McLean Little Team Loses Game, But Never Its Spirit

Here's the latest report from the Southern Regionals from our McLean Little League correspondent, team manager Gerry Megas about Saturday's Game.

We came up a little short today. Unfortunately we gave up 5 runs in the top of the first inning and fell short in our comeback. The West Virginia team hit very well today and took us a little by surprise - they had not hit well all tournament. I was quite sure that we would get to their pitcher at some point but it took longer than expected.

In the first inning they put their first runner on with a well-placed bunt and we allowed her to advance to 3rd with some miscues. She scored on a sacrifice fly. After two singles, pop out and a walk we dropped a foul pop at first that would have ended the inning and they capitalized with a two-run single. After another single they scored their fourth run when we threw out a runner at home by 15 feet - only to have the run allowed due to interference at third. One more single brought in the fifth run before we got out to the inning.

Not the start we were hoping for.
 
Bella Norton singled in the bottom of the first but we left her stranded.
 
In the second inning Sabrina got them out 1-2-3 with Lucy Mulligan making a very good play on a line shot to right center that she got a good jump on.
 
In the bottom of the second after a line shot by Anna Harris down the left field line was caught we scored two runs off a walk to Victoria Bergeron, a double by Zoe Dobson and an error on a ball hit by Allie Clarke. Unfortunately we left Allie on third to end the inning.
 
Down 5-2  entering the top of the third - lightning and thunder arrived and we were in for a one hour time delay. On resuming neither team scored in the third.

In the top of the fourth we gave up a walk and then failed to cover second on a ground ball to the pitcher. A single then brought in one run and a dropped fly ball in center second two more. We entered the bottom of the fourth down 8- 2.
 
A bunt single by Mariah Zwirb, followed by a walk to Erin Stuver and a double by Allie Clarke brought in two runs. We ended the inning stranding runners on first and third.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, we had a chance to take over the game. Walks to Bella Norton and Sabrina Sanchez started the inning and we scored two runs off a single by Victoria Bergeron. Grace Chambers walked and stole second to put runners on second and third.

Allie Clake hit a shot down the right field line that went foul by a few feet and then walked to load the bases. The West Virginia team replaced their #1 pitcher. Annie Ferguson then hit a hard shot down the first base line that would have cleared the bases. Unfortunately, the pitching change resulted in the best fielder on the West Virginia team at first base and she made an outstanding reflex catch that saved the day for them. We ended the inning down 8-6.
 
In the top of the sixth with two outs and two runners on we made a bad throw off an inning ending ground out to the pitcher. This brought in the 9th run.
 
In the bottom of the sixth Lucy Mulligan got to first on an error and Bella Norton singled. We had runners on first and second and no outs with Sabrina Sanchez at the plate. Sabrina hit two long shots foul down the left field line. One more fair shot and we have them on the run. Unfortunately Sabrina popped up. A tough break for us and for Sabrina who was very revved up to win the game. We made two more outs and lost 9-6.

All in all this was a very winnable game - the girls were very disappointed. I was proud of our continued comebacks - how we never gave up even after some uncharacteristic misplays. At the end of the game we had them hanging on and just one good break on some hard hit balls would have changed the result.
 
Even though we did not realize our dream of advancing - the girls had a great experience - handled themselves with great class and made a very good impression with the tournament umpires and officials.
 
We play in a consolation game tomorrow and then will be coming back on Monday. It's been a great season and this has been a great group of players and parents to work with.

I'm sorry to see it all end - but I'm looking forward to returning to the normal daily routine.