Offseason
The 2006 season ended with Hazzard at their highest point ever after a season with 2 titles. Hazzard had established a solid core of players including the 3 founding fathers along with Nick Payne, Kyle King, Blaine Gellert, and Joe Broering. This 7-man core remained pretty much through 2006 and was there to start 2007.
As the 2007 season approached John Enneking was flaunting Hazzard County's power wearing his Pastime Park Championship t-shirts out every night around the Harrison bar scene attracting attention from the town's premiere softball talent. Enneking was able to pick up newcomers Rob Deller and Russ Rybolt, while also bringing back Nick Weil and Jamie Fliehman. Chris Knollman brought Troy Fette and Justin Stall back to the team, while Brandon Butcher added his brother Dan.
The 2007 season began on Sunday Night with a dominating 20-9 run rule victory over Team Poe. It appeared Hazzard was starting off right where they left off in 2006. However, Hazzard's Sunday Night team struggled, dropping their next 4 finding themselves at 1-4 with 3 games remaining. After winning 2 of their next 3 to finish 3-5, the team entered the lowly consolation tournament bracket where they were able to beat 2 other lowly teams and take a cheap plastic trophy home and finished at 5-5.
The Thursday Night squad got off to an ugly start dropping 2 in a double header, but came back the next week with 2 wins in another double header. The Thursday night crew was still rusty on defense, but the offense excelled averaging 20 runs a game throughout the year. After the games the Thursday night squad established itself as a close knit team, going out for cold ones after games. Thoughtout the season, this proved to be the theme of the Thursday Nighters before, after, and during games. They were a very loose, fun, and rowdy team, whereas the Sunday Night squad was quiet and tight. The Thursday squad ended the season 5-4, but were blown out in the first round of the tournament in an 23-5 pounding, leaving the Sunday and Thursday squads both at 5-5 overall. Not bad for the first seasons in the upper leagues, but still disappointing.
The Summer began with another shaky start with Sunday at 0-1 and Thursday at 0-2. The Thursday squad however caught fire after the 0-2 start to run through the league winning 7 of 8 and finishing the season at 7-3. The final game of the year proved to be Hazzard's best of the year as they beat Kelly Oil 26-22 in a 7 inning thriller. Hazzard entered the tournament on a roll and continued with 2 wins to face league champ Kelly Oil once again in the tournament finals. Hazzard entered the final inning of the game with a 2 run lead, but lost on a walk off hit falling 13-12. The Thursday Night team ended at 9-4.
The Sunday Night crew went on a good run after their 0-1 start to enter the tournament at 6-3 in second place. The Sunday Nighters turned it on in the tournament taking their first two games before facing the Turtle Heads, led by Jason Dean, in the tournament finals. Hazzard came out on fire and took a run rule 15-5 victory to clinch their first and only legitamate title of 2008. The Sunday Night Crew finished at 9-3.
As the Fall Season approached a handful of Redskins left the team due to school and other reasons, Hazzard formed a solid team adding Jason Dean, Chuck Lack, and Corey Mitchell. The team was probably the strongest team in franchise history, winning 4 of the 8 league games by run rule. Unforturnately, $2 beer night proved to be their downfall. After a 3 hour delay due to light issues, Hazzard faced the Green Machine in a less than perfect state and fell 5-9. However Hazzard rebounded and beat the next best team in the league, Comb's Pizza 10-8, to take a tie breaker for the league title. Hazzard entered the final game of the season with the league title on the line. With a win, the title was theirs. Unfortunately, Hazzard lost the game 19-25 to the Pirates Den ending the 2007 season. The game left a bad taste in Hazzard's mouth which has motivated the Redskins to come out in the 2008 season with all guns blazing, out for revenge.