Radar image of the storm as it passes over the area.  (WRGB)

In the final game of the regular season, the A’s not only look to get in some practice, but to build momentum for the playoffs. Parts of the New England area were being hit hard by severe weather. Ironically, the brunt of this weather was passing south of Dalton, just south enough to squeeze in the game while limiting the Dalton area with only a passing shower before game time. Mother Nature used the opportunity to provide a light show that could be seen behind home plate.

Because the team was short on players at game time, the A’s were accompanied by players from the previous game that afternoon. In the line-up were Dan, Dave, Le-Ann, and the guy which the league is named after, Bud Hall. As I said in the past, whenever you have a guy in which the league is named after on your team, you just know you are going to win. Tonight was no exception.

The A’s offense got off to an early start, netting 7 runs in the first, and 4 in the 2nd. The A’s went down quickly in the 3rd and 4th and left the bases juiced in the 5th. A-WOL achieved a milestone in the 2nd by reaching base off of a hit. He becomes the first player in A’s history to hit safely in each game of the regular season.

Defensively, the team looked good given the fielding conditions. A bloop play caused a ground ball to leak through Dale’s legs in the infield, which in turn dribbled through John’s legs in the outfield. Clara pitched two big strike-outs in the 4th to turn a potentially bad situation around that inning.

For the entire game, the rains were dormant, allow the game to proceed. Up by two runs, the A’s went to bat at the top of the 6th and began a rally. And then the rains came. The umpire called for a rain delay, but everyone felt the rains would not subside and began leaving the field. It turned out to be a wise idea, because the rains only got more intense as the evening progressed. The storms that had been contained to the south have drifted northward, affecting the Dalton area.

The game was called after 5 innings of play. Because the A’s had the lead for the entire game, (including after the 5th inning), the A’s were awarded the win. Clara picked-up her first win with the A’s.

A-WOL noted earlier that he had driven through that storm system and experienced its fury first hand. He reported seeing pea to nickel-sized hail in Springfield and torrential rains while drive on the turnpike. Thunderbolts had struck within a mile of the vehicle on two occasions, would could be felt as rumble within the cabin. Cars had pulled over because the rains reduced visibility. Traffic was backed-up for miles going east bound on the turnpike.

Andy Wolan is a reporter for MLSB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Softball or its clubs.