Ann Arbor, MI – After falling behind 6-0 after two innings, the Shrimp Fried Rice figured out what to do with that little red ball, coming back with a late sacrifice fly to win their franchise’s inaugural game 9-8 over a dangerous Jiminy Kick It team. Picking up the win for the Shrimp was right-hander Paul Nelson, whose patented ‘foul-ball pitch’ stymied the Kick It offense over the last four innings. He was helped by Josh McCaman’s triple and pair of doubles, scoring three runs and knocking in two more.
The Jiminy Kick It team jumped out to an early lead with seven hits in the second inning, including two over the head of then-centerfielder Nelson, plating six runs before getting a second out. Starting pitcher Amanda McAllister complained, “I was rolling the ball across the plate; the defense just couldn’t make a stop. What the hell else was I supposed to do?” With McAllister fresh off the disabled list with a pinched nerve and struggling to field, the Kick It team attempted to keep their kicks short, leaving most of the fielding to McCaman at catcher. When tensions heated after struggling to get the last two outs, McCaman screamed out, “How in tarnation am I supposed to get to the ball before it hits the line? I’m the only one doing any fielding.” McAllister pitched 3 innings, giving up seven runs on eleven hits, before being relieved by Nelson.
With one out in the bottom of the third, McCaman’s first double led to the Shrimp’s first ever run, as a single by utility fielder Justin Hetherman brought him around. However, a lead off triple by Brian of the Kick It, his second consecutive inning with a triple, pushed the lead back to six.
Shortstop/right-centerfielder Jeff McVeigh, in part of his 4 for 4 day at the plate, started the top of the 4th with his first career triple, kick-starting a stagnant Shrimp offense. Singles by Casey Rucinski, Karen Mandarino, Leah McGrath, Eric Mutro, and Anna DeJesus, along with a Brad Baden double and a triple by McCaman, led to seven quick runs. The inning included the first career run batted in for six different players, an Ann Arbor Parks and Rec league record.
With Nelson on the mound, the Shrimp defense tightened up. The Kick It team struggled to overcome the ‘foul-ball pitch,’ kicking it directly at the infielders. Nelson also picked up his first career strikeout when Zak kicked four consecutive foul balls to end the 5th inning.
Tied up at 7 heading into the sixth, Mandarino and Baden led off the inning with two singles, looking to take the lead and turn it over to the defense. However, the next three kickers couldn’t advance the runners. With a quick bottom of the inning, McCaman strolled to the plate in the top of the seventh, hoping to keep the magic alive.
After fouling off a pitch, McCaman sent the second pitch over the outfielder’s head and scrambled into second with his third hit of the game [ed: see comment below]. After a single by relief catcher DeJesus advanced the runner to third, Hetherman ripped a pitch down the first base line, just foul. “That would have done it,” laughed Jill the umpire. Adjusting for the defense, he sent the next pitch just high enough that the outfielder caught it high and couldn’t make the throw home, allowing McCaman to tag up and score the tie-breaking run. He later elaborated, “After that first kick, the right-centerfielder moved in and toward the line and I knew if I got it deep enough, Josh had the wheels to get home.”
Three outs away from the loss, Jiminy Kick It knew they had to make the bottom of the inning valuable. After failing to reach base her first three times up, Allyson led off the bottom of the 7th with a single, putting the tying run on first with Brian, owner of two early triples, at the plate. On the first pitch, he struggled to get a handle on Nelson’s roll before popping it deep behind second base. Hetherman scooted over from shortstop to make the catch before tagging Allyson for the unassisted double play. With a relay from third baseman McGrath to Nelson to McCaman at first for the third out, the Shrimp picked up their first win. “The last out exemplified the teamwork that our team played with all game,” Nelson quipped after the game.
Up next for the Shrimp Fried Rice is a return to Veterans Field 3 against Team Wyniarsky. Opening pitch is scheduled for 9:15pm on Friday.