Fort Collins - Week 3 - Highlights

Edora Park Field 1 (5:45pm)

Flint Tropics (Irish Green) vs. Kickin Grass and Takin Names (Forest Green):

What a game! Can you say championship preview??? Things started off on the right foot for the Flint Tropics in the top of the 1^st inning, with Captain Matt Kelly executing his team’s strategy perfectly to score a run on a sac-fly, thereby putting his team up 2-0. Kelly proceeded to strike out two batters in the bottom of the 1^st, and it looked like the Flint Tropics would be on their way to victory… Then Kickin Grass and Takin Names found a chink in the champs’ armor to score two runs with two outs! Kickin Grass would take the lead in the bottom of the 2^nd, then extend it in the bottom of the 4^th after Cavin Shepard’s two-RBI single with two outs yet again! Finally, the Flint Tropics would find home plate after a serious drought in the top of the 5^th inning, which included a total of six runs scored as well as a two run homer by former league MVP Aaron Gaston to cap off the offensive deluge! Kickin Grass and Takin Names would fight back to tie up the game, but the Flint Tropics found a way to score one more in the last inning to squeak ahead for the win!! Brady Andersen, captain of Kickin Grass, said after the game, “We can’t be mad about our effort tonight. We were right there the whole time. If a couple more balls bounce our way, then we could be the ones bounding to victory.” Flint Tropics win 9-8.

Edora Park Field 3 (5:45pm)

Team America (Red) vs. Ballz n Dollz (Indigo Blue):

While it wasn’t there first head off, Team America made sure to remind Ballz n Dollz of their repeat team status for many seasons. Team America started strong with three runs in the first inning, a double play by first baseman stand-in Jaime in the second inning and another 5 runs in the third inning. All the while Ballz and Dollz just couldn’t cross home plate and while they gave it their all on defense to include Jena Hately’s diving catch in the bottom of the third it wasn’t enough to stop the red, white and blue. Pitcher, Kris Culbertson’s diving stop in the top of the 6^th was the final show of talent to Team America’s new recruits including Wendell Stainsby. While Captain Allen decided to sit out a few innings, overall he was happy with his team’s performance. Team America Wins 17-5.

Edora Park Field 1 (6:45pm)

Forney Sparks (Irish Green) vs. Florida Mike and the Free Ballers (Purple):

Captain Brent “Bomberman” Behler from Florida Mike and the Free Ballers wasted no time setting the tone in this game, with a two run homer to cap off a seven score inning for his team in the bottom of the 1^st. Florida Mike also exhibited their usually solid defensive prowess, which included an impressive throw out by Sara “The Sniper” Rice in the top of the 4^th inning as the runner headed towards third base. Overall though, the Forney Sparks really showed some significant improvement on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. Another solo home run by Gabe “The Babe” McCabe run didn’t hurt ;) Unfortunately, Florida Mike and the Free Ballers’ veteran experience was just too much to overcome. Florida Mike and the Free Ballers win 15-3.

Edora Park Field 3 (6:45pm)

Mighty Fightin Narwhals (Tropical Blue) vs. 99 PROBLEMS BUT MY KICK AIN’T ONE (Neon Orange):

The Might Fightin Narwhals continue to throw teams off their game with their incredibly slow rolls that somehow stop barely over home plate. Anxious to kick, 99 PROBLEMS BUT MY KICK AINT ONE struggled to wait for the ball to cross home plate before kicking, giving a paradoxical twist to their name. Besides twisted pitches, Mighty Fightin Narwhals came heavy out of the gate with 10 runs in the first inning, certainly catching orange off their defensive edge who was able to hold them until another breakaway in the last inning with 7 runs scored. 99 PROBLEMS BUT MY KICK AINT ONE had 2 two run home runs in the top of the third inning by stand-in Brady and Captain Lacey “Handsy” Hamel respectively leading to a catch-up of 10 runs and a 4 up lead! But, the Mighty Fightin Narwhals came to fight and retook  the lead in the bottom of the 4^th. Diving catch in the top of the 5^th by Leaping Logan Rutt, Sean Blair’s Grand Slam in the bottom of the sixth and a team effort for a double play for the final two outs was the nail in the coffin determination that Mighty Fightin Narwhals left on the field to hopefully find for next week’s game. Captain, Lauren Tanner says her team is growing stronger so to be on the lookout. Mighty Fightin Narwhals win 25-16.