May 7, 2012
BNN, Softball Edition:
Throughout the season, we hope to give you feature games, representing all teams in the league. However, today we did not feature a particular game. Instead, we decided to feature the most exciting game of the day. Please be patient if we have not yet featured your favorite team. We here at BNNSE are fans of all 24 teams, and would like to give them all as much time and space as we possibly can.
Game of the Day:
In the PASS Game of the Day, Orlando edged Houston 8-7.
The Slammers (6-1) dropped their first game of the season, despite holding a 7-0 lead over Orlando in the game. The Kings (4-3) are now in a four-way tie atop the Southeastern Division.
“It was a huge disappointment today,” Houston player-coach Nick Elliott said. “We had a big lead and just couldn't hang on to it.”
Houston started off the scoring with a big fourth inning, thanks in part to the Kings committing some of their six errors in the game. With one out and the bases loaded, Neal Astley hit an RBI single. A throwing error on the play, the Kings’ third error in the inning, allowed Christian Holmes to score to make it 2-0 for the Slammers. Bob Chase then followed with a two-RBI single, followed by consecutive singles by Hayden George and Evan Guerehan to make it 5-0. Nick Elliott hit an RBI single and Chris Olson hit an RBI sacrifice fly to cap off the seven run inning.
The Kings answered in the bottom of the fourth, though. Consecutive singles by Allen Palen, Spencer Douglas, and Randy Watts made It 7-1. With one out, Jone Rosseland hit an RBI single to end the inning 7-2 in favor of the Slammers.
Improved defensive play started to benefit Orlando at this point as they held Houston to its first three up, three down inning in the fifth. The Kings then bit more into Houston’s lead with three in the bottom of the fifth. Barry Bailey singled and Tim Roy doubled before Palen hit a three-run homer over the left field fence to make it 7-5.
Orlando then scored three more in the eighth for the advantage in the game. Joe Lee led off with a triple, followed by doubles by Zach Warren and Bailey to tie the game. With one out and the bases loaded, Ken Petty hit an RBI sacrifice fly to give the Kings the 8-7 lead.
“We didn't have the best game defensively,” Orlando player-coach Aubrey Wines said. “However, we showed heart to beat the best team in the league. I don’t know if Houston’s going to lose a whole lot of games this year, but I most certainly like being one of the teams that beat them.”
Players of the Game:
Allen Palen, Orlando, 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB
Barry Bailey, Orlando, 4-5, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R
Bob Chase, Houston, 2-5, 2 RBI, R