Sunday's leftovers

Some notes and observations from Sunday's 9-8 Wild Things win over Florence:

* I mentioned a few posts back that I enjoy going to the ballparks, gymnasiums and fields because I hope to see something I've never seen before. Well, I saw something Sunday that falls into that category. It wasn't exciting, just unusual, perhaps a million-to-one shot.

In the top of the first inning, with Florence's Stephen Shults batting (I think it was him), Washington's Tim Smith delivered a pitch that was foul-tipped by Shults. Instead of flying back to the screen or clanging off the catcher's mask, the baseball shot back directly into the ball bag that home-plate umpire Ron Arnsperger had on his right hip.

If you were watching closely, you might have wondered where the ball went. You saw the pitch thrown, saw the batter swing, heard the ball was tipped, then it disappeared and the umpire quickly gave the catcher another baseball from his bag to throw back to the pitcher.

The odds of that happening are astronomical. Never saw it happen before. Likely to never see it again.

* I don't have the statistical data to back this up, but Washington reliever Justin Edwards pitches much better from the windup than from the stretch position. That's why I'd rather see him start an inning than be brought in with runners on base.

* Overcoming a five-run deficit like Washington did in the eighth inning takes more than one big hit. This one took three: Jacob Dempsey's two-run triple against a left-handed pitcher, Denny Duron's two-run homer and Michael Parker's two-strike single that gave Washington the lead.

* Florence manager Toby Rumfield used four pitchers in the eighth inning and I agreed with all but one of his moves. He never did bring in Jacinto Gonnel, who leads the Freedom in saves and was the closer for league champion Lake Erie last season.

* Washington still needs at least one more hitter and another reliable pitcher to make a run at a playoff berth. And playing with only 22 active players is never a good idea. You have only two bench players and one is a backup catcher.

* Though he's been struggling offensively for much of the season, Dempsey has drawn 32 walks, which is one fewer than league leaders Zach Pace of Oakland County and Traverse City's Chase Burch.