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"So, after checking all the game films I have come up with the notion that had it not been for 'El Nino' whipping up from time to time last Wednesday night, we would have beaten those Mixed Nut cases instead of blowing it in the last inning," the coach reflected, after the Iguanas dropped a close fought battle in which the lead exchanged hands several times, to the second place Mixed Nuts, 16-9.
"Well I guess we did look pretty good. But, then I always try to look my best. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep my hair perfect in the 'El Nino' winds? And, this dang team is so cheap I have to stay up late nights pressing my own uniform and buffing my own cleats," shared Paul 'clean cut' B.(SS). Paul turned in another strong effort knocking down Nut hard hits and swinging a big bat for the second straight week.
Lizard pitcher Mike A. ignored comments about his skinny legs in last week's Reptile Rag as well as a late game injury, to go a complete game. Attwood overcame Blue's floating strike zone, which seemed whipped around a lot by the 'El Nino' winds, to provide very reliable hurling. But, Blue got the best of the Lizards
on at least one occasion. Irish Reptile Eric M.(CF) stood at the
plate way ahead of the Nuts' pitcher 3-0. A walk would have scored
After a long half inning Reptiles could not manage a run despite a pair of good singles, but then two hits back to the pitcher. Pitcher Gilberto S., who filled in quite aptly in centerfield for the injured Eric M., could only watch as the third and final out was made while he waited for his first trip to the plate. Gilberto did get a good swing and then a hit as he hurled his bat (a favorite of many Lizards) into the dugout screen expressing his displeasure. Gilberto recovered in time to make it to the concession stand for a cold, festive beverage before Park authorities added insult to the Lizards' injury by turning out the lights while the Reptiles still gathered and gabbed. More Lizard runners:
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"Yeah
well I'm not sure exactly," confessed the coach. "I've been hearing
it for years. It's too hot somewhere and that's 'El Nino's' doin'.
It's too cold somewhere; it's 'El Nino's' fault. The wind blows
too hard; blame 'El Nino'. The sky is full of ashes from fires
in Mexico caused by 'El Nino'. At first I thought, 'Who the heck
is this little Hispanic boy running around and causing all this
trouble?' But, then through scientific research in the National
Enquirer, I found out 'El Nino' is some big wind out in the ocean
somewhere that has all these magical powers and can raise all
kinds of cane."
For
the second time in as many weeks, the Lizards combined uncharacteristically
good hitting and stingy defense to produce a high caliber of play
not expected from Reptiles
"Yeah
I never thought of that, but I guess it must have been 'El Nino'
that snatched that grounder out of my glove in the second inning,"
said Tom O.(3B). "I was there, I swear I was there, then all
of a sudden there was dirt in my eyes and nothing but air in my
glove. I knew it wasn't my fault. It must have been 'El Nino'."
The Lizard third bagger made it to first twice on two hits
and scored once.
Always
dependable Stacy T.(2B) turned in another outstanding performance.
Stacy brought her big bat again for the second straight week and
made several outstanding stops at second especially in early innings.
Stacy
from second and the cagey centerfielder was going to make the
opposing hurler work for it. The Nuts' pitcher lofted two, clearly
out of the strike zone, but Blue seemed to be looking for an early
end to the night's festivities and called both bad pitches strikes.
Never shaken, Eric waited patiently for the full count pitch and
let it go by when it was clearly outside to the point of actually
touching turf in the first base line batter's box. But, Blue was
already the victim of 'El Nino' smoke inhalation and with his
runny, watery eyes saw a strike and then rubbed it in with a big
dance down the first base line calling Eric out.
The
out retired the side and sent the Lizards to the field for the
final inning. With time expired the Nuts mustered a few hits coupled
with key Lizard errors allowing the youngsters to take the lead.
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