pitcher sights the sign from the catcher, checks the runner at third and delivers his pitch plate ward. Jordan swings hits a high drive! Left field! Does it have the distance? It does!!! Home run for Jordan and the Knights have won this game 8 to 6! What a game! The Knights rallied for 7 runs in the bottom of the 9th on 6 hits as 9 men bat to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in Knights history."

And so it goes, Knights win, Knights win.

Come see us Wednesday, September 5th against the Hagyards or see the Knights take a run at the #1 team in the land against the Eagles on Sunday Sept 9th. Both games start at 7 PM and are played at Coolivan Park located at the intersection of 5th and Jefferson.