Sporting dark shades, a fresh pair of Odor Eaters and a fiery temper (but curiously no jean shorts), Holloman resembled Ernie McCracken, the love-to-hate-him pro bowler from the classic Farrelly brothers' film Kingpin, for most of the game as he hurled missile after missile at a very game BGB squad.
Led by the strong legs of Carrie and Aaron, BGB got its offense rolling with two runs in the top of the first inning and worried aloud that Ernie might actually hurt himself winging the kickball as he was. The speed radar was going off the grid, but alas, so was the altimeter. Fortunately the deadly serious Burnin' Rubber team was in the field holding practice a good half hour before the game so everyone was limber. In fact, they must have thought they were on a gravy train with biscuit wheels! Once in the field, BGB's stellar outfield of Booker, Jonathan, Aaron and Larry kept Ernie's bunch honest, limiting Burnin' to a single run.
Aided by a grass field that hasn't seen the likes of a lawnmower in weeks, Burnin' Rubber employed a near flawless bunting strategy to take the lead before well placed kicks by Booker, Aaron and Carrie evened the score at 4 in the third inning.
The suspense grew as BGB and Ernie's bunch held each other scoreless in the fourth and top of the fifth.
BGB's fan base, which spans globally, was surely concernd in the bottom of the fifth as Burnin' Rubber promptly put runners on first and second with no outs. Ernie's gang was no doubt salivating at the prospect of toppling kickball's equivalent of Manchester United. The game came down to one kick. If it had driven in the runner at second, Ernie and the rest would have been crowned 2003 Odor Eaters Champions. They had one foot in the frying pan and one in the pressure cooker. Then came the play of the game: a bunt perfectly picked up by Booker and relayed to first for the double play that all but sealed the tie for BGB. Enrie's bunch had one more chance, but a hot shot to short left was picked up by Aaron to throw out the runner at second and this one was in the books.
Ernie couldn't pull off the win, but Burnin' Rubber remains confident he can still pick up the 7-10 split.