The Cobra Kai entered last Friday’s Showdown with a Do or Die mentality. Our Usual Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy Mentality was changed to Do or Die for One Night. The Team was reeling from a 2 game losing streak marred by injuries and a shuffled line-up to start the season. And with a Good Pretzels team awaiting us last Friday night there would be no room for errors on this evening.
Pretzels jumped off to a 4 run lead in the top of the first that might have forced other teams to fold under their blitzing hits and big bombs of the first inning…..or as Christina would say the Twighligths last reaming. However, the Cobra Kai struck right back and retook the lead with patient at plate appearances highlighted by the arrival of Capt. Tucci in the top of the line-up to help spark the team. “We needed Tucci’s energy in the top and thus I told him the team will either live or die with him….it’s the Captains choice” The Swami said after the game.
Well, the Team rose up and we fought together to save our season. The Bats woke up and they woke up with a vengeance on this night. The Cobra Kai struck with No mercy in the bottom of the first posting 8 runs and vowing never to look back from there. The Swami was coming off a heartbreaking loss by his hometown Steelers but used that energy at the plate taking his revenge on the pitcher blasting a shot in the bottom of the first to spark the team.
Sully managed to pull out several clutch hits all night but none more than in the first as he was still reeling from a near knockout blow from Koko in warm-ups. “I was seeing three balls all night, when Koko told me just to hit the one in the middle that’s what I did” Sully said after the game. Interesting to hear Koko’s big blow and Sully seeing three balls in the same sentence…but we will try to assume he was referring to the game. DonJuan kept things going upping his league leading OB% and the Kai went all the way through the line-up to start the game.
Savvy Veteran Oil Can Spragues was back on the mound leading the charge for the Kai in the field and his never say die attitude is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Kai on this night. However, the biggest surge came from an old Kai faithful Johnny Blaze. Blaze entered the game lacking his usual swagger on the season but that all came to a halt once this once got under way. Back at the Hot Corner and reunited with his swing Blaze was the difference on this hallowed evening. Johnny put up a 4-4 performance and snagged several hot reads at the hot corner reassuming his Miyagi like influence. The other difference for the Kai came from Koko as he ran down a muddled high flying ball and ripped two shots down the 3rd base line to impress the GOAT whom did not believe his brother was capable of such a feat. All in all it was one of the Kai’s greatest all around team performance taking down Pretzels 16-15 holding off a late rally to keep the season’s goal of a championship alive and well.
See You Under the Friday Night Lights for another Showdown with the SHARKS!
