MCSN: June 27, 2009

Four-ward

Week 4 Recap

Thu, Jul 2, 2009

Inferno's Ioan (Dan) Ionescu prepares to pounce on a pitch

With league play just about halfway over, one team remains undefeated and many more are looking to score. Saturday showed softball action heating up just before all teams receive a two-week break for the July fourth holiday weekend.

The showdown between first and last seeded teams, the Diamond Kings and the Mt. Sinai Sluggers, finished with the Diamond Kings (4-0) adding another notch to their victory total, 17-6. Manager Rob Tong told the press the game was closer than the score indicated, as the Diamond Kings led only 9-6 after the 5th inning. However, Dimaond King Ben Thacker hit an out-of-the-park homerun, bringing him to 3 total this season. Brian Pace added 2 more slammers to the books, ensuring the win and the Kings' seat at the top of the heap.

Of the game, Tong said he was happy but leaving room for improvement.

“We scuffled a bit and played more like Diamond Peasants, so we're relieved to escape with a win especially since we only had 9 players and the Sluggers were missing 3 of their sluggers.”

Sluggers co-manager Scott Lilly was also grateful for an escape — from bodily energy. Allow his wife, Aimmee Lilly to elaborate:

“The highlight of the game was [Scott’s] scramble / crawl / slide into home plate after his ankle gave out halfway between third and home, and the swarm of Sluggers that met him at the plate. Later in the game, when asked if he needed a cane to get back to his post at first base (an unusual position for the lifetime second baseman), he said, ‘No. I need a wheelchair.’”

The Sluggers (0-4) are still chasing after their first win, which cannot be far behind. Their lineup shows promise: Juan Cruz hit a triple, Nicki Heemstra secured 3 RBIs, and they completed their “first-ever invocation of the 5-Run Mercy Rule,” said Lilly.

In the 9 am game, Inferno edged out the Bombers 10-9 in one of the league’s closest games yet.

The Bombers (1-2) started off with their fuses lit, scoring 5 runs in the 1st inning alone. However, Inferno (2-1) quickly answered with 4 runs of their own, including Andrew Peterson's out-of-the-park bomb, and both teams knew they were in for an exciting game.

“We put together a few good innings at the plate and our defense returned to our Week 1 form,” said Inferno manager Dan Coughlin.

Going into the 7th, Inferno led 10-5, but the Bombers' timers went off and they exploded into action. The Bombers rallied with 4 runs before Inferno clenched the final out and the win. The Inferno's Sam Baturoni attributed his team’s victory to their swelling batting average.

"Ever since I threw away my Steve Mason sermon material and replaced it with Joel Osteen's, not only has my batting average increased, but I'm also living My Best Self Now.”

Next week, Inferno meets Battalion and Diamond Kings in a weather-makeup double header and Coughlin is ready for the battle.

“I overheard the 'Colonel Kurtz' say he wanted to get berets for his Battalion team. If that makes them play like the French fight, we should be able to get an easy victory and rest up to take on the Diamond Kings.”

Next up, Moody & the Blowfish met the Smithereens in the 10 AM game. The Smithereens only fielded 8 players and suffered an 16-8 loss as a result. One of their missing players was crucial: pitcher and manager Mat Smith.

As a result of their win, the Blowfish retained sole possession of second place while the Smithereens fell to 1-3.

In the final game of the morning, the Carter Administration overtook Battalion 19-8.

Of Battalion, Carter Administration assistant to the manager Bill Van Tuinen continued last week's pun.

“They were a cheeky bunch, butt being one fielder short led to a seam in the middle of their defense and eventually we were able to crack through,” he said.

“I threw away my Steve Mason sermon material and replaced it with Joel Osteen's.”

- Inferno's Sam Baturoni on why his batting average is on the rise

The Carter Administration found their groove with teamwork and consistent hitting Saturday as six Carter Administration players had 2 or more RBIs while Van Tuinen knocked his first home run of the season. Both the 19 runs and the 28 hits by the Carter Administration (2-1) are league highs so far this season.

Both managers pointed out several players’ contributions to the win.

“Coach Carter responded to his daughter's first game with 6 RBIs...he's always one to perform for the ladies,
even one with a full diaper,” said Van Tuinen. “[And] Pastor Bill made an especially important contribution by
deciding to vacation in Missouri. We love you, Bill!”

“Kristen Huntington also had an MVP weekend stealing hits from [Battalion manager] Tim Kurtz and making [Battalion's] Jon Hauser back peddle to the fence,” added Carter Administration manager Chris Carter. “I wish I could say the same of Battalion’s female players, but for some reason the ladies never show up for Kurtz...on the field that is.”

Both teams are looking forward to the two-week break and will each host double-headers next week. Battalion (1-2) meets Moody & the Blowfish and Inferno, while the Carter Administration will show against the Smithereens and the Bombers.

“The Park District actually asked us to play the Bombers on the 4th of July in order to save the city money on fireworks,” confided Van Tuinen. “We weren't able to comply on the timing, but we do expect [the Bombers'] Anthony Halpin to be serving up some missiles the following weekend."