RICHMOND - With a league best 11-2 record and a week 1 win against Chelmsford, the Dragons hosted the first round of the 2010 Single A play offs with quiet< confidence.
Although top batters Stuart Hendry and Woo Kim were missing due to work, pitcher Per Nilsson Eklöf had returned from a trip to the DL, albeit without the ability to bat. Despite this Richmond fielded a strong team on a re-scheduled Sunday fixture at Flood Field.
After an efficient first inning the Dragons drew first blood in one of the season's more remarkable plays. 3B Alvin Michael arrived safely at first on a dropped third strike and thanks to some less than accurate throwing got all the way around to score.
The next two innings were scoreless but Clippers catcher Jones kept the normally rampant Dragons running game in check as he threw out 3 potential base stealers in the first 3 innings, a big change from week 1 when the Dragons stole more than 20 bases.
Dragons extended the lead in the bottom of the second thanks to consecutive doubles by 1B Allan Moffatt and LF Jon Guyett, but the Clippers tied the game in the next half due to less than stellar defence by the Dragons, only to see the lead return to the home team after three consecutive hits, including a home run by SS Scott Phillips, but a heads up play by Clippers pitcher Mandalia stopped CF Patrick Livingstone at home on a passed ball.
However, in the 5th the Clippers took the lead with a six running inning, again highlighted by heads up base running by the Clippers and Dragons having a below par day in the field. The Clippers piled on runs in the 7th and 8th, but Phillips now pitching in relief stemmed the tide and kept the Dragons within reach with a scoreless 9th.
The Dragons needed 7 to push the game into extra innings and began with focus as Ian Cox and Nick Hadley had back to back singles. With three runs scored and now two outs with runners at 1st and 2nd, Allan Moffat, who homered in the 6th came to the plate. He took the first pitch he saw, Mandalia's 167th for the day and drove it deep to left centre where it kept going, and going and going, until CF Mackenzie, with his back up against the fence leaped, caught the ball and fell over the fence.
As Mackenzie had control of the ball when he left the field the catch stood, final out and play off dreams for the Dragons shattered for a second year.
"This loss will haunt me for a long time", said Dragons manager Nick Hadley. "We played our heart out, and although we were missing some players I felt we fielded a very strong side. Sadly when the Clippers managed to hit in the gaps we hit hard balls straight at their fielders", he continued.
"While we probably could have played a little bit better I will not take anything away from the Clippers. They played a hell of a game when it counted and have completely transformed their team from Opening Day."
"Still, this was the best ever Dragons season and we will learn from this and come back next year even stronger, regardless of which division we play in."
Commiserations to the play off loss, but congratulations to the best ever 11-3 record for the 2010 Dragons.
