The Resurrection Life Warriors had been questioned this season as to just how tough a team they were in 2010. Well last night, the team answered the call charging back from an early seven-run deficit and a last inning two-run deficit to claim a much needed 24-19 victory over league leaders Wooddale Mercy Rules. The victory evens the season series between the two teams at one each and knocks Mercy Rules down to 8-2 and pushes Rez Life up to 6-3 on the season. The team had to battle the weather early, as ominous rain clouds surrounded the area, but the team played its entire game without a raindrop falling and even had sunshine for the last four innings.
The bats were solid but not spectacular for the Warriors until the nine-run seventh inning. Jeff Tenney led the charge as one of four players with four hits en route to earning his second Player of the Game this season. He scored four times and drove home eight, using two homeruns. And he used them at crucial times. He mashed a three-run homer in the fifth to give Rez a temporary lead and he hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the seventh to put Rez on top for good.
The first inning started with substitute Jason Merritt reaching on a throwing error and after a lineout Jason moved to second as Austin Colby reached on a sharp grounder to third. Eric Johnson walked to load the bases and Tenney hit a shallow pop to center that was dropped which allowed the first run to score. Tim Jandro followed with another popout, this one was caught for the second out. With the bases still loaded, Jeff Johnson drew a walk to push home Austin and make it 2-0 Rez.
Wooddale came out swinging, starting the game with a single and a double. The defense was solid for the rest of the inning though, holding Mercy Rules to just those two runs for the inning.
Tied 2-2, Rez went down in order in the second leaving the door open for Mercy Rules. Wooddale responded with seven big runs to open up a 9-2 lead after two innings. Wooddale used six hits and two walks to plate the seven runners.
Rez needed to answer and did so with four runs in the third to keep it close. Adam Hey singled and after Austin flew out, Eric singled to push Adam to third. Tenney roped a single to score Adam and after the second out, Jeff singled to load the bases for Aaron Beintema. Aaron hit a chopper to second that was booted, allowing Eric to score to make it 9-4. Lee Valle stepped up with the bases loaded and came through with a seeing-eye single to plate two more runs for the Warriors.
The infield defense kept Wooddale off the scoreboard in the bottom half as Tenney had a nice unassisted double play from shortstop to end the inning. Rez had a chance to take the lead in the fourth, trailing just 9-6.
With the top of the order up, things started slowly in the fourth with consecutive outs to start the frame. Austin doubled to center to get the ball rolling and Eric lined a single to push Austin to third with two outs. Tenney roped a single to score Austin and Tim followed with an rbi single to plate Eric. Still with two outs, Jeff singled to score Tenney and Aaron came through with the fifth straight two-out single to score Tim and give Rez the lead, 10-9.
Wooddale stumbled again in its half, leaving a runner on base without scoring so Rez Life held a 10-9 lead after four innings. Rez Life expanded its lead to six runs with a five-spot in the top of the fifth on five hits, a walk and a Wooddale error. With one out, Jason singled and moved to second on Adam's second hit of the game. Austin hit a high flyball to right-center that was dropped allowing Jason to score and putting runners on first and second for the suddenly hot Eric Johnson. Eric ripped another hit but Adam was cut down trying to score on the play for the second out. Tenney calmly blasted his first homerun to deep left-center to plate three runs and make it 14-9 with two outs. The Warriors weren't done as Tim took the first pitch he saw and lined it over center to make it 15-9 through four and half innings.
Wooddale ended its scoring drought with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, tightening the score to 15-13 after five. Wooddale peppered six singles and used one Rez Life error to push the runs across. A grounder to Lee at third ended the inning, leaving the bases loaded.
Rez looked to open up its two-run lead in the sixth but went down in order for the second time on the night and held on to its two-run edge going into the bottom half.
Wooddale roped a solo homer to start the inning to make it 15-14 but an infield popout provided the first out for Rez. A single and two straight walks loaded the bases and as pitcher Jason struggled to find his command momentarily, a run was walked in. After a flyout to left, two more runners scored on a single but on that play Jason took the throw from the outfield and quickly fired to Lee at third who cut-down the runner trying to advance to end the threat and the inning. However, the damage had been done and Rez now trailed 17-15 headed in to the final inning.
Adam started a great seventh inning with a clean base hit and Austin shook off his off-night with a game-tying two run blast to center. Eric coaxed his second walk of the game and Tenney did his job with a two-run bomb to give Rez its game-winning lead. The offense kept right on going as Tim doubled and went to third on a single from Jeff. Aaron walked to load the bases for Lee who again came through with a two-rbi hit to make it 21-17 Rez, still with no outs. After the first out advanced the runners to second and third, Jason lined out to first for the second out. Adam stepped up in a big way with his second seventh inning hit, this one a deep double in the gap plating two runs. Austin sliced one to right for his fourth hit to score Adam and stake Rez to its seven-run lead, 24-17.
Wooddale knew it had to put up a big number and had three homeruns to use. But, the big hit never came as Wooddale had runners on the whole inning, but just pushed them around with singles as Rez cut down one batter at a time with a lineout to Aaron in left with two on ending the game.
The Warriors needed that bounce-back win and now trail the leaders by just one game in the loss column, holding the tie-breaker over Wooddale Classic (7-2) and having one game remaining against Wooddale Mercy Rules to determine the tie-breaker there.
Next week, the Warriors play at 7:50 on field #2 against the hot-hitting St. Andrew Blue squad. The following three weeks after that are all doubleheaders for the Warriors so now is a good time for the Warriors' bats to get hot.
Look for the Mid-Season Report and All-Star game announcements next week as the Warriors have now hit the halfway point.
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