since July 7, 2004.Last Saturday was a great day for baseball. And aside from losing yet again, Evergreen’s club baseball team reminded its few spectators that a great day of baseball isn’t necessarily derived from winning.
Facing the Western Washington University Vikings, the Geoducks were the underdogs before they even left the capitol city, as the Vikings trampled them 12-8 and 11-0 in their previous match up last month. And when the Geoducks arrived Saturday morning at Joe Martin Stadium in Bellingham, they were again short of players, this time bringing only ten.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Vikings dominated the first three innings and scored seven runs – partly in thanks to catcher B.J. Hickok’s three-run homer at the bottom of the first. They also allowed only one base hit, by catcher Will Tubman at the top of the first. Tubman would later score the first of the team’s two runs, when he managed to steal home on Viking error. In addition, Tubman picked up an RBI at the top of the fifth when his line drive to center allowed outfielder Whalen Dillon to score.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be enough to either secure a win or keep the Vikings from dominating the rest of the game. The Vikings went on to score five runs in the fifth inning, thanks to infielder Michael O’Donnell’s two RBIs and a ball given to the team when Geoduck pitcher Sean Presley supposedly stepped off the mound. That event prompted strong reactions from team members and one spectator, who directed his anger at the discerning umpire: "You can’t even see the rubber where you’re at. That’s a chicken call!"
The highlight of the game was a sweet triple play at the bottom of the fourth inning, when Viking infielder Andrew Irvine’s line drive straight to third baseman Evan Kearley enabled the Geoducks to throw out O’Donnell, outfielder Michael Johnson and Irvine, all thanks to quick reacting by Kearley, second baseman Jeramy Villianos and first baseman Tucker Waugh. Afterwards, one onlooker commented, "That looks like a real baseball team out there!"
In the second game, it look like the Vikings might succeed in shutting out the Geoducks, but the guys in green managed to score two runs at the top of the seventh inning. Outfielder Miles Conroy, in his only time at bat, ran in the first run, giving Tubman his second RBI of the day. Then, outfielder Jeremy Harrison-Smith scored the final run, following a Presley base hit. And though the Geoducks still lost 12-2 and 5-2, this was the first time all season that the team hadn’t been shut out during a series of games. The two teams were scheduled to play an additional game the next day, but the Geoducks chose to forfeit.
The Geoducks finish out the season with Central Oregon Community College on May 1 and 2 at Vince Genna Stadium in Bend.
Clearly the team’s ability to follow through and make the necessary plays has taken a step forward. More players had base hits (many more than one), the offense took more risks, the defense made bigger plays, and the pitching remained solid. Even some mistakes turned out OK, like when Dillon bobbled a fly ball right into Villianos’ hands. The Vikings’ strengths, however, seemed to lie in their pitching (or maybe not, as they cycled through four pitchers in the second game) and the players’ ability to steal bases. But the Vikings hadn’t appeared to have changed much, at least not in the same respect as the Geoducks, whose playing has greatly improved since the start of the season. It just goes to show that while the Geoducks may be walking (talking) clams, they can control their 'Dang Hot'-ness until the right moment arises to let it all hang out.
Damn, I love those great baseball Saturdays! (Rip it!)
Copyright © 2004, Talia M. Wilson
published in Cooper Point Journal, April 15, 2004
since July 7, 2004.