Waipahu shows Robinson ultimate respect
May 15th, 2008 by WesWaipahu made an interesting decision in Wednesday’s softball state quarterfinal against Moanalua, with the score tied at 1-1 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning and Moanalua’s best hitter, Sarah Robinson, at the plate.
The Marauders decided to intentionally walk her, loading the bases and putting the go-ahead run at third base. The next batter, Britni Ronolo, then hit the first pitch up the middle for a ground single to score Michelle Acosta and give Na Menehune a 2-1 lead which held in the bottom half.
I’m not sure if the first pitch to Robinson was an intentional ball, and then they decided to walk her, or if they meant to walk her from the beginning.
But this is one of those calls that if it works, then you look like a genius and if it doesn’t, well, the second-guessing begins.
On the one hand, Robinson no doubt is a dangerous hitter and she hit the ball solid in her previous three at-bats: a line drive out to center, a single to left field and a groundout to short. Ronolo was 0 for 3, with a soft liner to short, a fielder’s choice grounder to third and another liner to short.
On the other hand, putting the go-ahead run on third base is dangerous, too, because now the run can score on a wild pitch or passed ball or even an infield hit or squeeze bunt.
Some coches will say of a slugger, “I’m not going to let that person beat us; if someone gets a hit, it’ll be another batter.”
By intentionally walking Robinson to load the bases for Ronolo, Waipahu basically conceded that it didn’t like its chances of getting Robinson out. Otherwise, they would have pitched to her and see what happens, right?
I’m not faulting the decision either way, because if Ronolo were to have made the third out, then it would have proved to be a good move.
I just found it very interesting that a hitter would be shown that much respect to load the bases and push the go-ahead run to third base …
