The first three games of the best of seven finals of the M Street Softball League were played last week with Shenanigans winning all three games over the George Pratt Club. The series was scheduled to continue on Monday night and could possibly be still going when this article hits your newsstands on Thursday morning.

So far, Shenanigans has played like the defending champions with stellar defense and great pitching which has frustrated the free swinging George Pratt Club. After the Pratt Club put up twelve runs a game in their last three wins over Makepeace, they have been snake bitten and can’t get their offense going.

Game one was played on Monday, Sep. 19 with Shenanigans dominating the game in all aspects (hitting, fielding, and pitching) as they cruised to 11-4 victory.

Playing their first game since their dramatic series comeback against Makepeace, the Pratt Club was not prepared to play at a high level in this one as they committed several errors, couldn’t throw strikes, and didn’t hit when needed. For players and fans alike, hopefully they can regroup and get back into this or it will be a short series.

The night started on a positive note as the Pratt Club scored twice in the top of the second inning on Joe Pano's single and Dave Seermon's sacrifice fly to right. However, the lead didn't last very long as Shenanigans answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs of their own. After two walks loaded the bases, John Smith stroked a single to right that tied the game, 2-2. Shenanigans added another pair of runs when Dennis Hajjar singled to right but the fielder over ran the ball which resulted in two additional runs, 4-2.

The two teams would trade runs in the middle innings as Shenanigans would take a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on first and second, Smith delivered again when he singled home Al Martin from second making it 7-4. Hajjar made it 9-4 when he plated two more runs on another error by the Pratt defense. While the offense was getting their motor started, the gloves were making noise in the likes of John Hoadley, who made two outstanding catches in center field.

Shenanigans added two more runs in the sixth which pretty much put this game out of reach, 11-4. Pratt managed to load the bases in the seventh but couldn't get the clutch hit when it needed it the most.

Game two took place on Tuesday, Sep. 20 and was a much more competitive game but the results were the same, Shenanigans 6 - George Pratt Club 4.

The scoring started in the third inning when Shenanigans scored five times with two outs and nobody on base. After a walk to Steve Stalcup, Dennis Hajjar dropped a double down the left field line that plated the games first run. Luis Colon then followed with a single that put runners on the corners for Dan Brown. Brown smacked a 1-1 fastback to left that plated Hajjar and the uprising continued. Mike Hoadley then cleared the bases with a long triple to left center making it 4-0. Shenanigans would tack on one more run on a single by John Cavaleri, 5-0.

The game would move to the bottom of the fifth inning when the Pratt Club would finally strike back. Ryan Wilson got the fun started when he connected for a long homerun to deep center making it 5-1. With two outs, Mark Senna and Adam Ralston both singled to keep the inning alive. Next up was Pat Dolbeare, who quickly made it a 5-2 game with a single to right. One of Pratt's most feared hitters, Pat Sullivan, was then hit by a pitch which loaded the bases for Marty Jimenez. After working the count to 2-1, Jimenez ripped a liner to right center that scored Ralston and Dolbeare making it a 5-4 game. The inning would end with Jimenez stranded at second base.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Shenanigans added an insurance run in the seventh when Mike Hoadley drove home Dennis Hajjar from second with a single to center, 6-4. Hoadley would then trade his batting gloves for his pitcher's glove and would retire the side in order in the bottom of the seventh giving Shenanigans a 2-0 series lead.

The third game of the series was played on Wednesday, Sep. 21 and would turn out to be a great pitching duel between Sam Acevedo and Make Senna. However, Acevedo and Shenanigans would come out on top again which now puts the George Pratt Club in a 3-0 hole.

This game belonged to Acevedo, who scattered three hits while keeping Pratt batters guessing all game long. At one point, the veteran righty retired nine in a row. What was even more impressive was the fact that the first batter (Pat Dolbeare) he faced tonight tattooed him for a long homerun to deep center. However, Acevedo shut the door after that which gave Shenanigans and their offense plenty of time to get things going.

With the score tied 1-1 in the third, Luis Colon doubled home Steve Stalcup which put Shenanigans ahead to stay. Dan Brown made it 3-1 when he punched a single to left that capped the scoring in this one.

Senna, who was pitching his third night in a row, kept the Pratt Club in the game but it wouldn't be enough tonight as Acevedo and the Shenanigans defense were just too much to handle. On the defensive side of things, Steve Stalcup made several clutch plays at shortstop which ended a couple of Pratt rallies.

With the end of their season staring them in the face, the Pratt Club will be fighting for the playoff lives when the series resumes on Monday (Sep. 26). On the other side of the diamond, the Shenanigans softball team has moved to within one win of their third consecutive championship. Such an impressive title streak has been repeated by only a handful of teams in the 50+ years of the league. The 1982-1984 L Street Tavern with Larry Lucas, 1992-1994 L Street Tavern with Paul Alessi, the 1997-1999 Sam Moran Club with John Gregorio, and the 2000-2003 Sidewalk Cafe squad with Mark Senna and George Pratt each enjoyed three or more title runs. Have a great week everyone!