Trojans Survive Lightning, Delays For Wet Win

With several bolts of lightning illuminating the night sky, it was only a matter of time before the umpires were going to call Friday night's Intercity League game between Arlington and Wakefield. 

Luckily for the Trojans, that moment came with them leading by two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Arlington won a 4-2 rain and lightning shortened decision over Wakefield.

"Everybody kept looking up at the sky and didn't know what to expect next," said Trojans skipper Joe Hart, who had a long conversation with the umpires during the game's second rain delay. 

"I went over to ask them what the ruling was and they said they'll wait 15 minutes, which we did," said Hart. "After 15 minutes, no lightning, so we came back out and played, and then they said if there's lightning again, they'll call it."  

While the decisive bolt of lighting came in the sixth inning, the thunder for Arlington came an inning earlier, in the fifth. Starting pitcher Mike Griffin helped his own cause, crushing a two-run homer over the fence in right field to put Arlington on top 4-2.

"I've seen it before from him," said Hart. "I've known him since he was six years old, so I know he can hit, but that was the best hit ball I've seen all year by far.  Initially I thought all he wanted to do was pitch and then he asked me if he could take some swings.  He plays every game and every inning.  When he pitches he hits for himself too."

Griffin got off to a rocky start on the mound, as he let Wakefield load the bases in the first inning and gave up a run on a sacrifice fly, but he allowed just one more run the rest of the way and went the distance.

"He did that in his last start too," said Hart about Griffin putting himself in an early jam. "Like most good pitchers, they kind of struggle in that first inning....and then settle right down. Once we get by the first inning I'm pretty confident he gets in his groove."

Blake Yee drove in Arlington's other two runs with a double to left-center in the first inning, putting the Trojans on top 2-1 at the time.

Arlington (6-16) returns to action at 2 P.M. on Sunday, July 18, hosting the Testa Corp. Bombers at the Summer Street Field in Arlington.