[Nugget699]

I love uncovering a story in the game that I had no idea about.

Take Bart Lee for example.

Joined Port Redhill as a tender 17 year old Second Baseman in 2010 and made three appearances for the team in his rookie year, not registering a single hit in 7 ABs, striking out twice.

The following year he never left the reserve roster. Despite having the potential to be a real star he slipped in the Prospect rankings from 18th to 61st and looked almost certain to see his career play out in the lower leagues.

Then, in 2012 he has been asked to fill in for 37-year old Bryan Wilcox after he fractured his hand. In his first game he went 0-3 with a K and a walk. He registered his first hit the following day, going 1-3 with a run, K and a BB. But despite this, 6 games into his season he only managed to bat 3-19 including three hitless outings leading up to Port Redhill's game against the Cardinals on the 18th of this month. Hardly the sort of replacement that Wilcox needs to be worried about.

On the 18th however, the floodgates opened. Batting 7th in the line-up he grounded out to lead off the third, as his batting average continued to plummet until two innings later when he smacked a double (his first extra base hit, ever) past the diving third baseman. He touched home 2 batters later.

Leading off the 7th, he singled but returned to the dugout shortly afterwards on a Fielders Choice.

Bottom of the 9th, game locked at 4-4, where Port Redhill should've won this game easily but errors kept the visitors in it; the lead-off man doubled, before a first pitch single put men on the corners. Up steps 19-year old Bart Lee who belts a 3-run homer over Center Field on the first pitch he faces. It measured 427 feet for the walk-off win.

Despite his heroics, he was rested for yesterday's 3-1 loss to the Cards.

I've got another story of a young stud making his mark, that I might post about later. I love this game!