Ann Arbor, MI – Batting through the lineup in both the second and fifth innings, the Shrimp Fried Rice won their second straight mercy-shortened game in their first game at Virginia park. The Shrimp improved to 3-0 in their inaugural season with the 15-2 win in six innings. Amanda McAllister pitched the first three innings without giving up a run and re-entered to pitch the last two after Karen Mandarino struggled to find the strike zone in the fourth. Stressed player-manager Justin Hetherman, “That’s the great thing about having an ace like Manders—no matter the situation, we feel comfortable with her carrying the staff until Panel returns to give us our one-two punch back.”
With the absence of regular leadoff Jeff McVeigh, the Shrimp called on outfielder Anna DeJesus to kickstart their offense and she didn’t disappoint. DeJesus scored three runs on four singles, pushing her batting average over .700 for the season. Batting tenth for the Shrimp Fried Rice, Hetherman came back from his one game gambling suspension absence to kick two triples, knocking in four runs. McAllister helped her own cause at the plate, picking up two hits and a run.
Shortstop-outfielder Brad Baden added a double, giving the Shrimp three extra base hits, stretching their league leading total to 22 in just three games. In the field, the Shrimp have only allowed three extra base hits, all in the season opener against Jiminy Kick It. McAllister opined, “Our aggressiveness on the basepaths is the difference in so many games. That and everyone can catch. Well except Eric.”
The crowd for the Shrimp took on an international flavor, as hundreds of Chinese tourists made the trip back to the states just for the big weekend game. Jayme Smith, an American ex-pat living in China, proclaimed, “The Shrimp games are all the best kickball players in China talk about. The only thing I miss about America is watching great kickball teams like them. Well that and pizza—it’s so hard to get a good slice over there.” The crowd was a bit smaller than normal, but still kept the Shrimp among the league leaders.
Friday, the Shrimp head back to Veterans Park to take on the Ticklers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 at field 2.