By Billy Sample
Softball Times
ABILENE — Michael Irvin might be Dancing With The Stars, but HGH has been Dancing With Danger.
So far, however, the Syringes’ perfect record has not been eliminated.
For the second time in three games, HGH took a large lead into the final inning only to allow its opponent to eventually bring the tying man to the plate. But once again, HGH escaped — this time by a 12-9 count against South Side.
The Syringes are now 4-0 for the first time ever, thanks largely to a lucky line drive.
The South Siders (1-4) had whittled a 12-4 deficit to 12-9 in their final at-bat and had runners on first and third with two out when the next hitter laced a screamer down the third-base line. But the hard-hit ball plunked the baserunner on third squarely in the thigh, meaning by rule he was immediately out.
Just like that, the game was over. And it preserved a victory for pitching ace/pizza mogul Jonathan Sharp, who had held the South Siders scoreless for the first four innings as HGH built an 11-0 lead.
“I was in a groove there for a while, but then their bats got hot — almost as hot as the new Domino’s Chicken Habanero Oven Baked Sandwich,” Sharp said. “It looked like we were in deep trouble — almost as deep as a Domino’s Deep Dish crust. But I got the job done. After all, Domino’s is number one in customer satisfaction.”
For the Syringes, it continued a trend of late-inning letdowns that has become far too common. Consider: In the game’s first four innings, HGH has blasted its opponents by an impressive margin of 49-12. After that, however, the opposition has outscored the Syringes 28-15 — including a staggering 19-0 edge in the fifth inning.
“It’s frustrating,” HGH coach Nathan Sanders said. “We gotta start playin’ the fifth inning like it’s the second inning, then play the sixth inning like it’s the third inning, and then … wait … maybe it’s play the sixth inning like the second inning … shoot, I don’t remember. Kevin Campbell made me this fancy spreadsheet, but I couldn’t figure it out. He asked me if I’d rather have a pie chart, but that just made me hungry for pie.”
Monday’s game was the Syringes’ first meaningful contest in four weeks thanks to the Labor Day holiday, a rainout and a postponed game against FBC Abilene Blue (which has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27). And after a long slumber, the HGH offense apparently hit the snooze button.
The 12 runs and 18 hits were both season-lows as the Syringes hit a puny .462 — more than 60 points lower than their previous low point. Thirteen of HGH’s 21 outs came on wimpy groundouts.
Even the superhuman Stephen Shewmaker suffered through a 1-for-4 night, dropping his average to a more human-like .692. Five players had two hits, while leadoff man Blaine Martin boosted the Syringes with a 3-for-5 effort and 2 RBI. Martin now leads HGH with 11 hits, one better than cleanup hitter Brandon Stover.
“I gotta rake, bro,” Martin said. “I need that big contract this winter. It’s not just about me anymore, man. I’ve got a fianceé now. I need some dough to pay for the honeymoon. Those bed & breakfasts in Odessa don’t come cheap.”
HGH continues its quest for perfection next Monday at home against PDBC Blue at 9:30 p.m. on Field #2. Or maybe not — Monday’s forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms.
HGH SOFTBALL 