Sunday, June 29th - After 6 years out of the game, Matt Sargent still has it. Sargent signed a one-game contract to play for the Kansas City Punishers MSBL team versus the KCK Giants.
It was the perfect day for a game, 78 (always even!) degrees for the first pitch, with Sargent slotted in the 8 hole and playing 2nd base. Showing signs of rust in the first, he went down swinging on 3 pitches. "Really, that first at-bat, I didn't get a good look. Coach Reddell said this ump calls everything. I thought, no way am I going down looking."
In the first couple innings, plays in the field were few and far between. Finally, in the third, Sargent started off a would-be double play that didn't come to fruition only because the first baseman (we'll call him Thome) wasn't paying a lick of attention. The shortstop's throw hit the batter-runner squarely in the thigh, causing him to curse profusely. "Man, I wasn't even looking," Thome would later say.
Sargent on his second at-bat: "I must've stepped a little in the bucket, because I caught it off the end of the barrel. There was no way that ball was getting over the shortstop's head. If anything, though, I was happy I went with the pitch." As it stood, Sargent wasn't looking so hot, sitting at 0-for-2.
Then came the forgettable bottom of the third. SP Cook gave up 8 runs, including 2 two-run home runs. All before an out was recorded! Manager Nick Reddell said in the post-game he contemplated bringing in Sargent to toss his knuckleball at the Giants. "I played catch with him before the game, and he mentioned that, with the wind blowing out, the knuckler would do a lot of dancing." In the end, however, Sargent stayed at second and made two more plays before his third, and final, plate appearance of the day.
"I had been keeping tabs, loosely, you know," he said while sipping a Mike's Hard Lemonade after the game. "A lot of first-pitch strikes. And, batting eighth, the guy probably thinks I'm a pushover. So I'm ready to get my hacks in, obviously. You know me - don't get cheated!"
Sargent drilled the first pitch off the KCK ace into the right-center field gap, all the way to the wall, and coasted in for a stand-up double. It was the only extra-base hit for the Punishers for the game. "Obviously, thrilled to be here, up with the big club. Glad I could contribute. Too bad the team didn't play better, I really think we're better than we played today. Sunday, 11AM is always a tough gig. Hope to be back soon."
The Punishers were beaten by the Giants on Sunday by the score of 13-3. Coach Sargent (as of press time) had yet to hear back from GM/Manager Reddell about a possible contract extension.
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