Game 10: Forfeiture HardBallers pick-up the win as their opponents failed to show-up
June 22, 2007
By Andrew Wolan / BWCS
Score Box
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
BB
No Offense
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
L
X
X
The HardBallers
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
W
X
X
Ian gives the thumb's up as Nicole breaks the news that their opponents had forfeited. (Wolan)
Game Summary
After a heartbreaking, extra innings lose in their first game of the doubleheader, the HardBallers will look to rebound as they battle against the 1-5 “No Offense”. Originally, these two teams were scheduled to meet in Game 6 before the Memorial Day holiday. However, Mother Nature had plans as heavy rains made the field unplayable and forced a postponement.
Despite a delayed start time due to the HardBallers’ previous extra inning match-up, only two players from the “No Offense” team had shown up to the field. According to the team's representative, the rest of the team “was on their way”. Though the umpire gave the No Offense team some extra time to show-up, it became obvious that if this game was going to start, it was going to severely impact the start-times off the following games. So, after a 30 minutes delay to the game’s official start time, the ump declared a “forfeit” and awarded the HBs a win.
Post-Game Reaction
Reaction to the forfeiture was mixed. Many agreed that given “No Offense’s” record of 1-5, a win was almost certain. However, some would rather play the game than just receive a hand-out win. “Ya, we would have won if we played, but still, I’d rather play the game then be awarded a win” commented Coach Corbett after the game.
However, it is also quite possible the forfeit was a blessing in disguise as several players were beginning to show signs of fatigue due to exposure to the hot noon-time sun. “I think being in the sun for two plus hours on Saturday for practice plus today did me in,” commented A-WOL. But A-WOL did see a silver-lining through all of this. “A forfeit means I have extra time to catch my evening flight out of town while picking up the win in the process, all without over doing it. It’s the best case scenario… well for me at least.”
