Daniel Ferguson recorded his first save as the First National Bank Cal Ripken League boys baseball team defeated the Police on Monday, June 1, 2009.
It was a very beautiful evening for baseball with temperatures in teh mid 80s, and starting pitcher Payton Hartbank was very sharp as he struck out the side 1-2-3 in the opening frame. Poor defense on the part of the Police contributed greatly to First National's scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. Garion Smyser circled the bases to start things off for FNB, driving a 2 strike pitch sharply into center field for a single. The center fielder misplayed the ball, so Smyser advanced to third. He came home as the throw into shortstop was dropped for the second error on the play. Daniel Ferguson had a good at-bat as he fouled off several pitches with 2 strikes. He eventually hit the ball well, but out, as the shortstop threw him out at first base, just nipping Daniel as he was racing down the line. A very wise and learned baseball man who knows of which he speaks suggested to Daniel that he move closer to the plate, and the advice was heeded and it paid off as Daniel later would get 2 hits in the game. Payton Hartbank worked a full count before reaching safely as the second baseman committed the third error of the inning, booting the ground ball hit to him. Hartbank stole second and advanced to third as the throw from catcher sailed into right center field for the 4th error, and he came home as Alex Shoot grounded out short to first. Colton Shoot tripled into right field and Cole Philpot walked, putting runners at first and third, and both runners pulled off a successful delayed double steal, as Cole Shoot scored the third run of the inning. The catcher's throw to second base was wild again and Philpot was able to reach home safely on the fifth error of the inning. The miscues for the Police continued as Hayden Phillips singled into right field and advanced to second base as the ball was bobbled by the right fielder. Alex Inman singled up the middle as Phillips scored the fifth and final run of the inning.
Alex Shoot took to the mound in the top of the second, fanning the side while walking 2 batters. FNB was held scoreless as Daniel Ferguson was the only batter to reach safely, hitting a two out infield single to third.
Cole Shoot struck out the side in the top of the third inning, facing just 3 batters, and FNB scored their sixth run of the inning as Alex Shoot singled to center, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third, and scored on the second wild pitch of the inning.
Things got interesting in the top of the fourth as the Police sent 10 batters to the plate. Cole Shoot started the inning but his control left him as he walked the first 4 batters he faced. Time was asked for and given, and Daniel Ferguson was brought in to face Jackson Berg with the bases loaded and nobody out. Berg walked to drive in the second run of the inning. It was then that FNB's defense began to crack. Daniel threw a fastball for a strike, but the ball bounced off the glove of catcher Garion Smyser. Daniel Ferguson raced home to cover the plate, and all Smyser needed to do was give him a decent throw and they would have nailed the runner. As it was, the throw went high. Daniel leaped to make the catch and he appeared to tag the runner out anyway with a very good sweep tag, but the runner was ruled safe. Batter Trey Skocy reached safely as Berg, running from second, was called out for offensive interference as he impeded the play at shortstop for out number 1. Luke Young followed with a shot hit to the right of shortstop Payton Hartbank, who fielded the grounder in the hole but elected to try and throw out the runner at first, rather than going the short route for the easier force play at second. Hartbank's throw sailed wide, scoring Alex Lilly and Lucas Carpenter. Jacob Atkinson hit an easy can of corn into shallow right field that should have been caught for out number 2, but neither the second baseman, Colton Shoot, nor the right fielder, Alex Inman, made an attempt to catch the ball, and it fell for a single. Daniel then struck out Payton Howell before he induced Dakota Couch to ground out to second, ending the inning and preserving the lead. FNB went down in order in the bottom of the inning with the score in First National Bank's favor, 6-5.
It was a very beautiful evening for baseball with temperatures in teh mid 80s, and starting pitcher Payton Hartbank was very sharp as he struck out the side 1-2-3 in the opening frame. Poor defense on the part of the Police contributed greatly to First National's scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. Garion Smyser circled the bases to start things off for FNB, driving a 2 strike pitch sharply into center field for a single. The center fielder misplayed the ball, so Smyser advanced to third. He came home as the throw into shortstop was dropped for the second error on the play. Daniel Ferguson had a good at-bat as he fouled off several pitches with 2 strikes. He eventually hit the ball well, but out, as the shortstop threw him out at first base, just nipping Daniel as he was racing down the line. A very wise and learned baseball man who knows of which he speaks suggested to Daniel that he move closer to the plate, and the advice was heeded and it paid off as Daniel later would get 2 hits in the game. Payton Hartbank worked a full count before reaching safely as the second baseman committed the third error of the inning, booting the ground ball hit to him. Hartbank stole second and advanced to third as the throw from catcher sailed into right center field for the 4th error, and he came home as Alex Shoot grounded out short to first. Colton Shoot tripled into right field and Cole Philpot walked, putting runners at first and third, and both runners pulled off a successful delayed double steal, as Cole Shoot scored the third run of the inning. The catcher's throw to second base was wild again and Philpot was able to reach home safely on the fifth error of the inning. The miscues for the Police continued as Hayden Phillips singled into right field and advanced to second base as the ball was bobbled by the right fielder. Alex Inman singled up the middle as Phillips scored the fifth and final run of the inning.
