On Saturday, November 5th in Carthage, MO the Gateway Archers and the newly formed BeepBall team, the Oklahoma Twisters, took part in a double header halfway between the two cities. The MLV Foundation, New View of Oklahoma, and MindsEye partnered to put on the event between the two teams.
The day started in typical November fashion with the first pitch coming with the temperature around 42 degrees, but it didn’t take very long for the game to heat up. The Twisters, with help from Austin Blackhawks legendary pitcher and coach Tim Hibner, came out hot getting 4 runs in the first inning. Brothers Mark and Kyle Ivy, who are new to BeepBall, look like they have a lot of talent to bring to the game and look to make a mark as Rookies on Offense and Defense. Not to be outdone, the Archers matched that output with 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Things calmed down a bit in the second and third innings with a few strikeouts and putouts for both teams. Going into the bottom of the 4th and the game was tied 5-5, the Archers and pitcher for the day, GM Mike Curtis, got things going and put up 6 runs to take a big lead making it 11-5. A few more runs were able to come in the last bit of the game, but it wasn’t enough and the Archers would win 12-7. Offense was spread out for the Archers with Richie Krussel and Henry Allen getting 3 runs and Josh Sisson, Chad Dillon and Kyle Borah getting 2 each. Kyle led the defensive charge with 6 putouts.
After a short break and lunch, the second game of the scrimmage was underway. This game had a slight rule change, allowing a 7th batter to each line up to get more at bats for all players in attendance. The game started a bit slower with both team putting balls in play, but not a lot of scoring. After 2 inning the score was 4-2 with the Twisters having a lead, but thats when the Archers took over and put up runs in bunches with the offense coming from Liam McCoy, Josh Sission, and Leul McChesney. The final score of the game: 17-10 Archers over Twisters.
On a special note from the second game, first time player as an Archer, Klarah B., got her first career run! Southwest Missouri native, Klarah is just 15 and only had a few hours of exposure to BeepBall at a few demonstration events over the past year as a part of programs offered by MindsEye and Gateway Archers supporter, Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis. She is a quick learner and will keep developing her skills to hopefully join the Archers at select events until she is ready to join the team permanently.
Thank you again to key MindsEye Adaptive Athletic and Gateway Archers sponsors: United Way of Greater St. Louis, Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis, Ameren IL, Cardinals Cares Foundations, and Paul Slocomb.