Surrey Indians VS North Delta Fighting Irish (June 15)

Irish give Indians a fight

The much anticipated contest against the North Delta Fighting Irish could have ended in the biggest humiliation in the history of the tribe. The Irish led early in the ball game 2-0. We are talking about a team that was 0-8 coming into the game; yet somehow, our dormant bats and mediocre defense, allowed the Irish to think they were actually going to get a win out of us. This was supposed to be a game in which everyone's average was going to look a few hundred points better the next day; not so, instead, many of us added a few more K's under the SO column. The final score was 13-5 in favor of the tribe, but, considering many of those runs were unearned - and the result of a comedy of errors by the Irish defense, there is little to be content with in the Indians' clubhouse.

We are also suddenly facing a player count crisis. The injury bug has hit a couple of key members and head coach / player Scott Sibley has accepted a front office job with the Toronto Blue Jays. Some players were MIA on Sunday and were reportedly seen at gentlemen's clubs the night before. The Indians started the game with 8 players on the field, would have been 7 if it weren't for a last minute call to D. Jones who was able to make it out for his second game for of the season. O. Matsubara arrived in the bottom of the first inning to complete the squad of 9.

K. Neidert eager to face the Irish, got off to an uncharacteristic start by allowing a walk. The Irish took advantage of the walk and a miscue by the tribe's defense to score the game's first run. In the top of the second inning, the Irish led off with a single and a stolen base. The Irish took the 2-0 lead when the next hitter singled in the runner from second. Neidert would settle down and shut down the Irish for the next 2 innings.

The tribe got on the board in the bottom of the second. K. Grace started things off with a walk and went to third on a failed pick off attempt. E. Roblero then blooped a double to the right field line and went to 3rd on the errant throw to second base. After O. Matsubara walked, he stole second and went to third on the catcher's errant throw. The same error allowed Roblero to score. D. Jones singled to score Matsubara. C. Edger followed and reached base on a fielder’s choice but no out was recorded as the ball was once again booted around allowing D. Jones to score. C. Edger stole second, B. Tonogai reached base on an error by the first baseman allowing Edger to score. Neidert followed with a double and G. Nolan took a free pass to first. With the bases loaded, C. Ratelle ripped a single to score the Indian’s 6th run of the inning.

Roblero pitched the 6th and 7th innings allowing one run in each frame. While Matsubara completed the last 3 innings and allowed 1 run on 1 hit, 1 walk and 5 Ks.

The tribe would go on to score 2 runs in the 5th and 5 more in the 6th highlighted by a bases clearing double by D. Jones.

Please don’t forget to vote for this game's player of the game; The nominees for player of the game Indians VS Irish are:

Clay Edger 2 for 5 2(1B), 1BB, 1RBI, 2 RS, 1SB
Greg Nolan 2 for 4 2(1B), 1BB, 1RS
Kelly Grace 1 for 3, 2BB, 2BB, 1RBI, 3RS
Dane Jones 3 for 5 2(2B), 4RBI, 2RS