Alex Shoot took to the mound in the top of the second, fanning the side while walking 2 batters. FNB was held scoreless as Daniel Ferguson was the only batter to reach safely, hitting a two out infield single to third.
Cole Shoot struck out the side in the top of the third inning, facing just 3 batters, and FNB scored their sixth run of the inning as Alex Shoot singled to center, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third, and scored on the second wild pitch of the inning.
Things got interesting in the top of the fourth as the Police sent 10 batters to the plate. Cole Shoot started the inning but his control left him as he walked the first 4 batters he faced. Time was asked for and given, and Daniel Ferguson was brought in to face Jackson Berg with the bases loaded and nobody out. Berg walked to drive in the second run of the inning. It was then that FNB's defense began to crack. Daniel threw a fastball for a strike, but the ball bounced off the glove of catcher Garion Smyser. Daniel Ferguson raced home to cover the plate, and all Smyser needed to do was give him a decent throw and they would have nailed the runner. As it was, the throw went high. Daniel leaped to make the catch and he appeared to tag the runner out anyway with a very good sweep tag, but the runner was ruled safe. Batter Trey Skocy reached safely as Berg, running from second, was called out for offensive interference as he impeded the play at shortstop for out number 1. Luke Young followed with a shot hit to the right of shortstop Payton Hartbank, who fielded the grounder in the hole but elected to try and throw out the runner at first, rather than going the short route for the easier force play at second. Hartbank's throw sailed wide, scoring Alex Lilly and Lucas Carpenter. Jacob Atkinson hit an easy can of corn into shallow right field that should have been caught for out number 2, but neither the second baseman, Colton Shoot, nor the right fielder, Alex Inman, made an attempt to catch the ball, and it fell for a single. Daniel then struck out Payton Howell before he induced Dakota Couch to ground out to second, ending the inning and preserving the lead. FNB went down in order in the bottom of the inning with the score in First National Bank's favor, 6-5.
Daniel Ferguson started the top of the fifth, and he made quick work of things as he got leadoff hitter Gavin Ayers to popup to shortstop. This out was sandwiched between 2 strike outs. Daniel then led off the bottom of the fifth for FNB by driving a one ball pitch into deep left center field that one-hopped the wall for a double. Payton Hartbank followed by hitting the first pitch delivered to him in virtually the same exact spot as Daniel for back-to-back doubles, and FNB increased its lead to 7-5. Alex Shoot walked on a full count, and both runners moved up on a double steal, placing runners at second and third. Hartbank scored on an attempted pickoff at third as the ball eluded the third baseman. Alex Shoot then stole third base standing up before coming home on single into right hit by younger brother, Colton. Colton stole second base before coming home for the tenth run of the game for FNB as he scored on a single hit off the bat of Alex Inman into right field.
Daniel Ferguson sprinted to the mound as the top of the sixth and final inning began with a comfortable lead now of 10-5. Alex Lilly flew out to center fielder Alex Shoot, who corralled the ball for out number 1. Lucas Carpenter struck out for out number 2. It was during his at-bat, however, that the defensive play of the game was made. The play was made by a fan in the stands. A very wise and learned baseball fan caught a towering fly foul ball with his bare left hand, and he managed this feat while simultaneously keeping his pen, cell phone and scorebook safely secured in his right hand. A round of applause was issued by the appreciative crowd for the display of athletic prowess, and the very wise and learned baseball fan who knows of which he speaks was awarded a free coke when he returned the ball to the refreshment stand. Jackson Berg was the recipient of the new pitch Daniel has learned, a knuckle curveball, and Berg ducked his head as it appeared the ball was going to be high and tight. Instead, it dropped right down and hit Berg in the helmet. Berg was awarded first base, although he should not have been, since the ball should have been called a strike. Berg's head was right over the plate and in the strike zone when the ball plunked his helmet. Daniel seemed a bit put out with the seeming wrong call, and he uncorked 2 wild pitches which moved the runner to third. He eventually walked Trey Skocy, but he did get Luke Young to ground out second to first to end the game.
First National Bank's record is now 5-2 for the season. Their next contest is today, beginning at 5:30 PM.
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