Source
r/slowpitch•
Magicmudkip

First and only win of the season

I joined a team that was originally set to be in a church league but there weren't enough churches so we were just in a co-ed rec league with only one of our players having prior slowpitch experience. We had 20 people on our team so for the first few games we would play 10 people one game 10 the next, but as the season went on the numbers got waned down to a reasonable 12. We still had two pitchers Me, and another team mate. He had issues with throwing balls, and if you walk a guy in our league it's two bases for the guy and the next batter (girl) can choose to go to base or hit. I'm not blaming most of our loses on him, but even when we'd score 7-10 run the other team would be up by 14-18 with several people walked home.

Well this past week our other pitcher wasn't going to be able to make it so I was due to pitch. for 5 straight innings and about 42 minutes I didn't walk a single person (4 for the whole season) and struck 3 people out. we were up 5-0 going with 6 minutes left. I proceed to walk the first batter who was their pitcher (the team we were playing has a very good pitcher who pitches as soon as you are in the box, which i know is legal but all it takes is a slip up and he gets a strike while you're not paying attention which most of our girls didn't.) I pitched him two balls and then he just laid his ball on the ground and told me to pitch it. (we're on a timer so I had to) and ended up throwing a ball. and then 6 more, so it's now 5-3 the next guy up to bat after the three walks bats two in and we get our first out of the inning. We get two more outs on smart plays and go into OT. OT in our league is 1 pitch, 3 outs. i'm up to bat first and make it to second on sliding and beating a tag, we end up getting 6 runs for a 6 run lead.

I'm up to pitch now and am super nervous but i've had an inning to cool off after their pitcher tilted prior. The first batter hits a grounder past me, I dive and tip it with my glove slowing it down enough for the short to grab it and get the out at first. The next batter hits a ball out to the fence and gets to 3rd.

I'm super worried they are about to score on the next batter but luck was with me. Their batter was super close to the plate and they hit it off the handle and dribbled it right to me. I faked throwing to first to try and get the third base runner to go home, she did and got stuck in a pickle. I throw to the third baseman but she dropped the ball. I was sad but we were still in the game. the next batter hits the pitch and it lands about 2 feet infront of home plate. Our catcher was a person who had never even stepped out on a baseball/softball field before so i ran and grabbed the ball to keep the runners on base.

next batter is on final pitch 3-2, I throw a perfect ball to the outside of the plate and they hit it right to me. I run home tag the base and throw to third for a double play.

We ended up losing our next game, but it was amazing to finally get our first win of the season after a near shut out and then a near throw by me.

Posted Apr 29, 2018, 3:05 AM UTC

1414
pasteeater8877•

Congrats!!! Love hearing these type of games .

One tip is if your up but 6 or enough that one swing isn’t going to decide the game go for the out. I understand not wanting the player on third to score but trading an out for a score is huge .

3
MagicmudkipOP•

I agree, but the thing I've been trying to get our team to do all season is eliminate errors. I'd probably make that throw 80% time and get the out but 20% I'd probably overthrow in a clutch moment like that.

3
pasteeater8877•

Haha I understand . If your afraid of a over throw as a pitcher if I have been pitching whole game I throw to first underhand also . Don’t need first over the top toss to go high since

1
whatohthat•

Congratulations! Sounds like it was a blast! I hope it encourages your team to come back for another season and keep learning

2
Dannyjv•

Sounds like a nail biter!!! Those are the best wins. So much emotions and adrenaline.

2
beermeajackncoke1B/OF•

Congratulations but you make some very questionable plays lol

2
MagicmudkipOP•

Would you mind elaborating? First year playing softball and first time playing since 5th grade baseball

1
beermeajackncoke1B/OF•

Up 6 runs and you throw to third instead of first for the easy out. And then you mentioned you got a ground ball and ran home and threw to third. Not only does that not that make sense to me idk how it's even possible.

2
MagicmudkipOP•

The reason for toss to third and not first was the week prior I had a similar throw and it hit the dirt right before my 1st base man got to it and they got a triple off of it. I was trying to eliminate the chance of them getting a run or two off that play.

As for the run home, it was a force play, third base runner had to run home, i tag the bag and then throw to the force on third.

Also third should have been an easy out, but our third baseman bobbled the ball and dropped it. We don't really have any girls on our team who are completely comfortable with catching or throwing.

I don't mean this to come off as I know more or anything like that, that was just my thought process at the time.

1
chrisreese94•

Nothing necessarily wrong with it. I've done plays like that before. Sometimes you gotta play to your teams/players best abilities.

1
montrealcowboyx•

How many girls do you have on the field?

My experience is to have the weaker players playing C, 2B and Rover. They're better covered by the rest of the team.

1
Buckwild58•

This is why pitching is so important!

1
MagicmudkipOP•

Yep, our other pitcher was walking 5,6,7 people per game, and we were getting run ruled a lot. I stopped practicing and that's where those walks came into play in the end.

New season is starting at the end of May and I'm going to try to get a few hours of practice a week.

2