Annawan/Wethersfield @ United (Softball)
(4/27/10)
WRAM Game of the Week
This game was added to the WRAM Game of the Week schedule only a week in advance, due to a glitch in one of the schedules I had obtained before the season. That schedule, had Moline playing at United, and for the early part of the season that was the plan. However, that changed after a few weeks of the day games, and how hard it is for me to get everything accomplished and get a broadcast set up by 4:00 to 4:15. A nearly one hour drive for a 4:15 on-air time just wasn't feasible, so the Moline game was scrapped.
After taking in one of the first games at the new softball facilities at United High School just a couple weeks ago, I noticed a couple hurdles needed to be cleared for a broadcast. There is no press box (which is normal at many ball diamonds), and the nearest outlet is in the football shed, about 100 feet away from behind home plate.
After talking with United assistant, Jeff "Fluff" Tyrell, he said that we would have a truck backed in behind home plate one way or another. A big thanks to head coach Gary Eyler for backing his truck in, and providing the "press box" for our broadcast.
The radio station has the extra long extension cord, that I hate taking to games, because it is rarely needed, but in those spots I have never been, it has came in handy. I knew for certain, it would be needed for this broadcast. I actually thought I may need more, and I had an additional 25 feet with me, but the 100 foot cord was the perfect length.
With the uncertainties I was facing with this particular broadcast, I wanted to make sure I was there before 3:30 (an hour before first pitch), just in case. I also loaded up all of the equipment, including backup equipment and a table. The broadcast equipment of choice has been the Cellcaster (on the road, using the Marti in town). At times, the Cellcaster can give me many problems, though my RemoteMix 4 can also give me fits.
When I pulled in, the Red Storm team was getting prepared to warm up, and coach Eyler had just backed his truck for me. I unloaded everything, and stretched out the extension cord. As I was bringing the equipment over, the Annawan/Wethersfield bus (Annawan school bus) pulled onto the grounds and the Titans unloaded.
Without an Annawan/Wethersfield roster, I was banking on Titans coach Jeremy Trill to have a lineup card, and he came through. I was fairly familiar with the Titans, just seeing them last week at West Central.
After my talk with coach Trill, I set the equipment up and called into the station. It took me awhile to get the call through with the Cellcaster (a problem I had kind of anticipated), but finally reached through. When a call goes through, I make sure that line stays connected. Even though it was only 3:45, and my broadcast didn't begin until 4:15, I didn't want to not get through at a later point, and miss any of my broadcast.
My line was connected, and I wandered over to the United dugout and talked with "Fluff" Tyrell. Assistant coach Hannah Baker had the lineup card, and it was without Katie Bertelsen. I found that strange since this was a Lincoln Trail Conference game. The coaches said she was out of school sick today. She did mention to me after the Moline game, before our interview, that she was pretty sick. Sophomore Amy Olson gets the start, and she has done a fantastic job when Bertelsen rests. Olson pitched in six games as a freshman last year, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.40 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 35 innings. She came into this contest, 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11 innings. Her battery mate would be sophomore catcher Megan Patterson, with the regular, Sommer Foster, over at 3rd base. With that move, Kaitlyn Winkler moves to right field. Patterson normally catches Olson at the JV level.
As I gazed into the outfield, there were cups in the form of, "1,036 K's", representing the Katie Bertelsen strikeout count. With that number, she is tied for 19th all-time in IHSA history, and she is still a junior.
Shortly after 4:00, I made my way back to my broadcast "booth". I had anticipated standing up the whole game, but actually it was pretty comfortable sitting on the side of the bed of the truck. Both Fluff and Eyler offered me a chair, but I was content.
My broadcast partner Sam Brooks made his way over before we went on the air. We chided each other about the game time temperatures, and if we would succumb to the cold. It was about 61 degrees at game time, but with the sun shining down, it felt good. It did get a little chilly early in the game, which is when I pulled out the jacket. However, I was wearing my Red Storm short-sleeve polo, while Sam was in long sleeves. He also brought a blanket, and I would much rather be seen wearing a jacket, then cuddling up in a blanket.
Brittany Lewis led off the game for the Titans with a base hit, but was the only base runner of the inning for the visitors. United plated two runs in the bottom of the first. Sommer Foster reached on a walk, and scored on an Augusta Chandler RBI single. Chandler scored on a Taylor Toops RBI single. Foster finished the game with 3 walks, 4 stolen bases, and 2 runs in the Red Storm, 9-6 win.
Annawan/Wethersfield catcher Kylee Conlin, who had a very nice game behind the plate, hit a double to lead off the 2nd inning. Tessa Swedman had a base hit later in the frame, and Alysha Winn walked to load the bases. Olson pitched out of the jam, not allowing a run to cross the plate. United found themselves in the same predicament in the bottom of the 2nd inning, stranding the bases loaded to end the frame. The Red Storm did score a run in the 2nd inning, when Megan Patterson scored from 1st base on an RBI triple by Gina Long.
I noticed the stylish sunglasses of Augusta Chandler last night in Moline, bright pink rims. They resemble Barbie sunglasses, or something similar. I joked to Sam that he should trade sunglasses with Augusta.
United added to their lead in the 4th inning, with Patterson and Foster scoring on a Kaitlyn Winkler 2-run double to the centerfield wall. Rachel Kenney then hit an RBI single that scored Winkler. Kenney finished the game, 4-4.
The Titans scored their first run of the game in the 5th inning, when Brittany Lewis came around to score. Facing a 6-1 deficit, starting the 6th inning, the Titans evened up the game, taking advantage of a couple Red Storm errors. Conlin led off with a single, then Sara Peach lined out, and Swedman struck out. With two outs, the Titans would score five runs. Pinch hitter Sarah Hansen hit an RBI single that scored Conlin's courtesy runner (Kayla Bennett). With Hansen on base, Winn reached on an E1, followed by Lewis reaching on an E6. Erin Draminski then had an RBI single that scored Hansen to make it 6-3. Ali Stern then emptied the bases, with a 3-run double, tying the game, 6-6.
Answering back in the bottom of the frame, Sommer Foster led off the inning with a walk. She stole second, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Winkler popped out for out number one, then Chandler hit a single, followed by a Rachel Kenney double. Taylor Toops then knocked in two runs with a single, to give United the 9-6 lead.
In the 7th inning, Conlin popped out to centerfield for the first out, then Sara Peach stepped up and ripped a double. Olson then sat down Swedman and Hansen on strikeouts. United improved to (16-3) on the season and (9-0) in the Lincoln Trail Conference. Annawan/Wethersfield drops to (6-19) overall and (1-8) in the LTC.
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