Fighting Diplomats in California

The Fighting Diplomats journeyed to Claremont. California ( home of Route 66) to compete with the team from Claremont-McKenna/Harvey Mud /Scripps. The Stags so named from the years when Claremont-McKenna was a men's school hosted the game on a beautiful field. I could not help but wonder what the nicknames would have been for Harvey Mud--the Slingers?? or the nickname for Scripps--the Writers??



Anyway, after a dreary cold wet winter I arrived to observe a beautiful field from stands high above the field of play. While looking at the field which had a relic from the past-- a sloping hill in left field to the fence recalling Crosley Field in Cinnci. Of course the infield was well groomed and i once again marveled at the genius of 90 feet between bases. Although I think the primal competitive element of the game is the pitcher hitter duel- the next battleground! is the legs and the thrown ball. The 90 feet from home to first is just right as the fielder can't delay and really fast guys can beat the throw. the same with the stolen base-for 150 years the play is bang bang as increased foot speed has been compensated by better arms and a quicker release to home. Leonardo Da Vinci would have concurred at the geometric exactness of the 90 feet. Although, if Leonardo were with me at the game , he may have passed on the ball park franks as he was a vegetarian. Leo would no doubt have been a wood bat enthusiast as well, and one could make the case the aluminum has ruined one challenge as the play at the plate on a sacrifice fly is all but gone with aluminum--but not with wood!

The Fighting Diplomats quickly found themselves down 6-0 as they adjusted to blue skies and being outside. But after a quiet opening then erupted for 5 runs to make it close. But a fielding lapse in the 7th and a couple hits broke it open for the Stags and the final was 13-7.
in Game 2 the Diplomats walked over to Pomona- Pitzer another pair of schools combining to field one team . The Diplomats started early getting 5 in the first giving the faithful some cheer. But our pitching was not up to it and after 11 first inning walks and a hit batsmen we were down 8-5 without a fair ball being hit-unbelievable at this level. Our manager and subsequently all the coaches managed to get tossed as well compounding the hole. The final was 12-10, but all in all a sloppy game. The bats, however looked good but baseball still remains dominated by pitching.

The next day we have a remarkable set of games. We lead Wesleyan (playing at beautiful Occidental College) going into the 9th leading 16-9 and manage to give up 6 runs and have the tieing run at second with two out. A long fly to left caught at the wall ends the game . Yikes! The bats were just explosive today. The lads then traveled to Whittier to play the Poets--Richard Nixon graduated from Whittier and there are no reports he played baseball but if he did i wonder if he would have been adept at stealing signs.

We struggle early and find ourselves down 5-0 in the 5th but seemingly not worried. In the sixth we rally for 8 runs and the three outs were 2 plays at the plate and a line shot caught at the fence.
We go to the 7th leading 9-5 and manage to give up the lead and fall behind 11-9 in what seemed about 5 minutes. Undaunted we rally for 4 more and lead 13-11 going to the 9th. But Whittier which had 24 hits on the day load the bases ( one move I would not have done was intentionally walking the go ahead run but alas I was not consulted) and with the score 13-12 and the bases loaded 2 out and 2 strikes we get --a foul ball--and another. Then a big! double to the fence scores three and we are down 2--huge moment for the Whittier kids though and perhaps the disappointed Diplomats might have pondered John Greenleaf Whittier's own words in his poem "Maud Muller"
"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been!'"

Of course, I would have weighed in about walking the lead run but then again when you give up 24 hits you probably have other concerns ...



The next game finds the Fighting Diplomats playing Wesleyan again at Claremont on a gorgeous day--lets play 2 is right when the sky is bright blue and the sun is shining and no humidity.
The time the Dips start early and often and are up 11-0 after 5. Spectators are wondering if this 11 runs is enough especially after the Cards ring up 4 in the 7th. But the last 2 innings go quickly and the Diplomats conclude their best overall game.


This team is showing confidence at the plate and you can see the joy on the kids faces as they play these games.