Story by Blake Bernier, Staff writer
A member of the Alpha Sigma Phi team dives to save the ball and strike out a member of the Sigma Chi team.
Alpha Sigma Phi defeated Sigma Chi 23-9 Monday night behind 29 hits including an in the park homerun in the fourth inning by junior Jameson Reddin.
The game started in an even score but uneven in numbers on the field. Alpha Sigma Phi batted first against a Sigma Chi team with only eight players and two outfielders.
Roster issues denied one Sigma Chi member from playing due to late registration. Officials printed out a roster at 3 p.m. but the member had not registered in time. In the second inning two extra players showed up giving Sigma Chi a full team.
In the top of the first, Alpha Sigma Phi scored one run on three hits. Sigma Chi responded in the bottom of the first scoring two runs to take the early lead 2-1, thanks in part to two costly errors by the Alpha Sigma Phi fielders.
Alpha Sigma Phi exploded in the fourth inning collecting 18 runs on 19 hits with two walks. The inning began with the first batter drawing a walk followed by a base hit and another walk. With the bases loaded and no outs Alpha Sigma Phi hit a sacrifice fly for two runs. The second run came in due to an errant throw. After that, there were 16 hits in a row before the next out was recorded.
Reddin, who hit the homerun, said that he has never hit a homerun in softball and that the last time he hit one inside the park he was probably 10 years old. Prior to his at bat Head Coach senior Taran Coleman told him that if he hit it far enough he wouldn’t have to run, but Reddin hit it the perfect distance to have to run.
Reddin said he knew it was a homerun when he saw Coleman waving him on as he rounded second base. Reddin said his legs were hurting after the game.
Official rules state that no new inning can begin after 50 minutes of play so with the time limit looming, Sigma Chi knew they had to put together a large rally. In the bottom of the fourth inning with a 23-5 deficit Sigma Chi had back to back hits to the fence for extra bases and for a moment it looked like they could make the comeback.
After giving up four runs to start the inning, Coleman called a timeout to talk with his team and settle them. Coleman’s talk proved to be successful as the next two batters grounded out to end the game.
“We got a little shaky there in the last inning,” Coleman said. “We went up pretty big and I think we kind of relaxed a little bit so I had to call a time and let everyone regain their composure.”
Coleman transitioned from player and coach to coach after suffering a season ending injury during a game last week when he tore his pectoral muscle while attempting to make a play.
Coleman said he dove for a ball and immediately felt that something was wrong but finished the inning in the outfield because he couldn’t throw a ball at all.
Alpha Sigma Phi finished last season in a three-way tie for first and Coleman said they did get overall first place based on sportsmanship points, runs and runs allowed. Reddin said they expect to win every day.
