Jim opened the season for us with a single. Sharon sacrificed Jim to third and Rob scored him with a single. Billy Masson brought Rob across with a single and we had drawn first blood. In the bottom of the inning they managed to get one run across before we could close 'em down and we took a 1-run lead, 2 - 1, to the second.
John W., in his team debut, opened the second for us with a triple. Zarah sacrificed John home and Maria singled in her team debut. Bob O. changed places with Maria on a Fielder's Choice and managed to score on a single by MJ that caught "Cheers" napping. We had added two to our total. In the bottom of the inning they matched us with two runs of their own and we still clung to a 1-run lead, 4 - 3 as we moved to the third.
It was the top of the order again for us in the third and Jim opened it with his second single of the night. Billy Masson brought a run in for us with a triple, and Bob F. scored Billy with a well-placed single, and it was two runs again for our side. Our defense got stingy in the bottom of the third and didn't allow a run. So now our lead was 3 at 6 - 3.
The fourth was our first scoreless inning. It opened with a single by John W., and closed with a strikeout by Bob O. (pretty pathetic). They used our scoreless inning as a motivator and focused on scoring runs to the tune of 3 before we stopped them, and suddenly the game was tied at 6.
We looked to the top of the order again in the fifth and they didn't disappoint. It was a single by Jim (his third) and a long double (over the outfield) by Sharon that produced the go-ahead run. Our lead was short-lived, however, as their bats were swinging freely. They added 3 more runs to their score before the third out and we headed to the 6th inning trailing for the first time in the game, 9 - 7.
The sixth was not our most memorable inning. We did manage two baserunners, a single by Billy Masson and a walk by Kathy, but that was all the offense we had. To make matters worse, the bottom of the 6th produced one of those patented "bad innings" that jumps up to bite us now and then. This one allowed them 5 runs to send us to the final inning trailing by 7 and no longer smiling.
The 7th inning started well. Zarah opened with a single and Maria followed with a single of her own. But it didn't end well as that was all the offense we could muster. The game ended in a loss, 14 - 7, but for five of the seven innings it was a close, competitive contest.
Offensively in this game Jim & Billy Masson went 3 for 3, and John W. & Maria went 2 for 3. Bob F. did a nice job on the mound; Bob O. handled the duties behind the plate. Jo did her usual fine job as Scorekeeper.
And a special thanks to Melanie for coming out to support the team.
After the game the team retired to "the cooler" to drown our sorrows some and then a group of players and fans headed to Palumbo's for some pizza and beer. An activity that's always a winner.