Eight is Enough

Shattered Dreams Spoils DoubleDown's Perfect Regular Season, With ShortHanded, 8-4 Victory

Missing our #2 and #3 hitters

No subs available

Playing the team that is locked into the #1 seed and mercy ruled us 15-0, just a few weeks ago.

We have the playoffs clinched....

Why even show up?

Maybe we should take the forfeit, get some rest and gear up for the playoffs.

OR....maybe we should trot out the guys we have, get some looks at the top dog in the division, play a tough game, and give 'em something to think about as we all head into the postseason.

And just MAYBE we can play loose but focused and hand the overconfident Double Downers their first loss of 2013 and shatter their belief that they are going to march, unchallenged to a championship.

What happened last Wednesday night will not affect the matchups in the playoffs in 2 weeks, but it will certainly affect the mindset of the teams involved.

With 3 infielders and 3 outfielders, and a lot of empty green space, 8 Dreams took the field with focus and skill. BP pitched a gem and lured the regular season division champs to hit many lazy flies to the outfield. Those balls that did hit the turf at 128th were absorbed by our 3-3 defense. Seltz might be the best "third-stop" D3 has seen. Amazing display, owning the left side of the infield - gobbling up any ball hit between 2nd and 3rd and firing bullets to first all night long. JD was in the right place at the right time and was rock solid behind the second base bag. Jeff might've earned himself a spot in the new Left Infield Wall defense, that was the buzz on the 4/5 subway home. #noholes. With the left and middle secured, Hans locked down the right side with stellar D all night long. From the OF, it was a pleasure to watch.

Speaking of the outfield, with Collins, Duff and myself patrolling, there would be few balls that would drop. Cans of corn all night long and tons of fun.

We played head's up all night as evidenced by Perles's savvy play to cover third on a bloop hit to left field. That was a turning point, as the DD speedster was thrown out to lead off the sixth and the favorites were again held off the scoreboard. A rally was stifled before it could even start, as both the lead off hitter and the opponent's combeback hopes were erased instantly.

Going against the #2 pitcher for the division champs, we got on the board early with 2 in the first. and then 4 more in the 3rd. Doubledown did not appear to be used to playing from behind, as we held them to 1 run after the second inning. 

The game had playoff overtones, as runs and hits seemed hard to come by. We were only able to manage 11 hits the whole evening but made them count, scoring 8 runs in the process. Seltz complimented his solid D with a nice night at the plate - 2/4, 2RBIs, R. Robbie also continued to light it up, filling the boxscore 2 more hits, walk, run and an RBI. The leadoff man went up the middle 4 times for hits to go along with an RBI and a run. And finally - BP - was jack of all trades. In addition to his aforementioned pitching and fielding exploits, Perles reached base 3 times, tallied 2 RBIs, one run and came one Collins red light from his first HR of the season. I don't think I've ever used "Collins" and "red light" in the same sentence before. I also don't think BP has ever been called off the bench to pinch run (but it was much appreciated!). Lots of firsts....Including the first loss for Doubledown - coming in an unlikely fashion.

Big win. Big momentum. We've lost this season to a team with 8, and now we have answered with a shorthanded win of our own.

It's been an up and down season, but only 2 more games remain. This is a division of parity and I don't know who we'll play or if we'll have our full compliment of players. But i do know, in uniform or not - all Dreams will be focused on a championship. 

Let this week's game be a lesson...

Play with purpose and play with nothing to lose. Take the field with intensity and without fear. 

It doesn't matter how many wins or fielders our opponents have - with a single goal, championship Dreams cannot be stopped.

Momentum is ours. The title awaits.

SD4L