The top of the first looked like the top of the first in all too many of our games this season. They came out swinging the bats before our defense could even get settled into their positions. Before it was over they had scored 6 runs to jump out in front. Our last game was too fresh in our minds to let that kind of scoring go unanswered. When it was our turn at the plate Steve got us started with a double. Rob followed his brother-in-law with a single. John A., John W. and Sharon each singled and we had cut their lead in half, 6 - 3.
The second was much better defensively. We started, and stayed, focused, denying them any runs. We were quickly back at the plate and the offense began. Kathy started it with a walk. Bob O. followed with a single. Jim singled. Steve got his second double. Billy Masson singled. John A. singled. John W, doubled and Insult'ers were circling the base paths. Bob F. singled. Kathy, starting the second pass through the lineup in the inning, singled. Bob O. walked. Jim singled. Steve doubled (his second in the inning, third in the game). Rob singled. Billy Masson singled again. When John A. got his second single of the inning the mercy rule had to be invoked and we retired, having scored 13 runs and now leading by 10 at 16 - 6.
They kept battling in the third and managed to get 5 runs back before we could get them out. In the bottom of the inning only Bob F. managed to hit safely and we took our (now) 5-run lead to the fourth.
Our defense was clicking again in the fourth, putting them down quickly with no additional scoring. In the bottom of the inning Bob O. got us started with a single and Jim followed with a double. Rob singled and Billy Masson tripled to clear the bases and we were running the base paths again. John A. then singled, as did John W. and Kathy. Bob O. then got his second single of the inning and Jim lashed a homer making his Dad run hard. Rob and Billy Masson followed with their second hits of the inning and, narrowly avoiding another "mercy" rule invocation, they got us out after scoring just 9 more runs, padding our lead to 14 at 25 - 11.
By the fifth it was becoming clear that our long-awaited first victory was well within our reach. Our defense, particularly Kathy, once again said "NO" to their efforts, not allowing another score. And on offense it was "off to the races" again. John W. started it with a triple. Bob F. singled, as did Bob O. Jim then doubled and Rob tripled. Billy Masson then hit what was clearly a home run but was (incorrectly) called out when s "Wizard" that wasn't the catcher took a throw and tagged Billy. The call was incorrect. The Wizards knew it, we knew it, but the ump wasn't aware of the rule. The call stood but the hit was surely a homer. But we had scored 5 more runs and took an insurmountable lead to the sixth, 30 - 11.
In the sixth we were clearly getting tired from all the at-bats. All of us except Kathy that is, who took over the defense and was involved in all 3 put-outs. But they did manage to get 6 runs across before Kathy could get them all out. On offense, only John A. could hit safely and we took a 13-run lead to the final inning.
The seventh was relatively calm, with Kathy continuing to handle the defensive duties, not allowing any more scoring. The (long) game ended as a huge victory for our side. The final score was 30 - 17.
We've now scored 68 runs in our last three games but have only been able to win one of them. Our offense is clicking. Hitting honors for this contest go to everyone on the team. There were 36 hits and 2 walks in this game. That's 3.6 hits per player, 6 hits per inning (and in two innings we had only 1 hit). Quite an offensive show. John A. gets the pitching honors, with Bob O. handling the catching duties. A special "Thank You" to Jo Larson for handling the (very busy) scoring duties, including a challenge from her own team (what's up with that!?!?).
The newly-engaged Melanie was there to cheer on her betrothed (and the rest of the team). After the game (another late one) we headed to the cooler for some well-deserved beer and then a group of 8 of us headed to Palumbo's for some pizza and beer. A great time as always.
We've now broken through with the first of the 8 wins that I expect we'll get this season.