VIDEO RECAP Click Here

Hello everyone and welcome back to the official blog of the Miracle League of Michigan competitive league. I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break from baseball, but after such a competitive season and hard fought playoffs, I’m sure every player was looking forward to this upcoming season. Well folks, if you thought the Miracle League first annual playoffs were exciting, you were in for quite a treat as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers took on the defending World Champion Detroit Tigers in our season opener.

Many players, coaches and fans have known for quite some time that all of these teams have great offenses, generally providing for high scoring contents as the defenses have not been able to match up. I’m not sure what the coaches put in the water or the training these players have endured, but it looked almost the complete opposite. As you’ll see in our video replay, there were several key defensive stops made that kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout the entire game. It would even take extra innings before the Tigers were able to prevail with the victory.

Leading off the top of the first was Michael Samueloff who hit a single to get things going for the Dodgers. Next, Danny Leonard provided a double after being ruled safe on what looks to be a controversial call where in the highlights, Leonard is pushed to the ground as he is coming into second base. Travis Weinrauch would end up bringing both runners in with a nice two RBI single to take a 2-0 lead. Just as the bats were beginning to heat up for the Dodgers, the Tigers defense stepped up. With Amanda Garland at the plate, one out and players on first and second base, the Tigers shortstop, Jerry Kaczur made a heck of a double play, scooping up the ball, tagging the runner as he was on his way to third base and throwing to second base to force the third out of the inning. Nice catch Austen Wilcox!

The Dodgers responded just as we knew they would with some incredible defense as well. After a lead off strikeout to force out number one, Weinrauch displayed some incredible athleticism with a pop up catch again power-hitter Nick Cross. With two outs, the Dodgers looked poised to maintain the lead and shut out the Tigers in the first inning. Then there was Blake Jackson… Stepping into the batter’s box, he looked at our announcer Steve Peck and announced while pointing to left field that he would hit a home run. While it took him a few swings, Blake Jackson blasted one just outside of left field for the first home run of 2013 season. What a moment to remember!

Before the Tigers could fully swing momentum in their favor, Michael Samueloff quieted the Tiger’s team and their fans with a beautiful catch off a line-drive by Hunter Ploucha. This ended the inning and any further damage bringing the Dodgers back to the plate hoping to further increase their lead. In the top of the second, the team hit a few singles to bring in another run off Erik Plafchan’s RBI single. Unfortunately for them, this would be their only run in a short inning where we saw Tanner Roland tagged at second base, Mike “Mojo” Carson down swinging and another force at second base on Benjamin Carter’s ground ball.

The Tiger’s with an incredible opportunity to move up on this Dodger team would be slowed once more. After starting the inning with an out, they hit three straight singles that would bring in a run (Ian Smith’s RBI single). However, after their bats went silent as a fielder’s choice force at third was made after Joe Rockett’s bat and an inning ending strike out.

The top of the third was fairly quiet for the Dodgers with one run scored off of Samueloff’s ground rule double, but it was the Tigers who continued to show their resilience and play excellent defense. This effort was led by Kaczur, who caught a pop-up and turned it into a double play by tagging the runner who had stepped off the base.

Finally, in the bottom of the third, fans saw fireworks as the Tigers put on an onslaught forcing the first mercy of the game on the Dodgers. It began with Jeff Whitfield, who had a leadoff single. Following that performance was Harrison Lilly and Nick Cross who each had a single of their own. With the bases loaded, Blake Jackson stepped to the plate again, determined to provide more runs for his team. He did just that with an RBI single to bring the Tigers within one, down 4-3. It would then be Hailey Bocock’s turn to walk the bases as she grinned after hitting a Grand Slam HR to end the inning (sorry everyone, I was not able to get this clip).

Just when the Tigers felt comfortable taking the lead 7-4 headed into the final half inning of play, the Dodgers team would answer the call by providing multiple runs after a scary beginning in which their fans thought they were doomed after a quick two outs (first from catcher making an excellent play to the first baseman and a pop up caught by Wilcox). Just when the Tigers thought the game was over catching a routine ball thrown to second base, the ball was bobbled and dropped keeping the Dodger player safe. This turned into three straight singles, each providing an RBI to tie the game at 7 and giving them a shot at extra innings. Roland, Alex Coviak and Garrett Winfrey were clutch when it mattered most!

Now, all the Tigers needed to do was score one run and they would win the ball game. The only problem: Samueloff and Winfrey. They both made incredible plays with two hard hit balls popped into the air. Samueloff caught it right near second base and Winfrey’s was a deep ball to left field that he was able to delicately grab to preserve the tie. Had that ball gone past him, the winning run would have come in to score.

And so indeed, in our first game of the season we were headed to extra innings where two hard fought teams would press on once more in the slightly cold night to determine who would win the ball game. In the top of the fifth inning, the Dodgers would attempt to continue their offensive presence, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. Not only did the Tigers play solid defensively, but they shut the Dodgers out allowing them to again only need one run in the bottom of the fifth to win.

And this time around, they seized the opportunity. With several singles from Ian Smith, Joe Rockett and Jeff Whitfield, the Tigers had Lilly come to the plate with the bases loaded and only one out. It would be difficult for the Dodgers to stop a run and would need a double play in order to tie the game. Lilly would ensure victory by hitting the ball deep to left field bringing in the run and starting the team celebration.
Well everyone, that’s all I have for this edition of Miracle League of Michigan Competitive League baseball blog, but stay tuned for Saturday’s recap as the Chicago White Sox take on the Seattle Mariners in each respective team’s season opener.

NOTE: If I missed any highlights, misspelled any names, gave credit to the wrong player, I apologize for the mistake and will do my best to ensure it doesn’t occur going forward. Please submit all errors or feedback to My Email Address. In addition, the video is being posted as a compilation without editing due to lack of time. I will hopefully clean it up a bit over the next couple of days and going forward will be more clean cut. Hope you all enjoy!