MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The 2009 Matthew C. Perry baseball season swung into action at the main softball field here Sept. 11 where the Samurai came back to beat the E. J. King Cobras from Sasebo 10-9.
The Samurai’s win was the first of the season and a good way to begin on the right path to success with a 1-0 record.
The Cobras put up a good fight, never really letting the Samurai put away the win.
The Cobras came out swinging, but hitting wasn’t their problem; it was getting the base runners to cross home plate.
The Samurai held the Cobras to no runs until the fourth inning. The Cobras started the inning down 2-0 but rallied in seven runs before they were retired for the inning.
“We went out and played hard the whole game; I don’t ever think that it’s over,” said Nick Martinez, Cobras coach. “We have to play a whole six or seven innings or two hours.”
It was clear the tables had turned for the Samurai, and they had to come up with a good strategy if they wanted to come out with a victory.
“Our strategy was to try to steal our way back in,” said Samurai coach Richard Peterson. “We just decided to take it one hit at a time and not try to get it all back at once.”
It was a good strategy that paid off for the Samurai as they chipped away at the Cobras’ lead, earning two runs of their own in the fourth and narrowing the gap down 7-4.
In the top of the fifth, the Samurai stopped the Cobras right in their tracks, retiring them early thanks to great field work.
“I thought our fielding did really well,” said Peterson.
The Samurai decided to do some rallying of their own in the bottom of the fifth with Dims Wakimoto, second baseman and catcher leading off with a single.
Samurai infielder David Richardson helped keep the rally alive with a single, as well as bringing in Wakimoto after a few stolen bases.
The drive continued throughout the inning with hits by Hayden Miller, Samurai first baseman, and Israel Holquin, Samurai left fielder.
By the end of the fifth the Samurai had taken the momentum and the lead 8-7.
“They did well, they got in a couple of tight spots, but battled through it,” said Peterson. “They did really good once they relaxed and did it.”
The Samurai got ahead with only one inning left to play, but the Cobras wouldn’t go out with out a fight.
The Cobras once again rallied and once again took the lead 9-8.
With no time left to play another inning, it was up to the Samurai to heat up their bats again and produce at least two runs to pull off a win.
Samurai outfielder Ryan Schmitt was the first up to bat in the sixth but later struck out.
With one out and two runs needed for the win, Samurai pitcher Jacob McClenney was beamed and awarded a base.
McClenney took advantage of his free base by stealing second and third.
With the tying run on third, Wakimoto hit a screaming line drive up the middle which took a generous bounce and brought McClenney home for the tie.
Samurai infielder David Richardson drove in the final run after hitting a single to end the game 10-9.
“I was very proud of the Samurai. They battled back not once but twice to comeback and win this game,” said Peterson.