Team that pitched, fielded, hit and ran the bases better won the game last night.

 

In 5 postseason games (District & Region) they gave up 1 run. In 3 Region games they gave up 5 hits.

 

1 error v. 3 errors (and a couple of odd plays not resulting in an error in the 7th allowing 2 insurance runs: 1 - 3B playing too deep in an obvious bunt situation allowing Bowden to reach when simply trying to get runner over [who reached via error]; 2 - P "cutting" throw to home from foul ground behind 3B on tagging runner who scored; not sure if it is an out if the C is allowed to receive the ball and tag the runner, but it certainly would have been closer and the P had no business being where he was as he should have been backing up the C for an overthrow)

 

Walkenhorst scalded a ball in the 1st inning that turned into a DP and Birds got hits when they needed 'em to plate 4 in the 4th. The 7th was small ball and forcing BW to make a play (tagging from 3B on a foul pop the Bankemper had to field over the shoulder).

 

The baserunning blunder to end the 4th was my play of the game. BW had finally gotten Doty a bit rattled with 2 outs and scored a run on a single with runners on 1B & 2B. With Combs on deck, runner gets thrown out by a mile trying to go from 1B to 2B when the throw goes home. Inning & rally over.

 

Agree with most of the comments that BW seemed "flat." The exception to that was Bankemper. He was scratching and clawing every pitch of every inning. Came in and pitched shutdown baseball. The 2 outs BW got in the 7th were completely effort & talent on his part. He fielded a bunt almost even with the rubber and wheeled to get a speedy Rust for the 1st out. (If he doesn't make that play, its bases loaded and 0 out). He then makes a very nice over the shoulder catch on a popup in foul territory after he was replaced on the mound and threw home quickly to try to get the tagging runner.

 

JB has been to 4 of the last 5 9th Region Finals and has won the last 2. (Put out by Kuebbing [D1 P for Longwood] and St. Henry in the 1st round the other year.) He has done it all without a single D1 signee by playing tough competition, getting better with each pitch, inning and game as the season progresses and peaking at the right time. He is both loved and respected by the players and parents he interacts with -- as was the case when the program was 5-24 and ousted in the 1st round of the Districts not so long ago. I've said it many times before, my kid will look back someday and recognize what a tremendous gift it was for him to have played for Dale Mueller and JB.

 

Go Birds! Beat Eagles! Send them back to Johnsonville.

While I was posting earlier and shaking my head as to the reasons for another BW regional exit, I forgot to throw praise the way of the Bluebirds. They have a very nice, consistent and stable "team" and seem to have the formula down for regional success. Nothing flashy and no big press clippings. Just a bunch of eager kids that get it done. Good luck in Lexington.

So happy for Jeremy, man, that dude has done a heckuva job. He is such a great guy, thrilled for him, his family, and the young men on the team.