Softball 2007: Mid-Season Tournament

As defending champions (I can't say that enough) we were given a first-round bye, meaning our first game is at 10 instead of 9...plus that puts us in the elite 8 to start--last year we won 4 in a row to win it all. This year it would take 3 in a row.

First Game: Quarterfinals

Batting Stats for Tournament Game One:
1st AB: ground out
2nd AB: ground out
3rd AB: 1B

Average: 0.333
Slugging: 0.333

Pitching Stats for Tournament Game One:
6 IP
4 runs
1 K
1 BB

ERA: 4.66 and the loss

Just like that, we were knocked into the losers' bracket. We played good defense, had a few errors, but fairly solid. But everything we hit was ground outs. I give a lot of credit to their pitcher for that.

So now every team that lost their first game was reassigned into a consolation bracket and we'd be back in the elite 8 for that. Except that our next game was forfeited by the opponent. Someone said, "You don't want to play them anyways, you'd kill them." Perhaps it would have been a good game to pad our stats, but it sounds like we didn't really catch a break.

Eventually, we got to play again:

Second Game: Semifinals (Consolation Bracket)

Batting Stats for Tournament Game Two:
1st AB: walk, run
2nd AB: double
3rd AB: 1B, rbi
4th AB: walk

Average: 1.000
Slugging: 1.500

Pitching Stats for Tournament Game Two:
7 IP
4 runs
1 K
0 BB

ERA: 4.00 and the win

This wasn't even as close as it sounds. They hardly had any hits. Their run in the 2nd was a solo home run. Later in the 7th with two out, the same guy had a 3-run home run. Funny thing is the guy with all their rbi, doesn't even play for their team.

They moved me from the #2 spot to leading off, and it felt good. It also made sense, because I can't hit for power, but I have one of the better obp. Also, one of the best defensive plays was just a smart decision I made in the 7th. There was one out, and at least one runner on first. It was hit softly down the first base line and I could have tried to make the play to 2nd, but with a 6 run lead, I got the easy out at first. It wasn't flashy, but it was key to get outs no matter what.

So that puts in the finals of the losers' bracket:

Third Game: Finals (Consolation Bracket)

Batting Stats for Tournament Game Three:
1st AB: strike out on fouls
2nd AB: 1B, run
3rd AB: 1B, run
4th AB: fly out

Average: .500
Slugging: .500

Pitching Stats for Tournament Game Three:
7 IP
5 runs
5 K
0 BB

ERA: 5.00 and the win

We won the losers' bracket and it was clear we were better. The other team had plenty of weak hitters, hence the 5 strikeouts. We had some errors, but were fairly sharp defensively. With a runner on 2nd, the ball was hit back to me and saw the runner going, so we got the tag at 3rd. I made one catch on a pop-blooper going between the mound and second base. I didn't think I would be able to get there, but I just stuck out my hands and there it was.

In the 7th, I got the first two batters out unassisted. Then I got a first pitch strike on the next batter and was hoping to strike her out to end the tournament. She grounded out, which I guess is good enough.

We could probably beat that first team on a different day, but if we got to the final four in the winners' bracket, we wouldn't have stood a chance against those teams. So I think it worked out pretty well how it did. What's really amazing, is that last year we were able to pull off a ridiculous run and win the whole thing. Our main rival (the other team from our newly merged company) who just schooled us on Thursday, ending up winning the whole thing. So at the celebration party at the bar, they said "You all played hard, even if the people from [company name] played harder than others. As they won both the championship and consolation bracket." That was pretty cool.

Oh yeah, and after we won, they someone asked who gets the game ball...and everyone starting saying my name. Our 1B was talking about my five strikeouts and who am I to turn down the game ball? So I'll put it right next to the one from last year.

Batting Stats for 2007 Tournament:
5/9: 4 singles, 1 double, 2 walks, 3 runs, 1 rbi, 1 strike out

Average: .555
Slugging: .666
OBP: .636

Pitching Stats for 2007 Tournament:
20 IP
13 runs
7 K
1 BB

ERA: 4.55
Record: 2-1

Batting Stats on the Season:
12/22: 9 singles, 3 doubles, 7 runs scored, 3 walks, 2 rbi, 1 strike out.
Average: .545
Slugging: .682
OBP: .600

Pitching Stats on the Season:
43 innings pitched
53 runs
9 K
2 BB

ERA: 8.63
Record: 4-3