On Wednesday, Michael Lorenzen made history by completing the 14th no-hitter in the 140-year history of the Phillies franchise. Talk about a great trade! Lorenzen was able to complete this feat in only his second start for the Phillies. I hope he recovers well from throwing 124 pitches in the game. If he continues to pitch this well, he will definitely help the team make the playoffs.
There was also some history made on the offensive side. Weston Wilson, a 28-year-old rookie outfielder, hit a home run in his first major league at-bat just to add to the cool moments.
I was nervous about the U.S. women’s national soccer team's game Sunday with Sweden. It turned out I was right. The U.S. ultimately lost 5-4 in penalty kicks. It was actually their most complete game of the tournament, but they just couldn’t score. The biggest reason they're out of the tournament, other than injuries to some players who would have been on the team, is because of the lackluster performances in the group stage. By coming in second, it made them have to play a talented Sweden in the round of 16. The U.S. had Vietnam, the weakest team in the whole tournament, in their first group stage match and only won 3-0. They only scored four goals in the entire tournament!
Their coach, Vlatko Andonovsky, is probably going to get fired soon after the World Cup is officially over Aug. 20. I thought it was bizarre that he did not trust his bench players enough to use them. What’s the point of them making the team if they won't be asked to play in the games? I will be cheering for England or host country Australia to win the cup.
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A 2002 Cape grad and 2007 UD grad, Lewes resident Sumner Spence is one of the Cape area's biggest sports fans. Although he’s used a wheelchair his entire life, he has lived vicariously through his sports-playing father, brother, and friends, who gave him his love of sports. He hopes to provide new and interesting perspectives on the sports stories and issues of the day. Email Sumner at sumspence@gmail.com.
