"Eye on Sports" with Bill McNeil - Sunday, July 5th

"Eye on Sports" with Bill McNeil

Sunday, July 5th, 1981

 Pele once said, "The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning". Well, that fancy-footed ball kicker must have been talking about the Woodpeckers in yesterday's Fourth of July, edge-of-your-seat thrilling victory over the Wildcats of Lemoore.
 A no-hitter was carried into the bottom of the ninth by Wildcats pitcher Nate Sherman, but the Peckers would not go quietly. A leadoff single by catcher Travis Schmidt started the rally. Two outs later, outfielder Kyle Thomas lashed a double into right which brought up the Peckers' best hitter, Jermaine Lynnstock. With a full count and runners on second and third, the hard-hitting shortstop did the unthinkable--he bunted. The Wildcats were not prepared for the strategic maneuver and played deep, causing a ruckus in the infield to get the ball home. When the dust settled, everyone was safe and the Peckers walked away with their first win of the season.
 This reporter caught up with Coach Lynnstock after the victory with a few questions abot the win and what it means for Sinkwood's season.

BM: Coach, tell us a little about why you went for the bunt with two outs.

RL: Man, we can't hit s---!

BM: Fair enough. How would you rate your players improvements in this game from last week's?

RL: We couldn't hit last week and we sure as s--- couldn't hit this week. But we stayed in this game 'cause that little motherf----- can throw, can't he?!

BM: Yes, he can. Next week's game is against Kingsburg, on their home turf. They've got a big lineup. Any thoughts on how your team is going to approach the matchup?

RL: Man, s---, it's the Fourth of July, I gotta tear in my eye and there gonna be fireworks in the sky! We ain't thinkin' 'bout no godd--- baseball game 'til next week!
 Coach Lynnstock is a sure-fire proud American and a proud coach of some winning baseball. As someone once said, "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." Well, those Peckers played a good one this week.