This was a game of destiny. Fordham had been showing signs of greatness all year--for an inning here an inning there. In their 15-10 loss last game, it felt like they were one or two plays from turning the tables. It felt like this was a team ready to put it all together.
So, when Dave Murphy told Charlie O'Donnell, "I'm going to hit today," the manager should have realized it meant a lot more. Murphy's season had been an up and down one, and while he's always put the bat on the ball, the lack of output in the boxscores had sunk him to lower depths of the lineup. Still, his intensity and enthusiasm had been unmatched, it was only a matter of time before he'd have a day like this one--going three for three with a game ending solo shot in the bottom of the final frame.
In fact, Murphy was playing so well, that the Fordham manager turned to his firstbaseman Cuthbert and said, "Wouldn't it be great if Dave just f*#%ing ended it right here?" One pitch later, the game was over. In addition, he turned in a perfect 6-3 double play with men on 2nd and 3rd in the top of the final inning to preserve the tie to go with a leaping catch of a soft liner earlier in the game.
Fordham did much of their damage with two outs. O'Donnell singled in the first and advanced to third on Jason Giannitti single. When Giannitti tried to advance on the throw to third, O'Donnell took off for home, plating Fordham's first run and cutting Mizuho's lead in half. Firstbaseman Brian Cuthbert knotted it up with another single which scored Gianitti.
Once again, Patty Dickerson turned in a solid effort on the mound, shutting down Mizuho for the final three innings for the team's 3rd win. The defense played solidly as well, with Larry Porco catching a couple of long drives in the outfield in front of the capacity crowd of three.
The team plays its final game on August 8th at North Meadow. Spectators are always welcome.
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