The Ridgeville Robins are playing the Center City Cougars.  The
Robins are leading 5-3 with the Cougars at bat in the last half of
the fifth inning.  The sky is getting darker, and the rain that has
started is becoming heavier.  The Cougars' first batter, Harvey
Jones, is taking his time coming to the plate.  The umpire steps
back from behind the plate and tells him to step into the batter's
box.

Jones, the hitter, is left-handed and has a batting average of
.310.  Claresen, the pitcher, has allowed only four hits, has
walked one, and has struck out six.  This performance is about
average for Claresen since this left-hander has an earned-run
average of 6.00 and typically strikes out quite a few batters.

Claresen now adjusts his cap, touches his knee, begins his windup,
and delivers a high fast ball that the umpire calls "Ball One." 
The Robins' catcher, Don Postman, returns the ball, and Claresen
takes the sign.  The next pitch is swung on and hit to center
field.  Maloney comes in and catches it for the first out.

The next batter is the powerful hitter, Fred Johnson, who leads the
league in home runs with 23.  Claresen no doubt is glad to face him
with no-one on base.  Claresen is now getting his sign from the
catcher, begins his windup, and throws a curve ball breaking into
a right-handed batter at the knees.  The umpire calls it a strike. 
Claresen is now getting ready again, winds up and throws, and
Johnson hits it off to right and into the stands, a foul ball.  The
count is now 0 and 2.  Claresen rubs up the new ball, takes his
sign, and throws a fast ball which just misses the bill of
Johnson's cap.  Johnson took one step toward the mound but then
came back.  Johnson stepped out of the batter's box and put some
resin  on his hands; the bat is no doubt slippery from the rain. 
Claresen is ready again, winds up and throws a slider which breaks
inside, making the count 2-2.  Once more Johnson steps out of the
batter's box and gets some resin on his hands.  He steps back in
and Claresen starts his motion and throws.  Johnson swings and has
a line drive down the left field line.  Ferraro runs over to get
the ball as Johnson rounds first and goes toward second.  Ferraro's
throw is late, and Johnson is safe on second with a double.

Beck, the left-handed relief pitcher, is warming up in the bullpen.
The next hitter for the Cougars is the right-hand hitting Carl
Churniak, a .260 hitter who is known to hit well in the clutch. 
Claresen takes his sign. delivers, and Churniak takes the pitch for
a ball.  Claresen again is ready and pitches, and Churniak swings
and hits a slow bouncing ball toward the shortstop.  Haley comes
in, fields it, and throws to first, but too late.  Churniak is on
first with a single, Johnson stayed on second.

The next batter is Whitcomb, the Cougars left-fielder.  He is a
left-hander hitting .255.  Claresen wipes his forehead with his
sleeve and takes his sign.  Claresen looks toward first, where
Manfred is holding the runner.  He stretches, looks at second, and
throws a high fast ball for a strike.  The catcher returns the ball
and Claresen once more gets ready.  Claresen throws a low curve
ball.  It bounces into the dirt and past the catcher.  Johnson
moves to third and Churniak to second before the catcher can
retrieve the ball.  The ball is returned to Claresen.  He gets the
sign and winds up, and throws a slider that Whitcomb hits between
Manfred and Roberts for a hit.  Dulaney comes in and picks  up the
ball.  Johnson has scored, and Churniak is heading for the plate. 
Here comes the throw, and Churniak is out.  Churniak argues, but to
no avail.  The batter reached second on the throw to the plate.

The next batter is Rob Williams, the Cougars' catcher.  He is
hitting .230.  Claresen is rubbing up the ball and is now ready to
pitch.  The rain is coming down in sheets.  Claresen delivers and
Williams takes a curve over the inside corner for a strike. 
Working rapidly, Claresen again delivers and Williams takes a ball,
low and outside.  Claresen again gets the sign, stretches, and
throws a fast ball, which Williams swings at and misses.  The
catcher returns the ball and Claresen is ready.  The pitch is a
curve ball which Williams swings at and misses for his third
strike.

The umpires now are meeting and they signal that the game is being
called.