Team Achievements went limping in to the playoffs. Our leadoff hitter and SS was missing the game; our catcher and 6th hitter was unavailable; and our 5th hitter and co-ace of the team was missing. 3 of our top 6 hitters and SS, P, and C were not in the line up. Coach Callister had to open his bag of tricks (and I usually don't share this with people because I only have 3 tricks in the bag) to get the team fired up before we played the pitching heavy Cox's Crew. Our pre-game talk centered around the 'Miracle on Ice'. The team nobody gave a chance. I told the kids I was Herb Brooks today and asked them to start naming the USA hockey players on the team. Silence.....not a peep....you could hear a puck glide across the ice in our huddle. I quickly regrouped and said it wasn't important who the players were as long as we recognized that a TEAM can overcome alot of things! I think the kids got the point! Ty Gates, who moved up to leadoff, got on base on the very first pitch of the game. Ryan doubled him in to get us really fired up! A pitcher's duel between the C's (Danny and Ryan) ensued with neither giving in to the opposition. A classic playoff game that could have gone either way ended with The Chadster holding down the fort with a runner on third in the bottom of the 6th! On the hill: Ryan - 4 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 6 K's, 0 BB's Chad - 2 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 5 K's, 0 BB's Lumber: Tyler - single Ryan - double Jack - triple Nick - single Leather: T-Pot caught all 6 innings in the heat and humidity. Before the game Teddy weighed about 70 pounds. Post game weigh in showed him at 53 pounds! Great job Teddy! Chad at 3B. Jack Attack at 1B Jake at SS A very well played defensive game by every kid!! We're on to the next game and the schedule maker was very unkind. Forts Ferry 6th grade graduation dance is Thursday which is our next game. Girls or baseball? What a decision 4 of our players have to make! I say go with the girls - there'll always be another baseball game somewhere/sometime! Our opponent (JG Spirits) will be well rested with their ace ready to go! I hope I can find another trick in my bag!! A very well played game by the McGuirksters!!