Lately, GMO has been facing speculation from the softball community that their time had passed. Their roster has seen some key players leave recently, and with superstar Steve Oursler on paternity leave indefinitely, most think GMO is undermanned. Well folks, Mr. Lee Bowles had something to say about that! With not much being known about Heller Electric, GMO had to assume they were a top level team. So, in an attempt to set the tone, GMO came out in the first inning of the first game extremely aggressive. Brandon Shaffer led the game off with a shot to RC that he was able to stretch into a double. Josh Kennedy took the next pitch and hit a laser over the right fielders head and was able to leg out an inside the park homerun. Two batters, two runs, and GMO was up 2-0. You could hear the Heller players joking about how fast the two batters were and that by the time they turned around to throw the ball to the infield, Kennedy was rounding 3rd. Darrin Edelen and Lee Bowles followed with back to back doubles and Tony Bailey launched a HR to clear the bases and give GMO a 5-0 lead. It took 9 batters for Heller to record their first out. But the damage was done, and GMO took the first game 14-2. Bowles and Chris Bikowski led the way offensively each going 3-4. Also, Chris Bikowski flashed a little leather while filling in at 3rd base. �He�s strictly been in the outfield for the last several years and I was a bit skeptical about putting him at the hot corner, but he definitely impressed me�, said Coach Craig. Bowles also played very well at SS making several plays throughout the game.
Game two was not even as close as the first game. Edelen, Bowles and JR Johnson led the way offensively all going 3-3 with Bowles collecting 2 HRs (he had 3 dingers on the night). Bowles� first homer of game 2 was an absolute tape measure shot that even sparked an autograph request from the MD Director of ASA Umpires. �He is an absolute softball phenomenon. His bat is freaky and his defense is superb�, said an envious Chris Bikowski. Indeed, Bowles put on a show and proved that GMO made the right move in recruiting him. What GMO didn�t realize was that they were getting a budding superstar in Tony �Liger� Bailey. In game two, Bailey made 2 standout plays in LF. The first was with Bailey playing shallow in left and the batter connecting on a deep shot. At first glance, it appeared Bailey would be showing off his asshole and elbows as he chased the ball to the fence. This was not the case as quickly, Bailey thought to himself, WWLD (What Would Lee Do) and immediately he turned on the after burners and chased the ball down making a great catch. Then, a few innings later he charged a low line drive, dove and appeared to make the catch. However, his small, girlish frame crashed into the ground so hard the ball came loose, but nonetheless, it was a great attempt. And later that inning, Josh Kennedy made a similar play on a ball, trying to show Liger Bailey how to do it, however, again, his wallop to the ground forced the ball to come loose, but again, the GMO defense was sending a message that they were going to challenge EVERY SINGLE hit. Needless to say, GMO easily took game two 17-0 improving their record to 6-0.
Bowles led the team with 8 RBIs and 3 autographs on the night. While Bowles and Bailey lead the team in HRs respectively, Bailey is walking away with the HR for an Out trophy. After the game, Edelen was quoted as saying, �I didn�t know it was possible for a SS to throw the ball that hard�. When asked about his 0-6 offensive performance, Jimmy Griffendieffendergen responded, �yeah, I know, but did you see how damn pretty my face is?�
GMO begins the tough part of the schedule over the next 5 or 6 weeks and hopes to see more players in attendance as the competition, and Chris, will be getting much stiffer. Next week will be GMO�s first test against an upper level team when they face ReMax. One stat of mention is that GMO, in their 3rd year (5th season) together, have never been double dipped by another team. Stay tuned!
