It was a tough first inning for our defense. While we did get all 3 outs, it wasn't until their tenth run scored to put us in a big hole right from the start. When it was our turn with the bats, Jim started our offense with a home run that was meant to send them a message. Rob and John A. followed Jim with singles but we couldn't get any more runs across, and we knew it was going to be an uphill battle to get back in the game.

Our defense operated much more smoothly in the second, allowing them to only add 1 more run to their score. We didn't fare too well on offense, though. Steve opened the inning for us with a walk but was called out on a (very) close Fielder's Choice play at second. Bob O. then doubled to put runners on second and third but we couldn't get anyone home and went to the third trailing by 10 at 11 - 1.

By the third our defense was clicking and didn't allow the "Sox" to score. Offensively, we started with the meat of our batting order. Rob led off with a single. John A. changed places with Rob on a Fielder's Choice. Kathy, Steve and Liz all hit singles, scoring John and loading the bases. Unfortunately, we stranded all 3 baserunners to net us only 1 run for all the offense we showed and, after 3, we hadn't yet made much impact offensively, trailing 11 - 2.

The top of the fourth was a very good inning -- but only if you were batting for the "Dirty Sox". Before we could send them to the defense they had scored 6 more big runs and now had a huge lead. But it was becoming apparent that our opponents for the evening were an obnoxious bunch, not really worthy of any civil behavior. So we approached the rest of the game with renewed energy, some anger, and a determination to make them pay for their upbringing. Jim opened the bottom of the 4th with a walk (unusual but part of the plan). Rob tripled to score Jim. Billy Masson launched one of his patented long home runs. John A. singled, as did Kathy, Liz and Bob O. Jim, in his second at-bat in the inning, hit his second homer of the game (for perhaps his first time on this team) to clear the bases and bring our inning total to 8. While we still trailed after 4, 17 - 10, we had at least gotten the score to where we thought we could still catch them (after all, we had 3 more offensive innings to play).

Feeling, I think, a little tired from all the activity of this game so far (and it was already getting late), we had some difficulty keeping them off the base paths in the 5th. they were able to get 4 more runs, definitely hurting our comeback picture. Trying to keep them thinking we were still playing, Rob, John and Steve all hit doubles in the bottom of the 5th, giving us 2 more but, with only a couple of innings left, we trailed by 9 again at 21 - 12.

It was 3 more for them in the sixth as they attempted to find and exploit any little weakness that showed in our defense (but hey, with only a 9-run lead, I guess we still had them worried). It was now quite late, we had been through all of the water on the sidelines, and I thought I heard a beckoning moan originating from the cooler in my trunk. But, by this time we really disliked those "Dirty S!?!?!" and wanted nothing more than to bat again. Bob O. started our 6th with his second double. Jim doubled to score his Dad. Rob crashed an unusual home run but he wasn't stopping until he crossed the plate. Billy Masson singled. John singled. Kathy singled and we had scored 4 more to cut their lead back to single digits, 24 - 16.

They just wouldn't let up in the 7th, playing like every hit they could produce, every extra base they could find a way to get, was gonna be the difference in the game. They scored 5 more runs and were making lots of friends on our side of the field. When we got to bat for the last time, Bob O. started the inning with a single, Jim walked for the second time (even more unusual than his two home runs), Rob doubled, Billy Masson walked (strange?) and John singled. This all produced 3 more runs but we finally ran out of innings (and daylight) and left the field in a hurry, having lost another one, 29 - 19.

This game took 2 1/2 hours due in large part to all of the offense from both sides but also due to the incredibly slow pace of the Dirty Sox when they were playing defense. At one point it seemed that a discussion involving their entire infield was needed between every pitch. The ump should have done something about it but didn't.

Offense honors for this game go to Rob who hit for the cycle and went 6 for 6. Strong offensive performances were also turned in by John A. who went 5 for 6, Bob O. who went 4 for 5, and Jim who went 3 for 4 with 2 walks and 2 homers. Kathy did an outstanding job pitching this marathon. Bob O. handled the duties behind the plate. This was the first game this season that produced NO fans (as unusual as the game itself). A special "Thank You" to Jo Larson for handling the scoring duties.

At least we don't have to play this team again. It's not that we don't think we could beat them (I'm sure we can). It's that they're just intolerable to spend more that a couple of minutes with.

After the game we hustled to the cooler for some refreshment and then a very small (just 3) of us headed to Palumbo's for some pizza and beer, where John Devaney made a brief appearance. A fun time as always.