A Three-Fer

I felt like Chuck Knoblauch yesterday, with 3 errors, all in one inning. To be fair I wasn't the only one that fell apart, but I definitely cost us a couple runs.

The day started out bad when the field changed, and I didn't know it. I got to the field, no one there, and started trying to call around. I reached someone and had to come back to the new field. It wasn't that bad since it was on the way home, but it meant I was there late.

The game started slow, both teams having a few 1-2-3, or 4 innings, not many people getting on base. I struck out the first time, turning my head too much and just missing. I got a great curve for the first pitch and fouled it off, and that was the pitch to hit. A bunch more balls on the outside corner, the pitcher throwing fast ones and I fouled a few off, but I kept looking for the curve and missed the last one.

I did make a couple routine grounder plays at 2nd, and even backed up about 20ft into right for a pop-up, so things were OK. I popped up a second at-bat and reached on a fielder's choice, and then we broke out. A few hits and I came up with 2 on and drove a nice single down the right field line. I might have made it a double, but my ankle was bothering me, so I'd avoided too much running on offense. We built a comfortable lead into the 7th.

Then we fell apart. Pitching woes loaded the bases, then a hit got them 3 runs and a man on 2nd. I then got an easy bouncer to second. I fielded it, didn't bother checking since it was slow, looked at first, and throw.

Or tried to. I felt the ball bouncing in my hand, not held cleanly, and I threw it at the ground and it skipped past the first baseman. I regretted switching off first where I'd been for a few innings. Another walk, or maybe the next play there was a sharp one towards first. I went to back up the first baseman or cover, and he booted it. I stopped, or tried to to recover the ball and pulled on the ankle again. Ouch!

I then proceeded to in the inning, chase a ball down at 2nd base, a grounder up the middle, and just touched it at the bag, but it got by me. That was a hard play, and it would have been great if I'd stopped the ball. I also got another grounder and over threw first. I think he could have had it with a jump, but it was high, and he was on a bad leg.

I did draw a walk on my 4th at bat, so not a bad day, 1-3 with a walk, but we lost 17-14 in an exciting game. It went long, and it was fun, especially with us down 17-8 in the 9th and we got 6 back.

I still can't believe I had 3 errors in one inning. Definitely I need to practice more fielding and throwing. Too much time in the outfield.