Game 3: Hastings vs Prince George All-Stars

It’s a gloomy day here at the ballpark, at an appalling 8:55 am, but the game starts off nicely with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem and the little league pledge. It was ended by a good luck “manly” handshake by Ian and a Prince George player. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain.

The top of the 1st inning starts off with a fantastic out of the park home run past the 208ft fence by Taylor. Unfortunately, there were no men on base as well. There are two great hits to the fence by Robbey and Anthony. This brings the score to 2-0 for Hastings. As if the game could not get any better, Josh smacks the second out of the park home run to make the score 6-0. Joe Mama is back! The hits continue to be great as we advance into the line-up.
Scott makes a dive over the 2nd baseman’s arm to get to second base, then Taylor gets a double to bring Scott home. Ryan is up next, and with a failed catch from the 3rd baseman, Ryan is safe at first, bring Taylor home to make the score 8-0. The top of the 1st inning ends with 8 runs on 7 hits, making the score an almost mercy.



The bottom of the 1st inning ends with Robbey pitching no runs by Prince George on 1 hit, with 1 man left on base. It has also began to drizzle, and the dedicated fans start to bring out their fleeces and blankets like the prepared Canadians they are.


In the top of the 2nd inning, Hastings continue to hit everything including the 3rd baseman, and many cars parked dangerously close to the diamond. We then bring in another 3 runs to make the score 11-0. This is maybe the best Provincial game yet for stealing and hitting.
At this point the score is 12-0. Speaking of hitting, Robbey has just hit an out of the park home run bringing in yet another 3 runs to make the score 15-0.
Taylor’s birthday homer has set the tone for this early baseball game.



It is now the top of the 2nd inning, and there is a pitching change from Robbey to Shota. The Hastings kids must be warmed up from last night in Keenan’s hotel room consisting of pillow fights for batting practice, wrestling for agility, video games (Halo) for focus, and farting competitions for endurance. They are also ready thanks to feast the mothers made.


Taylor is having a great (birthday) game, showing off his catching talent by making a diving, turn-around catch to get the 3rd out in the bottom of the
second.

The score is still 15-0 in the top of the 2nd inning… until Keenan gets an out of the park home run, again past the 208ft fence to make the score 16-0. Give us a break! The Hastings parents have barely sat down until Shota got another out of the park home run. The ball continues to land in the same spot past the fence. We are still batting in the top of the 2nd, and the score is now 19-0. The sun and blue skies are beginning to show their face as well.



Well as I was talking to my mom and grandmother about maybe Hastings should tone it down, my grandmother informs me that if there is a tie in the championship game, the most points win. That means that the more points that you receive in your games, you will win the tie. So White Rock already has a great advantage, from their first score of 32-0 against Prince George. This doesn’t really seem fair in my opinion, but I guess we have to keep going.

The top of the 4th inning ends off with the score is 21-0.



The bottom of the 4th starts and ends with another fast-reflexes catch by Taylor, and great pitches by Ryan. That's the ball game!

Game 2: Hastings vs Prince George #2 Team

Ryan starts off the top of the first inning with no men on base. Ian caught the first hit in the outfield from the Prince George player.




The Prince George supporters are very enthusiastic, always cheering, and even clapping along and dancing to the music. This Prince George team is the host team and was first denied a spot in the tournament until the coaches went to Williamsport to get permission. They are now in the tournament.





Taylor starts off the game with a double, and steals 3rd base.
Ryan hits a triple on an error in the outfield, and brings Taylor home to make the score 1-0.
Its been a long journey for these Hastings players, who used to be afraid to hit the ball (from what I have seen). Now these players all KNOW they can hit it, and you can see the determination in their eyes.
Ryan comes in on an RBI from Anthony’s pop up in the outfield, and Robbie steals home to make the score now 3-0.



The Hastings boys continue to make no mistakes and get the easy outs in the top of the 2nd inning. There is now a pitching change from Ryan to Anthony. The top of the 2nd ends off with no runs from the Prince George 2 team, and one man left on 3rd base.



The bottom of the second inning brings in another run by Taylor, by a base hit from Ryan. The bottom of the second inning ends with one run with one hit.

It’s the top of the 3rd inning, and the Prince George team is already trying to start a wave.




The score is now 6-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Ian got a base hit and brought in another two runs to make it 8-0.


It’s now the bottom of the 4th inning, and the score is 10-0, Hastings. That’s the ball game!

Layritz vs Dunbar

The Hastings team anxiously awaits their next game while watching the tied, extra-innings Dunbar vs Layritz match. The score is still 4-4 in the top of the 9th inning. We appear to be cheering for the Dunbar team, probably because in what I have seen:
• The Layritz pitcher hit 3 of our players, and never once uttered an apology
• Just now, the Layritz player tagged a Dunbar player out at first, then pushed him with his shoulder. Many Dunbar parents agreed it was “unnecessary”.

