Outlaws drop season opener in a rain shortened game vs. Jordan.

It was less than perfect conditions for baseball as the Outlaws squared off against the Jordan Millers on Sunday.  A light rain/mist was falling on the overgrown mini-met as the Millers welcomed the Outlaws to the 2012 over 35 season. 

Everyone knew it would be an interesting day when hard hit grounders during pre-game infield were rolling to a complete stop prior to reaching the infielders.  Wet conditions in the Jordan area had apparently prevented the beautiful Mini-Met's grass from being cut in quite some time.  It didn't faze either team as most players were breathing a sigh of relief to finally be taking the field and getting a game in. 

The Jordan Millers sent out a crafty lefty to face the Outlaws.  (No names in the book so I have no clue what his name was.)  Josh Noble had the only highlight of the top of the first with a two out double prior to being stranded at second. 

Troy Fritz took the mound for the Outlaws.  Fritzy's only trouble of the day came in the 1st.  Three walks, two hits, a stolen base and a passed ball, plated 3 runs for the Millers.  That would be the extent of the Millers offense for the day, and the beginning of a very strong pitching performance by Fritz.

The Outlaws put two runners on in the second as Fritz led off the inning with a walk.  One batter later Travis "Shooter" Schuett added a line drive single to left.  Just like the first, the runners were again stranded.

Gaining momentum and losing some butterflies, Fritz set the Millers down in order in the second with two strikeouts and a pop up. 

The Outlaws again came charging out of the gates in the third with a deep lead off double to left off the bat of Jeff Miller.  The ball originally brought the Outlaw's dugout to their feet as it appeared to have enough to get out of the park.  No such luck and Miller was smiling on second base with a ball hit off the fence.  Justin Williamson followed Miller with a walk and two runners were once again aboard with nobody out.  Chad Wertzema advanced both runners into scoring position with a grounder.  The Miller's lefty then once again slammed the door shut by retiring the next two Outlaws hitters.

Fritz continued rolling in the bottom half of the inning keeping the score at 3-0.  The half inning was highlighted by a nifty defensive play by Josh Noble deep in the hole at short.  Noble fielded a ground ball ranging to his right and fired a ball across the infield to a jumping Ryan Meyer, who applied the tag on the Millers runner.

Josh Noble started the 4th inning with his second hit of the day by rapping an infield single into the jungle infield grass.  Mike Roth then added a 20 minute at bat full of foul balls before walking.  Troy Fritz followed Roth with an infield single that was lost in the grass between the mound and third.  Hopes were high as the bases were juiced with nobody out.  One out later Travis Schuett drove in the Outlaw's first run of the year with his second single of the game.  Unfortunately the next two hitters were set down and the rally was dead. 

The same could pretty much be said for the game as the rain continued to fall and both Fritzy and the Miller's pitchers shut down all remaining offense.  After completing the 5th, the Miller's management advised the field conditions were jeopardizing their ability to play future games on the field.  With that being said the game was over and it was official, 3-1 loss for the Outlaws in their season opener. 

Although it was a loss, many positives came out of the game.  It would have been nice to play 7 under better conditions but we will take what we can get.  Troy Fritz pitched a heck of a game only giving up 2 hits over 5 innings (No hits after the first inning.) struck out two and settled in nicely.  Josh Noble and Travis Schuett were a perfect 2 for 2 on the day, and Jeff Miller and Fritz had the only other hits.  8 runners were stranded in 5 innings and one hit could have changed everything.  For the most part the Outlaws played well defensively granted the poor field conditions.  Nerves were settled and all Outlaws are looking forward to the next match up.