Day 214: Turn It Up

Back Row (Left to Right): Will, Albert, James, Ken, Ben, Chung, Brian, Wesley, Bryan, Winson, Justin
Front Row (Left to Right): Danielle, Denise, Diane, Diana
(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/6.3, 1/80, ISO 800)

What a weekend.  The third and final day of Formosan, after the break.

Fell asleep at 3:30ish in the morning.  Woke up at 7:30.  Twice as much sleep as the night (or rather, morning) prior.  Woke up feeling all 'bleh'.  It'd been a while since I had felt all icky and congested in the morning, though I suppose it's merely a sign that I have been enjoying sleeping in too much during my summer.  Same routine as yesterday.  Shower, munchies, sunscreen, out the door.  Bag was already packed prior to bed.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~130mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 320)

Got there at around 9:45 AM.  Started shooting around the second or third inning, as the game had already started when I got there.  The early start didn't seem to faze most of the team, as demonstrated by Wesley (above) who was routinely sending hard hits down the field.  Of course with Turn 2's pitchers such as Ken (below) at the mound, most folks had an easy time getting their ideal pitch.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 86mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 320. -0.33 EV Post)

Such was the case for Chung (below), who was routinely sending fly balls past the fence the entire day.  For the most part though, the game was (in my opinion) pretty uneventful, save for the periodic flashpoint of action.  Round-robin play ended with Turn 2 securing a win, leaving them second in the division behind Blitz.

 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 135mm, f/4, 1/1600, ISO 320)

Some folks dispersed after the game to get a couple hours of sleep as the next game wouldn't be until later in the afternoon.  The rest of us decided to grab some food, making what eventually became an hour-long trek to the cars due to detours to the park's splash pad (well, except me, Mr. Cameras-Around-His-Neck) and gazebo (which was serving as Tournament HQ).

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/2, 1/1250, ISO 100, +1.0 EV)

Afer lunch, loitering/sprawling out on the park grass ensued.  Also watched a Slo-Pitch game whilst we were still killing time.  During the game, a runner ended up sliding into one of he pegs that held the base in place, mangling his knee in the process despite wearing a sliding pad.  The cut was pretty bad.  Actually, calling it a cut  would probably be an understatement.  Thankfully, quite a few folks sprang into action with Danielle - a recent nursing graduate - cleaning and bandaging the wound.  His day was done, but he was going to be okay after some stitches.  A sobering reminder that the safety and well-being of any player always comes first above winning.

I didn't take any photos of the incident out of respect for the player's privacy, but as Ben and one of the injured player's teammates helped him back to the car, I saw a photo even before I brought the camera up to my eye.  I scrambled to compose and rip a few frames while the opportunity presented itself with whatever I had on me.  Seldom do I ever feel like I come away with something that I feel so strongly about, but this was different.  Sometimes you try and you fail, but other times, you know right from the get-go.  You know, the moment it clicks.  Photo was still a bit wider than I had wanted, so I cropped it a bit, to place more emphasis on the subjects.

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/2, 1/4000, ISO 200)

Some time after, we headed to Turn 2's next game.  It was all elimination from here, so losing was not an option.  The clouds had settled in since we returned from lunch which for me meant more even, softer lighting on the players, in exchange for a slight ISO bump.  The game was against a team that Turn 2 had blown out the day prior, and though it was a bit closer it still was largely uneventful from my perspective.  Again, flashpoints did occur occasionally throughout the game such as Diane (below) making a great play on a pop-up (she made several similar catches throughout the weekend).

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~170mm, f/4, 1/2000, ISO 320)

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the game was the final inning.  In summary, Turn 2 managed to 'turn three'.  Brian (below) made a great running catch on a line drive heading up the middle, something the runner didn't expect.  One out.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~112mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 500)

A quick toss to James got the runner before he was able to scramble back to the base to tag up.  Two outs.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~112mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 500)

The third runner, from first base had absolutely no chance, already half way between the bases.  James' throw was a bit off, but a stretching Danielle managed to grab it in time to complete the triple play.  Three outs, and game.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~100mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 500)

I was surprised that I had managed to get the entire exchange as ith appened before my eyes.  Usually either the camera and/or lens fails to keep up somewhere in that exchange but it was probably one of those split seconds that the planets managed to align and the system decides to go your way.  Hurray!

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 500)

Afterwards, Turn 2 cleared out of the dugout, to make way for the next game.  They were scheduled to play immediately after though at the same diamond, and so equipment and bags were kept close by whilst folks opted for washroom breaks.  During this time, the skies decided to open up, and rain proceeded to come down quite hard for the majority of the next game.  I do want to take this opportunity to point out that the umpire upped his level of awesomeness by having a rake (his own) present in order to help keep the clay around home plate from clumping up or forming too many puddles.  Friendly, competent, AND he has his own rake.  What an awesome guy.

