Anyone who has ever witnessed a game in the Lawrence Girl’s Fast Pitch Assn. 8-under league is probably familiar with the unusual and exciting play that occurs when the ninth batter in an inning puts the ball in play.

Players are normally allowed to take only one base on an overthrow, which prevents inside-the-park home runs.

Goobers player Emily Coatney takes a cut in the on-deck circle during a Lawrence Girls Fast Pitch Assn. game against the Blue Angels on July 5th at Holcom. The Blue Angels won the game 13-3.

But for the ninth, and final, batter, the inning is over when the defense successfully throws to a base in front of any base runner.

What results is a mad scramble to complete a throw to a base, while one or more base runners charges around the diamond, intent on making it to the plate.

On Thursday night the Blue Angels took on the Orioles at Lawrence High School. The Angels did, in fact, take advantage of this rule when Sydney Vanderbilt had a home run on a series of errant throws in the fifth inning.

That certainly wasn’t the only exciting moment of the evening.

Both teams made several great plays in the field.

In the third inning, Angels player Keelie Billings made a fine stop on a ground ball and threw to Vanderbilt at first base for an out.

In the next inning, Kenzie Garvin made a nice play for the Orioles at first base, fielding a ground ball and taking it to the bag herself for the out.

In the top of the fifth inning, Jolona Shield had a similar play at first base for the Orioles.

Garvin made a heads-up play at first in the bottom of the fifth inning, tagging out an Angels runner who rounded first base instead of running to the safety of foul territory.

In the sixth inning, Garvin smoked a line drive through the legs of Angels’ pitcher Brittany Brown.

But the ball went straight at Vanderbilt, who caught it and threw to Andrea Wade for a force out at second. The play was so exciting that the Angels fielders threw their hands up to celebrate.

The league doesn’t keep score, but that didn’t stop both teams from enjoying themselves immensely.

In total, the girls played six innings, the most that any spectator could ever remember seeing within the one and-a-half hour time limit.

It was the girls’ ability at the plate that gave them the extra opportunities to bat. Most swung at the first pitch, and most made contact, allowing the game to progress quickly.

Their skill in hitting comes from getting a chance to do it so often. Teams play games on Thursday and Sunday and also practice on Tuesday.

“Both teams are playing at a caliber well into the 12- and 13-year old level,” Angels coach Jim Vanderbilt said. “That team (the Orioles) is an excellent team.”

“The girls have outstanding knowledge and ability,” Vanderbilt added. “You can just feed them information and they’ll absorb it. There is nothing more rewarding than coaching little league fast pitch.”

Orioles coach Jay Garvin agreed that it had been an exceptionally well played game.

“They paid attention tonight and backed up bases,” Garvin said. “They did everything right.”