Naval Support Activity, BAHRAIN -- After a double overtime thriller, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command Forward Legends fell at the hands of their enduring rivals, Naval Support Activity Bahrain’s Base team, “Stay Classy,” with a score of 17-16, Feb. 26.
The game started off in MARCENT Fwd’s favor as they jumped to a four to one lead in the first inning. Their domination continued through the second as they went on to the third with a seven to three lead. However, the game took a drastic turn going into the inning. In the third, “Stay Classy” found their rhythm in bats and defense to shutout MARCENT Fwd, four to zero. This push tied the game at sevens going into the fourth.
“It was a great game, a well fought battle. Both teams were playing well, and it was a high scoring affair; very entertaining,” said MARCENT FWD player-coach, Jared Harrington. “STAY CLASSY started hitting. We came out early and started off the game great. It took them a couple of innings to find their bats, but we knew they were going to.”
According to MARCENT Fwd infielder Samuel Dean, his team understood the skill level of their rival team and expected nothing less of a power push when “Stay Classy” found their groove.
“This team has a great lineup and has many good players and hitters that know the situation in every at bat,” said Dean.
With a tie score, the two teams charged into the fourth inning.
“Let’s go, it’s a new ball game,” said one spectator.
From that point on in the evening, the game became a shoot-out.
MARCENT Fwd scored four more runs in the fourth, but “Stay Classy” took the inning and the lead with six, making the score 13-11, going into the fifth, where they would continue their command and push their lead to 16-12. However, MARCENT Fwd was not going down without a fight, as they dominated the sixth with a four to zero shut-out.
“You know, I never thought they had the game won. With the amount of runs that had been scored in this game, anything could have happened. And the way we were going back and forth it was still any one’s game. It isn't over till it's over,” said Harrington.
Once again they headed into the seventh with a tied score of 16-16, and defense prevailed in the scoreless seventh inning sending the game into extra innings.
The two teams found themselves battling defensive play after defensive play through the eighth and well into the ninth and final inning.
With the night getting cooler and fatigue setting in, “Stay Classy” would get a big hit allowing for one of their players to line up on third base. This play set up the winning run, as “Stay Classy” sacrificed an out to bring a runner on third home.
“We knew the runner at third could not score if we wanted the game to continue. They got the sacrifice fly, that's all it took. At that point I knew it was over, a well played game on both sides and unfortunately, we came up short once again,” said Harrington.
“Both teams enjoy playing each other; the competition, the rivalry, the trash talking. It all makes for an interesting and exciting game. There were a lot of hits, and a lot of great defensive plays from both dugouts; another classic game for this rivalry,” said Harrington.