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 640)

The rain stopped shortly after the game concluded.  Turn 2's game started early in order to take advantage of the dry period.  It would not rain for the rest of the day, however.  I always liked shooting after the rain, as I felt it always brought out the best in terms of colour and this day was no different as the clay turned from a pale to rich vivid brown.  The grass looked a little greener and even Albert's "I drop-kick bases" slide looked sexy.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~185mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 640)

Oh right, there was a game happening too.  A more eventful one at that.  Managed to get a close play by Brian (below) as he attempted to make a leaping grab at a ball hit above him with a runner on first.  Timing was good, but the ball might have been a little wet as it slipped out of his glove.  His efforts were not in vain though, as he managed to recover in time to hand off the ball to Winson on second in order to get the force out.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~160mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 640, -0.33 EV Post)

Also caught Wesley making a wicked jumping grab in the outfield.  The pitch prior he made a crazy sliding catch in foul territory, but the umpire ruled it out of play. 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~130mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 800)

Below, a close play a second in which I believe the runner made it in time.  James would however later play a part in ending the game by again stepping on second in a game ending double-play.  Turn 2 turned two to advance to the finals.  Their opponents: Blitz.

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~145mm, f/4, 1/1600, ISO 800)

Game was due in the early evening.  The sun started poking out again.  Sunrise and sunset light is always great, and I proceeded to spend a majority of the game shooting from the third base line with the sun behind me.  Two umpires were present, including the one from the diamond that Turn 2 had played on once the day prior and all throughout the current day.  As was the case for all the umpires during the weekend, many of them took the time to have conversations with players, and below our favourite "umpie" is having a talk with Diana who usually screams during her at bat.  You know, kind of like a tennis player grunts... except for her it's a very loud and sharp "HAH!!!!".  Having umpired several Turn 2 games, he was used to the screaming, though was noticeably caught off guard during many of her earlier at-bats.

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 185mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 800)

With Blitz having home advantage, Turn 2 decided to open up the scoring early with a solid first inning.  Their lead was erased with one swing though by Blitz player Joe Woo (two photos below) when he cleared the bases with a hard hit grand slam that saw the ball ricocheting directly off the construction wall beyond the park fence making a very loud "THUD" that caught everyone's attention.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/3.5, 1/1000, ISO 800)

Gameplay was intense.  Blitz managed to gain the lead during the middle portion of the game, but every time they did Turn 2 would claw back to either erase that deficit or succeed in minimizing the damage.  Turn 2 had an opportunity during one of the innings to really capitalize with the bases loaded but failed to score a significant number of them.  During that inning Chung, who had already singlehandedly maxed the home run limit (a team is allowed +2 more home runs than their opponents; Chung hit three to Joe Woo's one) fouled out.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 86mm, f/3.5, 1/1000, ISO 800)

Everyone was playing at their hardest, with no quarter given by either side.  Below is Ben sliding into second for what I believe was probably the third or fourth time in the game.  Whilst sorting through photos I continued to find sequences of Ben going hard into second in order to try and break up a double play.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~105mm, f/3.5, 1/1250, ISO 800)

By the bottom half of the last inning, Turn 2 had managed to accumulate a six run lead (technically seven, due to a scoresheet error upon later discovery).  Everyone gathered for one last in-game meeting for a final pep-talk, as Turn 2 prepared to take the field for the last time in this year's tournament.  Despite the fairly healthy lead, everyone knew that anything could happen.  

 

 (Nikon D60, 18-55 VR @ 18mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 800)

Anything... including Turn 2 winning.  Things didn't start off too well for Turn 2.  A handful of hits led to a run scored and two on base when a Blitz player jacked one over the left field fence, in the same area where Chung launched three balls earlier in the game.  This cleared the bases and cut Turn 2's official lead to two (17 - 15) with what I believe was only one out.  Somehow, on a grounder to third Ben ended up losing his balance, flopping on the ground and doing what I think barely qualifies as a throw (probably a roll more than anything) to first.  James would then retire the next batter on a softly hit infield pop-up, and Denise followed up wth the third out with the grab shown below.  Anything could happen.

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 105mm, f/3.5, 1/1000, ISO 800, -0.17 EV Post)

Anything could happen, including Turn 2 winning.  High-fives, pats on the back, and big smiles were exchanged as those on the bench came out and those from the outfield came in.  Both teams shook it up, and had their photos taken at home plate (Turn 2's is at the very top, in case you missed it).  

(Nikon D60, 18-55 VR @ 18mm, f/6.3, 1/125, ISO 800)

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/6.3, 1/100, ISO 800)

Of course, there's also the trophy.  The team hung around afterwards to catch the Co-Ed Slo-Pitch finals, and afterwards we proceeded for a celebratory dinner at the nearby Boston Pizza.

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/4, 1/180, ISO 500, Flash @ TTL)

With that, the long weekend is over.  Well, I guess technically it's been over for more than two weeks as of the date of this post.  So much has happened in such a short span of time, and I wouldn't change a single thing for that entire weekend (well, except maybe waking up earlier on Saturday).  To be there for every out, every home run, every team huddle, and everything else in between...  it was all worth it.

Thanks to the Formosan Cup organizers for a wonderful tournament, and to Nex Gen and Turn 2 for allowing me to tag along all weekend!

All I can say is, Formosan 2011 anyone? :~)