CH Softball Recap: RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY

When the weather doesn’t appear threatening, the skies open; when the forecast is stormy, they remain closed. It has been a weird and wet first few weeks in the Crown Heights Softball League, to say the least, and last night’s balmy diamond was anything but that.

The evening saw the Tribe besting the Skullcaps 7-1 at Brooklyn’s St. John’s Recreational Field, as the rain – finally – stayed away.

“It was a good feeling being back on the field,” said Tribe outfielder Yehudah Geisinsky. “Emotions were high. It felt nice to get the win after all the rainouts.”

The unusually long layoff between games – due to our droplet friends and one holiday – had many players and coaches tentative when showing up on the diamond.

“My elbow is hurting,” said Chezky Herz prior to throwing the first pitch for black-shirted ball club. “I doubt it will get any better tonight.”

As only a few players took the open dates to hit the batting cages, tendons and muscles were tight and hand-eye coordination was off.

After getting their leadoff man aboard against Herz, the Skullcaps’ Nesanel Nerenberg grounded into a double-play, squandering one of the few scoring opportunities the ‘Caps would have against the big pitcher.

The Tribe took advantage of a fielding miscue plating their first runner and scored the second of the inning when fill-in shortstop Yankel Ezagui scorched a single to center field.

“After a few miscues on our end of the field we settled down defensively and focused at the plate,” explained Ezagui.

Cruising through the first three innings, Herz decided he wanted in on the action around the base path and launched his first home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center.

“It felt like forever since I took one (ball) for a ride,” said Herz after the win. “I was surprised the ball carried as far as it did.”

Dovid Teich, though hitless last night, made up for his egregious base-coaching gaffe in the home half of the fourth inning with his heads-up base-running in the fifth.

After Teich was walked on a full count, he shielded a ground ball from ‘Caps first baseman J.J. Katz, breaking up a sure-fire double-play, enabling Ezagui to reach base safely and eventually score.

Sacrificing himself for the greater good of the team, Teich did his share to ensure a four-run outburst in the fifth inning, which put the game out of reach for the green-shirted Skullcaps.

Although the ‘Caps ended Herz’s shutout bid in the final inning – an unearned run – it was another solid performance from the big pitcher.

“The elbow felt good as the game progressed,” said a smiling Herz. “It’s alright. The two-weeks off certainly helped.”

Herz threw a complete-game, allowing six hits while striking out three and walking one.

The Skullcaps, though, will be looking for their first win of the season when they next take on the Blue Fringes at 10:30 am, Sunday, in Lefferts Park.

Hopefully for them, the elusive win will come sooner than the next washout.