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12 June 2005

An extraordinary game yesterday.

The Kings and the Falcons were neck and neck for most of the match. Going into the 7th inning stretch, Oxford were up by 2, and with starting pitcher Derek Kelly getting stronger by the inning, it looked like the visiting team were starting to pull clear. However, a walk and an error allowed two Falcons players to get on base in the bottom of the seventh and both came home to score to tie the game, 7-7. The scene was set for a dramatic finale, which will be remembered for years to come.

The Kings failed to score in the top of the 8th. In the bottom of the inning, the Falcons number-3 hitter, Jim Denison, benefiting from some very close strike-zone calls, managed to draw a walk. Denison proceeded to steel 2nd base and 3rd base with some aggressive base running. Kelly, focused on getting the final out of the inning by striking out the Falcons captain, Aspi Dimitrov, then threw a curve that broke sharply, skipped in the dirt, and got past Kings catcher, Santo Bains. Without hesitation, Denison broke for home, scoring before Bains could get the ball back to Kelly, who had run in to cover home plate. Though he must have been feeling somewhat disheartened, Kelly maintained his composure and got the batter, Dimitrov, to ground to the shortstop for the final out of the inning. It seemed certain that a deflated Oxford side would surely now lose the match, and in so doing, greatly reduce the Kings chances of making the Premier Division playoffs this year. However, two of the Kings hitters had other ideas.

The first man up, Jonathan Keogh, a British rookie batting in the 7th spot for Oxford, picked out a hanging breaking-ball and drove it to right field for a base hit. Would the Kings be able to capatalise on Keogh's glimmer of hope? With the next two batters striking out swinging, it looked doubtful. Top of the order hitter, Michael Lamb, stepped up to the plate. The Kings bench prayed for a double - perhaps Keogh could score on a double, they all thought. Lamb watched two pitches go past...one ball, one strike. Then on the next, Lamb decided to deliver a strike of his own. The ball came off of his bat and sailed towards the gap in right-centre field. 'RUN YOUR 'BEHIND' OFF!!!!' screamed Bains at Keogh. But he didn't need to, the ball cleared the fence and the Kings & their supporters erupted into celebration - a two run homerun! There was still work to be done, however. The next batter grounded out, and so the Kings tried to refocus as they took to the field to try to close out the game.

Kelly, obviously fired up by what had just happened, shook off all calls from the catcher for curves & changeups - he just wanted to throw heat, and that is exactly what he did. The 7, 8 & 9 hitters from Hertfordshire couldn't handle Kelly's fastballs, and all three of them hit grounders to the infield. The first one went straight back to Kelly, who had to make a strong throw to first to get the out. The second was a sharp drive right at Oxford first baseman Steve Cavanagh. The ball took a tough hop, but Cavanagh was well positioned and stood his ground, taking the ball off of his chest. He scrambled to retrieve the ball, turned, and under-armed it to Kings second baseman, Masaharu Egawa, who stepped on the bag just before Buddy Owen from the Falcons made it to the base - another close play. The third grounder was also hit sharply, this time to Oxford's other Brit, Dan Lowther, who was at third base. Lowther made a smart snag, then turned and tossed the ball towards first. His heart must have been in his mouth as the ball sailed high, which drew audible calls of 'He's missed it!!!!!' from the Hertfordshire bench. But Cavanagh, moving off the bag, leaped like a moose off of an olympic springboard, and snatched the ball out of the air. As he came down he swiveled and touched 1st base with his glove. The Kings erupted into celebration once more.

A truly memorable game. Man of the Match award of course went to Lamb, but there were many outstanding performances. Well done Kings.

In two weekends time, the Oxford Kings face the Essex Arrows in a critical mid-season double-header. If Oxford can win twice, they will move into second place, and send the Arrows down into third.