Play-by-Play of our Softball Match with Avnet

Every once in a while, we try to leave our desks and mingle in the local community. We’re also very bold and courageous when we do, which is why we couldn’t turn down the opportunity to play a corporate softball tournament with Avnet a couple weeks ago. With our office taking over a gym, we have many athletes among us.

We joined Avnet for the B2B Softball Desert Classic, where they had an intimidating four year streak that no other business could beat. Like any other day here at Infusionsoft, we’re up to the challenge. Fanster has a recap of the tournament, including the different games, photos and comments.

It was awesome for us to have fun and play against Avnet, they really had us work for it. I’ve included photos of the event and my rather descriptive highlights below.

Pre-game

The final game was played against Avnet Warehouse — the tournament host team and tournament champs four years in a row. We watched the competition as they finished up their third game, and let me tell ya, this team looked fierce and mean out there on the field. We were thinking there is no way we’re gonna win this game, in fact we were all still a bit shocked that we made it past the first game.

At this point, we’ve been at the fields since 1:30p.m. and the championship game is scheduled to start at 6:30, but we are playing the winner of the game that is running behind schedule…this put’s the final game at a start time around 7:00p.m. Jordan Hatch and Jordan Hodges after hearing this tell us that they may need to leave because one has a date and the other a friend’s birthday party and a limo waiting. After just a little bit of pleading, begging and idol threats Jordan Hatch calls his date and pushes it back an hour and Jordan Hodges calls his friends and tells them that he will be there as soon as possible. Jordan Hodges is adamant at this point that he has to leave the game by 7:30 – so we ask Brie’s friend to suit up just in case we need an extra body.

First Pitch!

The game starts about 7:00p.m. and the Infusionsoft team is hustling on and off the field to make sure we move as fast as possible so that we can keep the two Jordans playing before either one has to leave. The game is close from the first inning, one team either ahead or trailing by one run through most of the game. And the Avnet pitcher, looking like one of the characters in Prison Break, gives each Infusionsoft batter the evil eye as he pitches the ball over the plate.

The Game

Near catastrophe strikes when Brian Luckey and Brie Kelly collide while both go for a fly ball landing in front of the left field line. It looks like their playing football out there as Brian Luckey practically tackles Brie taking her to the ground. Brie is not getting up and moaning in agony as Sneed rushes to make sure she’s OK. Her knee is in pain and it’s taking a few minutes to stand up. She pulls herself up and limps back to third base. I’m concerned thinking that we may need to pull Brie out if her knee gets any worse, but she’s a trooper and continues to play the rest the game like 50 cent (now I walk with a limp). The game is too close to switch out any players and we definitely can’t lose Brie at this point. It’s close to 7:45p.m. and neither one of the Jordan’s is thinking about leaving now, they’re in it to win it – everyone has their game face on!

Seventh Inning, Tied.

The highlight of the day was bottom of the 7th inning – this is it, Infusionsoft needs one run to tie and two to win the game … Jared Kimball first to bat hits a fly ball to left field caught by the left fielder, first out. Then Donna Sneed up to bat hits a hard ground ball down the third base line, but despite the hustle is thrown out at first base. We are still two runs down for a win and two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning, but we kept hope alive as Jordan (J-Train) Hodges approached the plate. And BAM, Jordan hits a rocket shot past the short stop for a double. With Hodges on 2nd base, we all take a deep breath as our Female MVP (Brie Kelly) walks up to the plate. Some of the guys are telling her to take the walk, but Brie gives them that defiant look as she knows she can smack the ball better than most men on the field. And she doesn’t disappoint! Brie knocks the ball right in the center field pocket and hustles to first base. Meanwhile Jordan Hodges is already rounding third and heading home when the Avnet outfielder throws the ball home trying to prevent Jordan from tying the game. The throw to home gives Brie time to advance to second base putting her in a nice scoring position … we are now tied with two outs and one run from winning the game.

Infusionsoft, For the Win!

Now Mike Hobbs is up to bat. We needed to score a winning run badly. Brie was on 2nd and could potentially score the winning point, but everything was riding on Hobbs shoulders. He needed to hit a perfect ball that would get both of them safely to their bases. The pitcher tossed the ball and Hobbs stared it down. STRIKE!!! One more strike or foul ball would mean we lose the game (because you start at bat with 1 ball and 1 strike with none to waste). Hobbs had one more chance to swing and it had to be perfect. The pitcher tosses the ball and CRACK! The ground ball rips past the 3rd baseman, barely out of reach. Hobbs runs safely to first, while Brie dashes from 2nd base to third, but she’s not stopping there as Brian Luckey waves is arm frantically to head for home. Brie turns on the wheels and hustles toward victory as the Avnet outfielder scoops up the ball and launches the ball with everything he has towards home, but the ball arrives at the plate just milliseconds after Brie hammers her foot down on the plate.

Many of the Infusionsoft team members hesitated for a moment as we registered what just happened — then the team roars with cheers and in disbelief as we realize that we just won the tournament. Everyone runs out to meet Brie and Hobbs, before you know it the entire Infusionsoft team is jumping, hugging and high fiving each other…the adrenaline was flowing and the pride I felt for Infusionsoft and this team was indescribable.. I can’t remember feeling like this since high school when we won the softball state championship.

Post-game Thoughts

In the end, I was surprised at how well the 12 individuals from Infusionsoft, who never played a game of softball together, were able to come together and figure out how to work as a well-oiled machine (well something like that) and upset the tournament champions. I think that says a lot about these Infusionites and how amazing it is that we work for a company that develops a culture of teamwork and dedication. Big High Fives to everyone on the team – you all rocked it on Saturday!

Infusionsoft Tournament MVPs: Mike Hobbs and Brie Kelly

The Line Up

• Donna Sneed – Left Center
• Jordan Hodges – Right Center
• Brie Kelly – 3rd Base
• Mike Hobbs – Short Stop
• Erin Hopkins – 2nd Base
• Brian Luckey – Left Field
• Marsella McCarver – Catcher
• Jordan Hatch – First Base
• Nina Limmer – Right Field
• Jared Kimball – Pitcher
• Brett Samurin – First Base
• Brian Tolman – Out field
• Kirk Masters – Right Center
• Gina Sciara – Child Care

Things you missed:

• Brett Samurin’s Face Dive into First Base (covered in dirt from his face down to his feet)
• Jordan Hatch – Two Home runs in the Tournament
• The collision between Brian Luckey and Brie Kelly
• Marsella McCarver being robbed of her hit in the 5th inning of the championship game. Home plate ump said she was safe second base ump called her out. Think the second base ump was paid off by the Avnet team 
• Brie Kelly – a guy from the other team slides into third (where Brie was playing) and lands in somewhat of a provocative position under her legs. Brie says “You look good there, I’m not moving”
• Jared Kimball’s flawless pitching
• Donna Sneed – Calling Scott Martineau right after the win and being rushed off the phone for the team picture the conversation went something like this and with a highly excited adrenaline laden tone: “Hey Scott, OMG we won the tournament I can’t believe it – OK I gotta go – they want me to put the phone down for the pictures – talk to you later Love Ya…no I mean..I take that back – OK bye” I’m not sure if Scott got a word in or not. Then Brian Luckey said, ”Did you just tell Scott you loved him?” You had to be there! Anyway I can say that I have much love for all my Infusionsoft peeps!

Again, thanks to everyone that came out and played on Saturday – it was a lot of fun to getting to know all of you a little bit better! We’d like to also thank Avnet for hosting and inviting us to play. We look forward to future games and events like this.

–Donna