Wild Baseball...Local Kid Gets Roughed Up By The Reds....

Sunny, windy, with a bite in the air as I arrived at Delphos Jefferson High School yesterday...I was scheduled to work the bases this time around(only the 4th time in 13 games with the rest being behind the plate), as the host Wildcats took on Ottoville's Big Green.  Since I am scheduled to be back at Jefferson tonight, where it's again my rotation to work the plate, I agreed to let Big Steve have the dish, after having an earlier conversation with him.

The game ended up being one of the wildest in recent memory....

After falling behind 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning...the visiting Ottoville team cruised to a 12-3 lead, and appeared to be on the verge of invoking the 10 run rule after the fifth inning.  But then the game changed.  Up by 9 runs, The Big Green had the bases loaded, but couldn't push another run across run that inning...it proved to be their downfall.  Delphos put a 3 spot on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the 5th to cut the lead to 12-6...after Ottoville pushed another run across in the top of the 6th, the 13-6 lead seemed safe, but we were going to play 7 innings for sure.  Then things came undone for the Big Green...Jefferson scored 10 runs with a variety of walks, errors, mis~played fly balls, missed cutoff fielders, and the sixth inning ended with Jefferson's Wildcats in command 16-13.  That's the way it would end, as Ottoville went quietly in their half of the 7th.

I am back at Jefferson tonight as they take on Lima Perry.  The temps look to be in the mid 60s with sunshine...I may actually get to wear short sleeves for the first time this season...although the weather won't stay nice for long...sunny today and tomorrow with temps in the mid to upper 60s, then the wet stuff is scheduled to return.  But you never know what the future, especially when it comes to weather, will bring.

Luebke Gets Rocked by Reds____

After getting home, I popped a couple of beers, then showered and watched some of the Reds game out in San Diego.  With the Reds up 2-1 in the 8th and I spotted local product Cory Luebke warming up in the Padre bullpen.  Cory, from Marion Local and Ohio State, is getting a chance to stay with the parent club after a successful end to last season, and a good spring this year.  Cory is one of 4 MLB hurlers that I have had the chance to umpire behind the plate for when they were in High School and American Legion ball.  The others are Chad Billingsley(Dodgers), Jonathon Niese(Mets), and Craig Stammen(Washington)...youngest son Hal also had a chance to coach Luebke during summer high school ball a few years ago...Cory is listed as a "Friend" on both our Facebook sites as well.  Anyway with the Reds up, the Pads brought in another reliever, so I headed off to bed...not willing to give up more sleep to watch any longer.  You have to have your priorities....:)

When I awoke this morning, I checked the box scores, and noted the Reds had won, despite giving up a lead in the 8th.  The game went 11 innings, and I was dissapointed to see that Cory Luebke had been rocked for 6 runs in the top of the 11th, and got the loss.  He got the first 2 Reds, MVP Joey Votto, and Scott Rolen, retired, when the bottom dropped out...he gave up 6 runs as the Reds moved to 8 wins 3 loses on the young season, firmly in first.  Hopefully Cory will bounce back and continue the season as it was before being derailed last night.

Speaking of Hal.....and mom___

A BIG Happy Birthday to both Hal, who turns 27 today, and mom, Margaret Houseworth, who was celebrating her 60th Birthday when Hal was born in Coldwater, Ohio, on April 13, 1984.  Mom was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, in the same day, April 13, 1924.....Photos-Cory Luebke of the San Diego Padres, and from Mercer County, Ohio....Delphos Jefferson and Ottoville's Big Green played a wild one in Delphos yesterday...and the Birthday Duo...Hal Houseworth(4/13/1984) with "friends" back in 1997 in Key West...and Margaret Houseworth(4/13/1924) with me the morning I left for Vietnam on June 29, 1969....