Rookies Report by Coach Mike Webb

Rookies are in Elizabethtown, Ky playing at the nicest field anyone from Warrick, or Spencer County could imagine. We opened pool play vs the highly touted Louisville Speed. We spotted them 3 runs before striking in the fourth for 4 runs. The Speed answered back with another 2 and then came the Rookies( led by Watson and Anglin) in the bottom of the fifth, plating 6 runs and taking the 9-5 lead into the 6th. We have to give it up to Wells for his 6 foul ball at bat. That's how we do it! Our defense held strong up the middle with the play of Gilmour, Wells, and Kuebler. Good win boys! In our second game of pool play, we faced the ELS Bats who are out of Louisville as well. The Rookies, in usual fashion, were very polite and let ELS score first with one in the first and another in the second. Down 2-0. Rookies had enough and answered with a 2 run comeback in the 3rd. In the 4th, Rookies added 2 more taking a 4-3 lead into the 6th. It wasn't enough. The ELS Bats put 2 across in the bottom of the 6th to pull out the win. Fuller had a beautiful backhand up the line to lead the defensive highlights. Crazy seedings pit us (2seed) vs another 2 seed at 8 in the morning.
Bright side: there will be plenty of parking.

Elimination day game 1 vs Western KY Aces. Much improved Aces pushed the Rookies to the limit. However, Rookies survived and won 6-4. Gilmour got us started and Anglin crushed a bomb to left center as the Rookies batted all 10 in a 6 run third inning. Game 2 vs Hub City Havoc (ETown team that took first in Newburgh tourn. last year) ended in a 4-3 Rookies win. Top of lineup came out strong with 1 in the 1st. Havoc, seemingly unstoppable, scored 3 in the first. Rookies answered back with one run in the 3rd. Score now Rookies down 3-2. Rookies come out in the last inning with Wells on 3rd and Webb on 2nd thanks to Christie's "oppo" hit. Williams, fighting a high throwing machine, was able to get on top and drive in Wells for tying run. "Big Daddy" Jake Fuller stepped into the box and drove one up the middle to knock in Webb for what would become the game winning run! Williams played a strong SS, Kuebler had a diving catch in LC, and Christie caught another one of his impressive pop-ups from behind the plate. Impressive stat of the game: in last 5 innings, only 18 Havoc batters came up to plate and none reached 2nd base. Strong D by the Rookies!

Game 3 semifinal matchup vs Viperz who are the top #1 seed. Rookies came out in explosive fashion putting 4 on the board. Viperz answered with 1 in the 2nd. Then the Rookies said that's enough and put another 4 on the board going up 8-1. Rookies weren't done and added another two for a final score of 10-4. The Viperz, who were the "class of the field", ran into a Rookie buzz saw! Defense was led by Fuller and Gilmour throwing unexpectedly home for two outs to Caige "that's MY plate" Christie! Rookies go to the championship game!

Championship: Rookies vs Louisville Speed. Our boys came out with some tight D. Hits were hard to come by thanks to "Mikey" (Speed SS) who robbed us too many times to count. The Speed only gave up 1 run all day. Our Rookies lost 3-0 but, made us proud finishing runners-up. We received many compliments all around about our defense. Their head coach said, "the scouting report they had on us wasn't even close." The Rookies started their day with a 6:00 breakfast 30 miles from the ballpark and their 8:00 game. 4 games and twelve hours later we left the ballpark for home.