Maple Plain Diamond Devils

Recap for the 05/04/2008 game vs. Howard Lake

Preview Box Score Recap
  1.  
    Howard LakeHL
    Maple Plain Diamond DevilsMPDD
  1. 1
    0
    0
  2. 2
    0
    0
  3. 3
    0
    0
  4. 4
    0
    0
  5. 5
    0
    0
  6. 6
    1
    0
  7. 7
    0
    0
  8. 8
    0
    1
  9. 9
    0
    0
  10. 10
    0
    0
  11. 11
    0
    0
  12. 12
    0
    1
  1. R
    1
    2
  2. H
    7
    12
  3. E
    0
    1

Over the past few years the league games between the Howard Lake Orphans and the Diamond Devils have been nip and tuck and this season’s opener would be not different as the Devils took this one in the bottom of the twelfth.

These two teams have been the top two Class C teams in the North Star League for the last five years and they have picked up where last season ended despite the lack of practice time this spring because of a cold wet spring. As usual the pitching and defense was the dominate force of the game as both teams only managed one run apiece through nine innings. The Orphans had an opportunity to score the first run of the game in the fifth inning. With bases loaded and no outs the Devils’ Pat McPherson was able to get two ground balls in the infield to get the runner forced at the plate and an unassisted ground out at third to stymie the Orphans.

In the sixth, the visitors were able to take the lead in the sixth off of rookie Chad Sande on a walk, a balk and a stolen base. On the steal the throw down to third was wide of third and rolled into the left field grass allowing the runner to score.

The Devils tied the game in the eighth with two outs and with Brandon Schliinz on first, Lee Gregg and KC Johnson single to tie the game.

After the eight neither team was able to reach base by a batted ball until the Devils were able to put two hits together in the bottom of the
twelfth. With one out, Andrew Pratt singled. Andrew’s base hit was followed by a double into the right field gap by Adam Gregg. It was very evident that it was the first game of the season and every one was getting into playing shape. As Andrew was rounding second every step was getting slower than the previous one. Manager John Timpe took a chance and sent him as the ball was on the way in from the outfield. The cutoff throw was up the third base line by 15 to 20 feet. If the catcher had been able to come up with the short hop, Andrew would have been out because at that point he was not even jogging; it was more like a brisk walk.