(AP - Ottawa) All this, and only 8 Rogues were present! So when the coaches and captains meeting was called, and the 8th Rogues was speeding down Data Centre Rd to get to the diamond on time...it was crunch time. We were given a 15 minute grace period, and within that time, The Rogues drafted Noel Hayes.
Noel showed up expecting to play on a fastball team that wasn't there, and thus was asked by Cox to play as The Rogues 9th batter. Once the umpires and CBU Publications OKed it, Noel took his place at 3rd base.
The Rogues were on defensively tonight. It was like Old-school Rogues of 1999. Martin Soucy and Ron Hrycak were 100% reliable in the field, and Hayes and Dan Robert played admirably at 3rd and short respectively. Gallant and Glazer played 2nd and 1st, and played very well as well. Poor ole' Calve in right field had two plays in 7 innings.
Dan hit his first dinger of the year, while Martin Soucy went 3-4. Glazer, Gallant and Hrycak all hit safely, and Cox drew his first walk of the year. Newcomer Hayes went 0-3, but managed to hit his second out at the warning track.
In the end, it was a four run fifth inning that cost The Rogues the win. A couple minor mistakes and some solid hitting gave CBU the lead, and they never looked back.
The Rogues are currently in negotiations with Noel Hayes as well as Mark Fish about his possible signing. Stay tuned.
It's ironic that The Rogues played their best team game on a night where 4 Rogues couldn't make it. But for the no-shows that weren't there, they know that the team is back on track, and they'll be key for the rest of the season. This game may or may not be a turning point, but at the very least, it was the most fun we've had all year.
