NETWORK CLOSE TO LOCKING UP #2 SEED WITH WIN OVER COLORADO BULLS

With Network short three starters today because of work related issues, the powerful Network offense overcame the adversity and battered 18 hits off Colorado, including 4 hits by Scottie Bailey and 3 hits by Mike Moore. Again, all the starters contributed at the plate. Sympathy cards can also be sent to Pat Armstrong for hitting the hardest 0 for 4 in the history of ofers.

The real story was Scottie Bailey's masterful pitching and the strong defense of the Network team. Bails scattered 11 hits but seemed to never really be in trouble, getting the big K (8 of them) when we needed it.

Two plays happened today that I have never seen in all my baseball playing days. The first one was so simple a play yet so brilliant it has to be noted here.

Mike Moore, who is not fleet of foot at 51, hits a sharp grounder to the shortstop. Mike was told to not expand any energy since we need his arm and legs for the playoffs (pitching-wise.) Everyone yells out to Mike to take it easy down the line...after all, it's a routine play. The shortstop throws the ball slightly off base but the first baseman catches it and adjusts himself, standing in front of the base, waiting to easily tag Mike out as he lumbers down the line. Mike starts to slow up and just before the first baseman is about apply the tag, Mike dips down and slides a leg underneath him, through his legs, touching the base before being tagged. The umpire calls Mike Moore SAFE. To have that much athletic prowess, to make that quick a decision on a routine play, shows you the kind of athlete Mike Moore was and still is. I'd be remiss to mention that last week Mike Moore was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. Kudos to Mike!

Play Number Two falls into the category of the "who-knew?" play. Miles Whitlock, a Network substitute, resident baseball enthusiast, overall good guy and one of the producers of "Faded Glory" moved into rightfield with Network up by a score of 8-2 in the 9th. Miles is normally a first baseman, but I wanted to get Jeff Wells some time in the field as well and Jeff can only play first base.

So Colorado puts together a few hits and we get a few outs and it's now 8-4 with two outs and a man on third. A little too close for comfort but a strong lead nonetheless. The Bulls batter hits a high fly ball to...RIGHT FIELD...and Miles runs in...runs back...and makes the catch for the final out. Or was it?

As I come out to congratulate Miles, over my shoulder I hear some commotion. I turn to see the other team arguing with the umpire. Whatever for? I run in to see what all the commotion is about and discover that Colorado has protested the catch because...MILES CAUGHT THE BALL WITH HIS FIRST BASEMAN'S MITT! This constitutes and illegal catch. The batter gets a hit and no runners advance. I realized that because Miles is a lefty, and we don't have any other lefties besides Jeff Wells (who is also a first baseman) Miles couldn't borrow anyone's mitt to play right so he used his first baseman's mitt.

So now we have to go back to our positions with a different scenario: first and third, 2 outs with the tying run in the on-deck circle. Pitcher Scott Bailey handled the unusual situation surprisingly well.

The next batter hits a deep fly ball to center that somehow KC can't pick up...Jim Davidson can see it and starts running hard towards it. Finally, KC picks it up last minute and makes the catch! GAME OVER.

The win virtually locks up the #2 seed for the playoffs. Network still has to win tomorrow and keep the runs allowed down, but they play the 0-4 Ventura Cubs, a team we have beaten badly before. The importance of the #2 seed this year is highly advantageous. With only 6 teams making the playoffs instead of 8, the quarterfinals pits 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. 1 & 2 get byes and the #2 seed avoids the dominant Tuzos until the finals.

Network has all their playoff pitchers ready for a run. Bill Filippone, last year's semi-final winner arrived today and will be Network's starter for this year's semis. DJ Austin arrives tomorrow hoping to pitch us to another championship on Friday. We all want another crack at the Tuzos, another shot with our full squad and a week worth of baseball under our belts.

It's starting to get exciting!

Rick