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With the July 4th holiday falling in the middle of the week there were only a handful of games played last week. This reporter caught what turned out to be the game of the week which was played last Wednesday between Feeney (A) division rivals Stadium Sports Bar and the Lynx. Sammy Acevedo (Stadium) and Domenic Lemarra (Lynx) were the pitchers in this one with both looking to lead their respective clubs to victory. Through their first seven games played this season the Lynx had been making a habit of falling behind in the early innings then catching teams with late inning fireworks. However, this game proved that they can also hit in the early frames as they lit up the scoreboard in the first inning with five runs. Mark Dion struck the big blow in the inning with a two run double to deep center. Although a bit shell-shocked, the Stadium players hurried in after the inning and announced that it was their turn to score runs. Stadium's Charlie Conners, Tommy Russell, and Rob Rogers answered the call when they all connected with long doubles making it a 5-2 game. Seven runs were already scored and the game wasn't twenty minutes old which brings up a point. Folks, over my 18 years associated with M Street Softball I have watched many games. Yet, I have never seen pitchers getting hit as hard as they are this year. M Street games are averaging 23.34 runs per game! I can't explain why this is happening but some observers are blaming the new carbon bats that are being used. This trend has forced the league into discussing the possibility of adding a fourth outfielder or possibly banning certain bats. This is becoming a hot topic so stay tuned. Ok, back to the game. Acevedo settled down in the second inning and retired the side in order. Conners and Russell reached base again in the Stadium second inning to set the tables for M Street's finest hitter, Robbie Rogers. Rogers worked the count in his favor then drilled a Lemarra fastball off the fence in deep left tying the game, 5-5. The two teams went scoreless in the third before the Lynx's Al Martin smacked a solo homerun to break the tie in the fourth. The Lynx then played some great defense in the bottom of the inning. After Stadium's Matt Traft reached third base with no outs Mike Hoadley and Jerry Thomes Jr made two outstanding defensive plays to keep Traft at third. However, Rogers again delivered in the clutch when he used his speed to leg out an infield single that tied the game at six. The game moved into the sixth inning and was still locked at 6-6. The Lynx then struck again when Marty Jimenez doubled and was followed by Scotty Robbins' tree clearing homerun to deep center, 8-6 Lynx. Rogers struck again in the bottom of the sixth when he tripled home Conners making it 8-7. Did I mention this kid can hit? Steven Couturier followed with a sacrifice fly that tied the game sending the home fans into a frenzy. Paul Gurley then gave them something more to cheer about when he drove in the lead run, 9-8 Stadium after six innings. If there was ever an inning to take back then the top of the seventh would be the one for the Stadium. After a lead off walk to the number nine batter followed by two infield errors, the Stadium had put themselves in a deep hole in trying to hang onto this one. Acevedo almost pitched out of it when he got the first out of the inning on an infield pop fly. However, Kevin O'Hara and his taped up broken right finger dashed the Stadium's hopes by knocking in two runs making it 9-8 Lynx. They weren't finished scoring either as Jimenez launched another 2-run missile to deep left making it 12-9. Although down and trailing in the game, the Stadium reached inside and showed grit when Tom Patella and Rogers each hit one out singles. Couturier then smacked another single making it 12-10 putting the tying runs on base. Again, the jammed packed stands at the corner of M & 2nd streets were ecstatic thinking the home team was going to complete the comeback. But Lemarra and company showed why they are at the top of the standings by closing this one out and leaving the Stadium and their fans wondering what might have been. In other league action, Murphy's Law played well and was beating the Lynx earlier in the night before falling 8-6. The Law then was trounced by the Stadium, 15-1. The Gorilla Fingers smacked around the depleted Beer Garden team on Thursday, 19-4. Also on Thursday, the Spartans played two great games and collected their first win of the season over the Sidewalk, 12-11. Il Giardino continues to cruise in the Sam Moran division as they collected two more wins. The week concluded with the Beer Garden bouncing back with two big wins on Friday. M Street Softball is played Monday through Friday with games starting at 6pm, 7:30, and 9pm. Friends, family, neighbors, and family pets are all encouraged to attend. The games are free but you must get there early as the stands fill up quickly. We hope to see you at the park! Ken Crider contributed to this report.
STANDINGS
Moran Division (B) W-L-T |