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Just three outs from victory, GSN implodes |
(AP) - "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". If you'd
ask the Gentle Shepherd church softball team about that statement, they
would tell you how true it is.
Knowing that their success rests more on the play of their defense
rather than with their offense, GSN would attempt to "put the clamps" on the
South Pymatuning bats with the hope of ending an eleven game slide.
Through six innings in a tight affair that never saw Gentle Shepherd trail,
there was plenty of excitement to witness. Coming home after tripling
in the fifth inning, Gary Bonanno would put "The Kids" on top by a 5-4
tally. Perhaps the greatest play of the season would follow in the top
of the sixth inning.
In a jam to start the inning, GSN found themselves clinging to a
one run lead with South Pymatuning runners at first and second and no outs.
A drive to center by the next batter sent Gary Bonanno retreating in the wet
outfield—with the impression to most that a catch
wouldn't be made. He was able to haul in a snow-cone grab, however,
and subsequently gain his balance in order to gun the base runner who had
tagged and headed to third. The runner's underestimation of Gary's
throwing arm had left South Pymatuning players stunned and sent "The Kids"
into an on-field celebration. In the midst of the frenzy, GSN failed
to remember that only two outs had been recorded in the inning. The
runner on first would head to second amidst the confusion that saw many of
Gentle Shepherd's players head to the dugout. Unlike past games in
which such a mistake would hurt "The Kids", GSN was able to get out of the
inning unscathed—still up a run. Unfortunately from that point on,
only heartbreak would ensue.
Closer than they had been in the last twelve games to picking up a
victory, "The Kids" could not seem to get outs in the final inning.
South Pymatuning peppered GSN for eight runs in the seventh—thereby doubling
their output from the previous six innings combined. Gentle Shepherd
showed some heart by putting four runs on the board in the bottom half of
the inning. They were able to bring the tying run to the plate in
their final at-bat, but in the end it just wasn't enough.
Gary Bonanno starred at the plate for GSN—reaching base in all four
plate appearances and scoring a season-high four runs. In addition,
Tim Vass scored twice and Rich Thompson went the distance on the mound for
"The Kids" in a losing effort. |
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| Boxscore: |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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4 |
5 |
6 |
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7 |
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Total |
| South Pymatuning |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
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8 |
= |
12 |
| GSN |
3 |
0 |
1 |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
|
4 |
= |
9 |
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