Greenville Gets the Call to the Majors...Greeted Rudely

Greenville was sent word last week by the league commissioner that they would be moving up to play in the Major Church League. It was exciting news for about a week. The first game of the fall season took place on Monday night, and Greenville found themselves a little rusty. Having a 6 week layoff between games proved to be too much for the Greenville Oakies to overcome. St. Jude Alpha dished out the first loss of the season for Greenville with the final score reading 14-4. It was the first time that the team has had to open a season on the road.

Michael Shivers, who spent the off season in the weight room every day working with strength and conditioning coach Shane Collins, stormed out of the locker room screaming, "Embarassing."

"It was a tough loss," said coach Brokaw. "We looked a little shell shocked, but we'll bounce back. I think the one thing that we proved is that we can play with these guys. We won't look so nervous next time."

It was clear that coach was on to something because it was more a case of missed opportunities. The team left men on base in several innings as well as hitting into two double plays. "I felt like we were one timely hit away from being right in the game all night. It just didn't happen," added right fielder Grant Glover. Glover spent the off season working with new hitting coach Dustin Swart, and it paid off with a hard line drive to left field. Swart also added a hit in all 4 of his at bats including a triple.

One player that may wish he had spent more time with Collins doing one more curl is James Manley. Manley just missed a grand slam homerun in the top of the sixth as the pitcher made a leaping grab to just barely rob Manley of the homerun. "I thought I really got the good part of the bat on it," said Manley. I guess luck was on their side, along with the field umpire.

It was mostly a case of the bats not showing up on Monday night. St. Jude's pitcher kept throwing moon balls to the plate, and the fighting Green Oakies kept swinging at it.

Next week brings a new challenge however, and it will only improve. In the summer, the team's bats didn't come alive until the second half. This is a team that always comes on strong as the season wears on. It is a challenge that this team can definitely handle.