AA Giants

April 17, Giants (6-1) vs A's (1-6) 

Our post game speech after the Dodgers had one message --- get mentally focused.  That's it.  Physically they did absolutely nothing wrong, but for one day their heads just weren't in it.  So what would today bring ...

When you are the visitors there is one thing you want from the team to start the game and apply the pressure ... and that's by scoring 5 runs.  Colin and Cade drove the ball for base hits ... Tyler rocked the ball scoring them for 2 RBI's ... Aidan continued by hitting the ball to right field and Nick followed with a drive of his own.  So with three runners already in and two runners on base wanting to go home, Cameron does his duty by knocking the player pitch into play getting his own two RBI's for the quick Giant start.  To quote Jeff Kent ... "the money lies in the RBI's" ... if that is true, Cameron and Tyler are both due some serious coin.

The next 3 innings the A's calmed down and made an impressive 3 strikeouts and 6 defensive plays shutting the G's out.  But it's tough keeping the machine down as Nick begin the next scoring rally with a big hit down the left field line ... Cameron tried outdoing him by hitting his shot into center field ... Caleb followed with a ROCKET into the outfield gap for a standup double and 2 RBI's ... and finally it looks like Coach Tony is a dollar lighter as Anthony took his bet and BLASTED one into left field.   

Stud hitters of the day were Nick (2-2, 2 runs), Caden (3-3, 1 run) and Cameron (2-2, 2 RBIs, 1 run).  All of Cade's hits were into the outfield ... and Cam's were both off the player pitch.  Lovin' it.         

Pitching was on and off today ... Tyler (2 K's, 1 run), Caleb (2 K's, 1 run), Caden (5 K's, 3 runs) all threw strong collectively striking out 9 A's.  So with the pitchers taking care of 1/2 of the outs, the Defense needed to back them up ... and back them up they did.  P Tyler caught a nice popup ... RF Dylan made the perfect grab for the out ... and Tyler finished his outing to 1B Aidan for the assist.  2B Dylan continued his defensive prowess by throwing to 1B Mitchell, who also took care of a grounder (U3) tagging the runner strolling by ... and 3B Ryan zoned in on the foul popup snagging it midair, booyah!  CF Mitch jumped on the hard hit ball and made the awesome catch ... and finally 2B Ryan smoothly threw out the runner.  Overall, incredible defense (9 put outs, 1 error) 

I dig giving the Game Ball to the kid that has a moment ... but not only did this player have multiple moments all over the place, but he took to heart the message we sent about focus.  Sure, the Right Field catch was very cool ... and the grounder he routinely played going 4-3 for the out was solid ... and of course getting the bat on the ball is always welcomed ... but what was extremely impressive to us coaches was his play behind the mask.  Dylan was a brick wall at catcher.  Absolutely nothing got by him and he did it all .... he even almost threw out the stealing runner at 3rd!  No doubt about it, The Question Man had all the Right Answers today ... great, unbelievable job on the field Dylan!!!

  GIANTS  7     A's  5