ABGSL Sting 4, Alameda Blaze 13

Before their first scrimmage, after receiving sparkly headbands from Coach Mattison, Sting players took a moment in the dugout to answer questions from the media.  One reporter wanted to know if they thought they stood a chance against the mighty Blaze. “I feel like we’re going to do okay today, “said Adi Saaf, after thinking it over.  “We lost 17-0 in our first game last year,” said Isabel Lavrov. “I feel like we’ll do better than that.” To which Robyn Wampler added, “yeah, I guess.” The reporter pointed out the obvious: the Blaze players were a great deal larger than the Sting players; indeed, some appeared to be larger than the Sting parents. The reporter asked the Sting players if, after they saw the size of some of these astonishingly large ten year olds, they had ever considered trying to grow a bit faster—by, say, lifting weights. None of them saw the point of doing so. “My dad has this whole exercise thing downstairs in our garage,” said Claire Kaneko. “He never uses it.”

Wampler took the mound and retired the first two batters, one on a ground ball neatly fielded by Kaneko, the second on a bouncer to second baseman Quinn Lewis. Yet despite Wampler’s best efforts—and a magnificent ranging play by Lavro- the offense came to life, and the Blaze scored five runs. As she returned to the dugout Lewis noted that “the difference between this and the rec league is that here they can actually hit the ball over the head of the infield.”

Still, there were signs that this is not your grandmother’s Sting team. There was slickness, almost a professionalism, in the Sting demeanor. They made the sort of plays that they once had the privilege only to watch being made. The veterans played like veterans: Sierra Jimenez swung a shockingly quick and professional bat: Grace Rusin won a war at the plate, fouling off pitch after difficult pitch, until she drew a walk, Wampler struck out a six foot tall player on a change-up. The rookies hung tough: Jessica Kelly ran the bases with abandon; Abigail Cain came into the game in right field, found herself instantly on the receiving end of a line drive, and played it well.  Allison Hersh, Maeve Gallagher and Mallory McCrane reached base and exhibited no traces of awe or intimidation. Displeased with a called strike Aida Baron even turned and gave the umpire a look.

“Did she just give the ump a look?” asked one parent, incredulously.

“I think she did,” said another.

“Did you give the ump a look?” a reporter asked Baron, after she’d returned to the dugout. To which Baron replied, “No.” But then she smiled and said, “Or I didn’t know that I did.”

The final score of 13—4 didn’t reflect the feelings in the stands. Sting fans felt proud.

Oakland Vipers, 11, ABGSL Sting 6

In the top of the first Sierra Jimenez walked, stole two bases and scored on an Adi Saaf rocket to right field: the Sting had its first lead of the season. The Vipers stormed back and took a 5-1 lead in the bottom half of the frame. But the Sting were not done—the top of the second was a walk fest. Gallagher was beaned, McCrane walked, Hersh was beaned, Jimenez walked, Lavrov singled: by the time they were done the Sting had even up the score at 5-5.

In the bottom of the second came the play of the day. Quinn Lewis struck out the first batter but then the next two Vipers reached base. With runners on second and third Lewis struck out the hitter—but the strike was dropped by catcher Adi Saaf. Saaf paused for just a moment, then whirled and threw to Robyn Wampler at first. Sensing a weakness that did not exist the Viper third base coach sent his runner home—only to watch Wampler fire a rope to the plate, and Saaf slam the tag. The double play sent the Sting sprinting into the dugout to a standing ovation. There they reflected on what had just happened. “I saw the hitter starting to run,” said Wampler. “Adi wasn’t really paying attention. I was like, “Adi: throw it!” Saaf smiled and said nothing but Aida Baron chipped in: “As a watcher I thought the play was amazing because it was so fast and quick and awesome.”   

After hanging tough for three innings(the score was at one point 6-6), the Sting finally bowed to a superior force. Once again they had faced a dugout full of far larger players and, once again, refused to be intimidated.