The Memorial turf diamond was a sea of blue and gold as the Needham Blue Sox and the Needham Rockets, wearing identical uniforms, faced off in what was to be a thrilling Opening Day showdown. Early scouting reports on the crosstown rival Blue Sox warned of excellent pitching, solid defense, and a bruising lineup. As sharp as the Rockets have been in preseason practices, everyone in the dugout knew this was going to be a battle to the end.
The Blue Sox sent their hard-throwing ace to the mound in the first, and he promptly retired the Rockets in order. The Rockets countered with a flame thrower of their own, Patrick W. Patrick got the Sox leadoff man to come back to the mound where he made the grab and fired to first baseman Patrick B for the out. Score that one Patrick to Patrick. One down. He struck out the next batter on a full count and got the third to ground to first where Patrick scooped it and stepped on the bag to end the inning. No score after one.
With two outs in the top of the second Ryan worked the count full and then took ball four to put himself on. He got a good jump at first on the next pitch and broke for second. The throw was there, but Ryan slid under the tag for the first stolen base of the season and the first of his career. Runner on second with two outs for Matt G. Matt hit a screamer up the middle but the second baseman was able to get a glove on it and he was out at first. A lot of fireworks but nothing on the board for the Rockets after one and a half.
In the bottom of the second the Blue Sox loaded the bases and then were able to string together a couple of singles to put themselves on the board first, 3-0. The Rockets did well to limit the damage to three runs with some fine play at third by Calvin, who put leather on a rip up the third base line and then fired home to catcher Alex who applied the tag to save the run and end the inning.
The Blue Sox were in command early with a three run lead after two.
Patrick W led off the third with a single to left. He moved into scoring position on a passed ball and then advanced to third on another one that got away from the Sox catcher. Good, heads-up base running, and the Rockets had a man on third with nobody out. But the Sox pitcher got himself into a groove and struck out three in a row to end the inning. Still 3-0, Sox.
Jonah came out to pitch the third. After putting the first two batters on, he was absolutely lights-out, striking out the next three on a total of ten pitches. He was throwing hard and commanding, and the heart of the Blue Sox order couldn't touch him.
The Rockets were unable to get much going in their half of the fourth. In the bottom half, the Rockets sent Calvin to the hill. He came out pounding the zone, but the staunch Sox lineup was able to put two on with one out. The next batter hit a hard ground ball to short where Steven, ranging right, put leather on it and flipped to Tom at second to get the out. Tom turned and fired home. The throw was on target but a split second behind the runner and the Sox added one more, 4-0. Calvin stuck out one and got another to pop up to Roman at third to end the inning.
Alex led off the top of the fifth with a single. One on with nobody out for Roman. It was high time for the Rockets to get something started and Roman was just the guy to do it. He put down a bunt--a real beauty, right up the first base line--and then he turned on the jets. The pitcher fielded and fired. Roman nearly beat the throw. Serious wheels! But he had done his job and moved Alex into scoring position. A sacrifice bunt for Roman and a man on second with one out for the Rockets. Patrick B would walk next and then steal second. Runners on second and third with one out. Ryan worked a walk, too, and the table was set for Matt G, who sent a 2-2 fastball into center field for an RBI single. The Rockets dugout erupted. They were climbing back into this one! With the bases still loaded, Patrick W stepped in. He took two strikes, fought one off, and then launched the next pitch deep into the gap in left center, way back by the soccer goal at the 20-yard line--a bases-clearing triple to tie the game! With one swing of the bat, the Rockets had knotted it all up at 4 runs apiece. Next up was Matt M and he was swinging to win it. He fouled a couple off but went down swinging on a tough pitch about knee high over the outside corner. Harry took a look at strike one and then sent the next pitch hard up the middle, but the pitcher got a glove on it and fired to first to end the inning. Not before the Rockets were able to put together four runs, though, and tie the game up with an inning and a half to play.
Alex came out to pitch the bottom of the fifth and he was solid. He got the first batter to pop up to the mound and struck out two more to send the game into the final frame.
The Rockets went down in order in the sixth, and it was up to Patrick B to save the tie. He had good command of his fastball, striking out one, getting one to ground to third, where Alex made a nice play to field the ball after it had bounced off the mound, and getting another to ground to third where Alex stepped on the bag for the force to put this game in the books.
4-4 was the final. An excellent team effort for the Rockets in their first game together. Effective pitching, consistent fielding, and a late-inning rally got the job done.
Tonight's game ball went to Patrick W, who pitched a scoreless first inning and drove in three runs with a triple to tie the game in the fifth. The Hustle Award went to Alex, whose hustle at third was responsible for two of three outs in the sixth.
Next, the Rockets travel to Walpole to take on Walpole National this Friday evening. This promises to be another exciting match-up between two Western Division powerhouses.
