Baseball Hall of Famer, wise man, guru and sage, Yogi Berra, once said, "It ain't over till it's over." This erudite maxim proved true again late last night as FBC came from behind to defeat Alamo 5-3. With the win, FBC's season record improves to 7-6.
What makes sports so great, and especially baseball, is that one can go from goat to hero in only a matter of mere moments. Such was the case with Damien Ferguson last night. Damien, who so far this year had been hitting the ball very well, found himself wearing not only the ignominious and proverbial "collar" by going 0-4, he also donned the "golden sombrero" by fanning in all of his plate appearances. But thanks to some late inning heroics from his teammates, Damien was able to reprieve himself and play a huge part in his team's victory.
Alamo took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when they scored twice on 3 hits, but it could have been much worse. Donovan Ferguson's emergence as a solid catcher was key to limiting the damage that could have occurred. With Donovan behind the plate, Drake Jeffries was freed up to take a position in left center field, and the move proved crucial. With 1 run in and a runner at first base, Zach Hall blasted a rising line drive into deep left center. Jeffries took 2 steps back, leaped and caught the ball, almost doubling off the runner on first base. The blast had all the makings of being, at the least, a 3 bagger, but Jeffries' remarkable catch really kept the game from getting our of hand and out of reach.
FBC was not hitting, for the most part, throughout the game. Donovan Ferguson legged out an infield single in the top of the third for only the second hit of the game for FBC, but he was left stranded at third base following a throwing error and a stolen base. It was not until the top of the sixth and final inning of play that FBC finally scored. Trevor Edwards got the rally going with a 1 out single into right, and he quickly stole second and third. He came home on an RBI single off the bat of Drake Jeffries, and Dalton Stephens, who was awarded the game ball, took the next pitch right down the third base line where he circled the bases for a 2 run home run to give FBC a 3-2 lead.
Alamo had a little heroics of their own as they tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a 2 out RBI triple by Zach Hall, who plated Cooper Simmonds all the way from first base. Simmonds had reached safely on a fielder's choice that went pitcher to shortstop, where Donovan Ferguson was now playing. Donovan's throw to first base just missed getting the speedy Simmonds. FBC had an excellent chance of nailing Simmonds at the plate as Trevor Edwards' throw home was a very good one, but catcher Skyler Hood momentarily took his eye off the ball to check out the runner, and the ball went over his glove. Tucker Rappe struck out to end the threat, sending the game into extra innings.
In the meantime, Damien Ferguson was sent to the bullpen to be warmed up by older brother, Daniel, and Damien was instructed to go with his 2 seamer and 4 seamer. He was also advised to not take his at-bats with him to the mound, because he now had a chance to reprieve himself and his team by pitching well.
Brayton Sparrow got things started off right for FBC as he rifled a shot into center for a leadoff single. Brayton moved into scoring postion by stealing second. Skyler Hood followed with a 4 pitch walk, and he and Brayton pulled off the successful double steal to put runners at second and third. Donovan Ferguson struck out swinging for out number 1, and Alex Platz worked the count full before drawing a free pass, loading the bases for Joseph Rader. Rader walked on a full count to drive in the go ahead run, and FBC added an insurance run as Michael Brown also walked, forcing in Skyler Hood. Trevor Edwards went down swinging on a full count, and Damien Ferguson ended the inning by whiffing on 3 pitches, setting the stage for the bottom of the seventh.
Damien Ferguson quickly got ahead in the count 0-2 before getting Bryson Wall to pop out to him for out number 1. Andrew Edwards took the first pitch up the middle for a single, as Donovan Ferguson's diving attempt at shortstop just missed getting to the ball. Edwards stole second, but Gunner Runyan struck out swinging for out number 2. A wild pitch that sailed high to Joey Munoz put Edwards at third. Munoz fouled off a 2-2 4 seam fastball before working the count full, but Damien's 3-2 2 seam sinking fastball buckled the knees of Munoz, freezing him at the dish where he could not pull the trigger, and the pitch back-doored into the strike zone. Munoz was called out, and the game was over, with Damien earning his second save of the campaign.
The 10 and under All-Star team was announced this week, and Drake Jeffries and Damien Ferguson were selected to be on the American squad.
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