We warmed up adequately prior to the game so our defense was in full stride in the first, holding them scoreless. When it was our turn with the bats, Jim opened the game for us with a dramatic double that ended in a head-first slide into second to send them a message. Rob brought Jim in easily with a single and we had the early lead at 1 - 0.

This was the team that gave us a hitting lesson in the first meeting so we knew we wouldn't be able to hold them scoreless forever. But our defense was motivated and adept, allowing them just a single run in the second. On offense, Sammy opened the inning with a well hit triple. Steve, the newest Insult'er, had a triple as well but we left him stranded after adding just one to our total, but keeping our lead at 2 - 1.

The third saw another defensive clinic by our side, holding the "Translucent bats" scoreless again. The top of our batting order got to the plate again in the bottom of the third with Jim starting things with his second double of the game. Rob followed with his second single and Bob F. launched a double to score them both to give us a bit of a cushion at 4 - 1.

It was more of the same for our defense in the fourth. Teasing them occasionally by allowing a baserunner or two, and then shutting them down without allowing a score. We were starting to enjoy this one. We couldn't muster too much offense with the bats either, though. Sammy got his second hit of the game and Kathy got her first, but we left them both stranded and headed to the fifth still leading by 3 at 4 - 1.

A solo home run got them another run in the fifth (can't blame the defense for that, though) but nothing more. On offense, Bob O. finally got a hit, followed by a single by Melanie. Jim singled for his third hit of the game but Bob O. was called out at third (an umpire mistake admitted to after the game). Rob doubled for his third hit of the game and we had stretched our lead to 4 at 6 - 2.

The sixth was another defensive work of art and another scoreless inning for their side. When it was our turn John got us started with a single, followed by a double by Steve W. When Kathy completely fooled their defense and blasted a double to score John and Steve, we knew that we had them reeling.

The seventh was almost anticlimatic. Another solo home run added one to their total but, unless they could hit the ball into the weeds on a fly, they just couldn't get through our defense and the game ended without the need for our last at-bats. The final score was 8 - 3.

This may have been our best-played game of the season. The team was motivated, sharp and into the game from the first pitch til the last. We wanted to show them that their April victory was just a fluke, and show them we did.

Offensively, Jim went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, Rob went 3 for 3, and Sammy and Kathy went 2 for 3. John did an outstanding job on the mound. Bob O. handled the catching duties with one-inning relief from Steve.

Special thanks to our fans for this game: Debbie and Paul Wilkowski, this year's "Super Fans", and to Rob's fiance Robin. And a big "Thank You" to Jo Larson for handling the scorekeeping duties.

The team has now moved its record to 8 - 3 and are nearing the very top of the league standings. With just 3 games remaining, 11 - 3 has been set as the goal for our final record.