The 1st was an easy inning for our defense which didn't allow them much in the way of baserunners. Our offense fared considerably better than theirs. Jim started the game for us with a single and Steve quickly started the scoring with a home run. Rob followed with a triple and Billy Masson singled. Mike then cleared the bases again with a homer. Shannon followed with a double and MJ & Bob F. singled but we couldn't get any more runs to score and went to the second with a 5-run lead.

Defensively, the second was a lot like the first. They couldn't find any weakness in our defense and never threatened to score. Bob O. started our offense for the inning with a single, followed by a double by Steve, a single by Rob, and back-to-back doubles by Billy Masson and Mike. Shannon followed with a single but was call out for leaving the base before contact during MJ's at-bat, and we retired with another 5-run inning to take a big lead (10 - 0) to the third.

They finally broke through in the 3rd, scoring 3 runs before we could get the third out. MJ, resuming her at-bat from the 2nd, singled, as did Bob F., Jim and Steve. Rob doubled and Billy Masson tripled, and we had scored 5 runs for the third consecutive inning, and we moved to the fourth inning still leading big at 15 - 3.

The fourth was a quiet inning for both teams. Our defense was tough and didn't allow a score, but our offense was meek with only MJ and Bob F. managing to hit safely. So the score stayed the same as the game moved to the fifth.

Defensively, we were operating on all cylinders and, for the fourth time in 5 innings, we held them scoreless. On offense, Bob O. led off with a double and Jim got to run all the way around for his homer. Steve followed with a double and Rob, Billy Masson, Mike and Shannon all singled to give us 4 more runs and a lopsided score of 18 - 3.

Our defense loosened up some in the 6th as they began to look more determined to score runs. And score they did, adding 4 runs to their score but never threatening to get close to our total. To add Insult to injury we bested their inning total by scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the inning on singles by Bob F. & Liz, doubles by Jim, Steve, Rob and Mike, and a home run by Billy Masson. Unfortunately, Mike pulled a hamstring in his at-bat, limped off the field and had to leave the game. The game was now out of reach as we took our 16-run lead (23 - 7) to the final inning.

We looked kind of like the keystone kops for much of the 7th and they did manage to get 4 more runs, but the game finally ended with us as the victors. The final score was 23 - 11.

This was a much-needed, enjoyable and easy victory. The team was loose and happy, played good defense, and hit well. The only negative was the injury to Mike (which he'll hopefully recover quickly from). Offensive honors for this game go to Steve (3 doubles and a HR), Rob (2 doubles and a triple) and Billy Masson (who hit for the cycle with other legs running) who each went 5 for 5, and to Bob F. who went 4 for 4. Bob F. did an outstanding job on the mound. Bob O. handled the catching duties. A special "Thank You" to Jo Larson for handling the scorebook. And thanks to Melanie, Amy, Christina and Zarah for their cheering from the sidelines.

After the game, the team retired to the cooler for some refreshment (and more Congrats to the newly-engaged couple) and then a group of 9 players and fans headed to Palumbo's for pizza and beer. A great time as always.