SOFTBALL

South Zone ‘C’ Division Boys
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) vs Catholic High School
Wednesday, 23 May 2007, at ACS(I) Softball Pitch

Story and pictures by Red Sports reader Mr Bernard Han, a teacher from Catholic High School. Thanks, Bernard!

In the battle of two undefeated teams, ACS(I) emerged victorious with an 18-11 win over Catholic High.


Catholic High players gather for a solid cheer. © Bernard Han

Catholic High went to bat and Liang Win (82) drew first blood after getting himself onto third base and coming home following an error from the catcher. 1-0 to Catholic High. Wee Kian (37) missed all his swings for the first strike out of the game before Kayue (29) managed a 3-base hit. Next, Zheng Peng (03) was given a standing strike out by Wei Yang (7), the pitcher from ACS(I). Daniel (70) and another Catholic High player on base scored a run each after Tijoe (4) made a good hit which the fielders recovered in time. The bases were now fully loaded and the last batter in the Catholic High line-up was up but Wei Yang (7) of ACS(I) pitched three strikes in succession to put Timothy (52) of Catholic High out. Catholic High ended the inning leading 3-0.


The lush and green battlefield of ACS(I). © Bernard Han

Liang Win (82) of Catholic High was given the chance to pitch for the entire game today as both Jerald (73) and Jiafan (15), the regular pitchers from Catholic High were unavailable. Being a greenhorn in the ‘C’ Division, he took a long time to settle in. ACS(I) grabbed the opportunity to catch up and raced to a 4-3 lead. The runs were mostly scored from a combination of walks and steals. Wee Kian (37), who was playing the catcher’s role for Catholic High, often had to pick the ball up from the back-stop, allowing the ACS(I) runners to steal home easily. Finally, Liang Win (82) managed his first strike out on ACS’ Joshua Lee (10) and then Joshua Simon (13). Just when it looked like Asher Lim (53) was to suffer the same fate with two stirikes on him, Liang Win (82) over pitched again and Lim Heng (5) scored another run for ACS(I). By the time Taufeeq (84) was struck out, ACS(Ind) were in the lead at 5-3.


Tim Neo (37) looks set to hit this ball. © Bernard Han

In the next inning, Catholic High had an extended time at bat after restarting from the top of the line-up. Kayue (29) connected well with the ball, only for the ACS(I) second base fielder, Taufeeq (84) to stop the ball and throw it to Tim Neo (37) at first base ahead of Kayue (29). This inning saw Catholic High live up to their potential with some clever and opportunistic base running and stealing, with all 9 players from Catholic High having a chance to hit. Fortunately for ACS(I), they stopped the rot in the second round of batting by striking out Catholic High’s Wee Kian (37) and putting Kayue (29) out at first base. Catholic High scored a total of 8 runs and ACS(I) trailed 5-11.


Joshua Simon (13) in batting position. © Bernard Han

Liang Win (82) seemed to have lost his momentum at pitching as he allowed ACS(I) a 2-base hit to the left outfield with bases loaded. Three runners came home as a result and the gap in the scoreline was halved in an instant to 8-11. It was not long before the bases were loaded again as the batters were given more walks than hits. Joshua Simon (13) of ACS(I) took up batting position and made up for his earlier strike out by hitting the ball straight to the center outfield. This hit brought another two runners home to reduce the deficit to a single run at 10-11. Taufeeq (84) of ACS(Ind) then batted well enough for the runner at third base to return home for the tying run. 11-11. The anxiety of taking the lead back from Catholic High got to the runner on second base and the umpire promptly ruled him out for leaving his base early on the next pitch. It seemed to be the break Catholic High needed because Wei Yan (24) of ACS(I) hit a fly ball which Jeremy (77) caught in the next play. However, any hopes of holding ACS(I) were shattered as three runners came home from third base in succession due to bad pitching by Liang Win (82). The score was now 14-11 in favour of ACS(I).


Pint-size Jonathan Phua (20) with a good hit. © Bernard Han

The game had been in progress for about 100 minutes and time was running out for Catholic High. If the next inning did not start in 10 minutes, the time limit for the game would have been exceeded and the game would have to end. With ACS(I) in the lead at this stage, it was vital for Catholic High to get another batter out. Lim Heng (5) of ACS(I) batted the next pitch straight towards Liang Win (82) and as he fired the ball to first base, the moment of reckoning came when the ball was overthrown. The morale of the team took an instant dip as the chance for a changeover went a-begging. The time limit according to the umpire, was also reached. Catholic High had lost. ACS(I) scored another three runs before Catholic High was able to put out the final batter to end the inning.


Asher Lim (53) seems bent on hitting the next pitch. © Bernard Han

Although Catholic High were the better team where batting was concerned, they were let down by poor pitching and fielding. The problems which surfaced in the earlier games returned to haunt them and cost them the game today. ACS(I) were by far the better team on the whole and they rightly deserved to win. As the ‘C’ Division South Zone Championships drew to a close, all the teams will no doubt be working overtime to prepare themselves for the Nationals Championships in June.