It is another scorcher today, and as the fans (all decked out in Hastings hats and shirts) prepare noisemakers, the players warm up on the field. Dance music is blasting on the speakers, and you hear the occasional comments of “how are you holding up?” or “are you nervous?” from the parents. This is the final game, but it sort of doesn’t feel like it. Yet.
It’s now the top of the 1st inning, with Ian up to bat. I’ve never heard the Hastings fans this enthusiastic! Now it feels like the finals.
The sun has gone behind the clouds, so the weather is a little bit more bearable. A hit to shortstop by Ian is thrown to first. First out. Again, the same play is made for CC. Out. A hard hit to the outfield sends Ryan to second base. Taz is struck out for the final out.
Ryan will be pitching this game. “We will rock you” is playing in the background. The passionate atmosphere is contagious here in Michel Laplante field. Ryan strikes out the first Ontario batter. Anthony misses a hard hit to shortstop, and Ontario gets a single. Ryan strikes the next batter out. 2 outs, 1 on base. Ontario hits to the fence, and gets a double. One comes in. 1-0 for Ontario. Another hard hit is missed by CC, and another batter comes in. 2-0. This umpire seems to have the strike zone the size of a baseball. A nice play by Katie stops the runner at first.
Top of 2. Anthony will be starting us off. He is quickly struck out. Matteo is struck out next. A nice hit by Nick to the outfield is caught.
It’s the bottom of the 2nd inning, and a hit to the hole gets Ontario on first base. Ryan gets the bunt, and throws it to Katie for the first out. Ryan strikes the next batter out. And the next one!
Matt will be batting first for the top of the 3rd. Matt hits a single. Katie hits a double just over the third baseline, and brings Matt in. 2-1. It is now back up to the top of the batting order with Ian. It’s a battle of cheering in the stands here. Ian hits a home run! He brings in 2 runs to bring the score to 3-2. CC walks. Ryan strikes out for the first out. Taz strikes out for the second out. Anthony hits an almost home run, but unfortunately it’s a foul. Anthony walks, and CC is at third. Matteo strikes out for the last out.
Ryan walks Ontario, then strikes out the next batter. Anthony makes a great double play to end the inning.
Nick looked safe at first, but the umpire called him out. First out. Then, Alex gets struck out. A hard hit to right field gets Katie on base. Top of the batting order now. Katie steals third just as the Ontario coach calls a time-out. Ian is out at first, and the run doesn’t count.
Taz catches the pop fly for the first out at the bottom of the 4th. The next batter gets a single, after a missed catch in the outfield. Hastings catches the next pop fly for the 2nd out. Ryan strikes the last batter out to bring us to the 5th inning.
CC gets a double off an error at first base. Then, Ryan’s pop fly is caught in the outfield for the first out. Taz follows with an out at first. A hard hit by Anthony past shortstop brings CC home! 4-2. Matteo follows with a single. Nick is out by a play at first.
CC gets the first batter out at first. Matteo gets the next batter out the same way. The next batter is safe at first by an attempted play by Matteo. A hard hit for Ontario brings another batter on base. 2 out, and 2 men on base. Ryan strikes the last batter out and ends the inning.
Its already the top of the 6th inning, and both teams are having a meeting. The 50/50 is up to $650, if that gives you an image of how many people are here. Jordan gets a double! Katie goes in to be the pinch runner. Jordan bunts, and is out at first. Katie is now at third. A very nice hit by Ian gets him to second, and brings Katie in. 5-2. CC is struck out for the 2nd out. Ontario has just intentionally walked Ryan. Taz hits hard down the 2nd base line to get a double! He brings in Ian to make the score 6-2. Ryan is now at third. Anthony hits a home run!! The score is now 9-2 for Hastings! Matteo is struck out.
It is now the bottom of the 6th! Ryan will be continuing pitching. First pitch ball, second strike, third foul, forth ball, fifth ball, 84th pitch caught by Matteo thrown to first; one out. Anthony now pitching. #2 batter; first pitch, strike, second pitch, ball, third pitch, ball, fourth pith, strike, fifth pitch, strike – OUT. Last batter; first pith ball, second pitch, Taz catches the pop fly for the last out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE ARE GOING TO WILLIAMSPORT!!!!!!!
Final Score: 9-2, Hastings, Team Canada!
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