[Thursday, May 16, the last regular season home games (oh, we won the 2nd game, too – 10-4) of the year.  It was thus also . . .]

[Oh, but before we proceed – Dusty Johnson’s predicament on the 6th hole at the Alexandria Golf Club the preceding day.  Yes, that is his ball in the tree . . .]

[Dusty, of course, is known to many of the ladies as the undefeated singer of the National Anthem at many girls’ hockey games.]

[AD Hartmann noted at the game that if the Cards won both, and the doubleheader on the road to end the regular season, we would be the No. 1 seed throughout the sections and have all home games!  🙂 ]

[Thank you, ladies!]

[Taylor Ellingson was on the mound (or in softball, “the flat”).]

[Taylor breezed through the 1st inning; Sarah Bruzek got a lead-off single for us in the bottom of the first, but we could tell the Otter pitcher was going to be tough.]

Video of the 1st inning:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq7WAb7copg

[Jess Syvrud @ 2nd.  Jess batted 2nd last year; this year she bats clean-up.  She’s a not really very big guard on the basketball team, but she has hit some balls over the fence this year!]

[Dani Strater @ 1st (well, when she’s not making my chocolate malts at the Northside DQ).]

[Sarah Bruzek @ 3rd.]

[“Baby Bruiser” again; I suspect shortstop Danielle Carlson was blocked from my view.]

[Team meeting after the top of the 1st.  Again, this is to discuss eating arrangements after the game.]

[Now batting, No. 4, catcher, Emily Kuennen.]

[Still waiting to see Em really launch one this year.]

[Nope, not that one.]

[C’mon pitch, lay one in here.]

[She’s on first.]

[The Otter pitcher had good stuff.  Our two runs in the bottom the 2nd were produced without a hit – a couple walks, some fielders’ choices, and probably an error.]

[Ms. Strater, I presume?]

[Here comes a hard one . . .]

[Whaddya think?]

[Kaila Dewanz, No. 8, playing rightfield on this day, I believe.  She was the accidental major subject of the day, though also being a hockey player probably didn’t hurt.  😉 ]

[On your mark . . .]

[Then on 1st base.]

[Then on 2nd base.]

[Hmmm, can’t remember what happened to Kaila?  But here we are back in the field again.]

[This was probably the celebration of the day . . .]

[We had just ended the inning with a nifty . . .]

[6 (Danielle) – 4 (Jess) – 3 (Dani) double play!  🙂 ]

[I took a glance over at the JV game on the adjacent field.  Seemed there was always a lot of cheering with 3rd base coach Mitch Loch waving home runners by the dozen.  The JV won the game 31 – 1.  Not really fun for either team.  It was decided not to play a 2nd game.]

[Back to the varsity and Rachel Peterson, No. 3.  Rachel was either in leftfield or DHing?]

[Nice swing!]

[Taking one the other way?]

[The dugout, with the ex-coach and state political candidate supporting the fence on the far right.]

[Why, here’s Ms. Dewanz again!]

[In my day, the Dark Ages, it was a term of derision to say, “You swing like a girl!”  Now I would consider it the ultimate compliment.]

[Right on it!]

[“It’s outa here!”  OK, I don’t really remember.]

[“Baby Bruiser” has a great power swing.]

[Roger Riley, Alexandria Golf Club president, appears distracted by events at the JV game.  Roger and the aforementioned Dusty are our designated National Anthem singers.  I wonder how much he paid for that great box seat right behind home plate?]

[Emily coiled and ready for action.]

[Em uncoiling.]

[As I recall, centerfielder Jana Roste hit a good shot here.]

[Good rip by Dani.]

[Dani again.  Cards got a tad sloppy in the top of the 7th, allowing the Otters to score their run.  But it looks like we’re ready to make a run in the sections.  The Super Fans left after the 1st game – it was date night, after all!]

[And the spring sports season winds down . . .]