Its amazing to see the transformation of the Hastings players, from the view of a baseball sister for 6 years. Instead of goofing off in the stands, the Hastings All-stars are giving helpful tips, wildly cheering the other players on, and are getting focused for their game ahead.

The Layritz team just made an incredible diving catch in the outfield from a great hit from Dunbar. It is now the 10th inning.
**********

The Dunbar team still manages to show humor in the 11th inning, with the score 5-4 for Layritz with the bottom of the 11th left to go. The coach from the stands yells “Hey Jeff! This is only your 6th time up at bat! Don’t forget you have practice after the game.”
The Dunbar team has just tied up the score (5-5), and has a batter on 3rd base. The batter needs a base hit to win the game. However, the Layritz pitcher is now attempting to walk the batter to get another inning in, until… he slips! The pitch is good, and the batter hits a nice line drive, and Dunbar wins! Looks like good humor, and fair play has won them a very long and exciting game that left even the Hastings team pumped up for game 2.

Hastings' First Win

The PREVIOUS game: White Rock vs Prince George #2 team. Final score = 32-0 for White Rock


Game 1: Friday = Hastings vs Layritz



In the top of the 1st inning, Taylor starts off the lineup with a double to the right field fence. The crowd goes wild! This is a great way to start off the game. Ryan is up next, and walks to make 2 men on base. Then Robbey comes up to bat... and it's an out of the park home run! I have never seen the Hastings parents so energetic as Robbey runs happily around the bases, making the score 3-0 for us. At this point, Layritz changes their pitcher. The new pitcher (who I swear could pass for 16 years old), pitches a few, then hits Anthony for a walk to first base. Next up is Keenan, who again gets hit by the same pitcher, and it's a walk again. Josh comes up to bat, but quickly has to go back to the dugout because Christian is supposed to be up. Christian gets hit. Vito (our coach), talks to the umpire because normally 3 hits for a pitcher would mean he's out. However, it seems the umpire only gives the pitcher a warning, and he goes back into the game. The Hastings fans are now upset about this call, but move on. Josh then comes up to bat, he hits, Christian's out at second base, and Katie (who substituted for a hurt Anthony) makes a run in. This now brings the score to 4-0. Wait! Keenan steals home base, and makes the score 5-0. The final tally for the top of the 1st inning is 5 runs on 3 hits.


In the bottom of the 1st inning, Shota pitches well, and there are no runs for Layritz.

The top of the 2nd inning arrives, and the Hastings players seem to be a little nervous. There is an error in the outfield, and 1 run comes in for Layritz. Just as Hastings was recovering from the first error, another error is made in the infield and another run on a bunt makes the score 5-2. A failed catch in the outfield for Hastings brings in another 2 runs, and makes the score 5-4. There is now a pitching change from Shota to Keenan.

Now for 3 innings straight, both teams play hard and there are no runs on no hits until the bottom of the 4th inning.



In the bottom of the 4th inning, Ryan makes two great plays to get 2 men out. One run for Layritz comes in and ties up the score to 5-5. For the 3rd out, Anthony gets the guy out at 3rd base. The umpire calls it safe, but after some arguing from Hastings, he changes it to an out.

The top of the 5th inning has no runs on 1 hit from Anthony.

In the bottom of the 5th, Keenan pitches no runs.



The top of the 6th inning is a nail-biter. We need runs to win. The score is still 5-5, and this is our last time to bat. Layritz makes great plays and there are no runs scored for Hastings.



The bottom of the 6th inning has all the Hastings parents closing their eyes as Layritz advances two bases from Robbey's catch at first that was called safe by the umpire. Later on, there is an incredible play by Robbey, getting 1 out on first and throws it to 3rd to get the last out. It's all tied up, and now we go to extra innings.

In the top of the 7th inning, Taylor hits, but gets out on first base. Next up is Ryan, who gets a base hit for the relief of the Hastings supporters. Robbey then has a base hit as well, and Ryan advances to third base. Rally-hat time!! Anthony is up to bat. As Anthony is warming up, Robbey tries to steal second base, but gets out for the 2nd out. Anthony then gets a base hit to first base as Ryan steals home! Keenan goes up to bat, but he gets out. The score is now 6-5.


In the last inning, Hastings managed to hold back Layritz with amazing pitching from Keenan, and a great play made in the last minute with Anthony getting the man out at 3rd, then throwing it to first.



HASTINGS ARE VICTORIOUS!