SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS: On this weekend of the WPBL’s first doubleheader the late, great, legendary Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame shortstop, Ernie Banks, framed it best. “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame…let’s play two!”
In the nightcap, the LA Queens and SF Firebells were back for seconds after LA took Friday’s game 12-3 to lead the league 3-0 in the standings. If the game were played in the city by the bay, you would’ve heard chants of, “Beat LA!” emanating throughout the stadium. They didn’t need it. It was on their list of things to do, and they did.
Both managers retooled their lineups. And sometimes the musical chairs of it all work in someone’s favor. This time, the Firebells got the benefit of no doubt.
SF’s Jill Albayati continued to rock her three way magic – on the mound, on the field and at the plate. The right-hander tossed four innings of two-run ball on five hits, fanning four. She was 2-2 with a pair of RBI’s and even found time to man third base.
Michelle Roche, toeing the rubber for LA, got lit up for seven runs on eight hits, only two earned, and Jamie Mackay, in relief, gave up three, only one of which was earned. Mackay also launched her second two run homer in two days.
Albayati was the player of the game, but duly noted were shortstop Joely Leguizamon, getting reacquainted with her potent bat, went 3-4, racking up 3 RBI’s, and Niki Eckert, in relief of her starter. In three innings she surrendered a sole run on one hit, tossing nasty curves and fastballs – painting the corners like Sherwyn Williams.
The classic rivalries continue tomorrow with a redux of NY and Boston. We’ll see who has something left in the tank after today’s turn of events.