FUN BUNCH START GAME SCORCHING HOT
However, team gets shut out in last three innings as offense wilts in the heat
OTTAWA- The Fun Bunch started the game scorching hot on a scorching hot night when they built up a 16-0 lead in the first four innings of the game including three home runs in the first three innings. Steve "downtown" Saunders once again lead the way with a three-run homer in the first inning and a grand-slam in the third to drive in seven of the runs with Martin "the Gazelle" Desjardins belting a two run shot in the second. The story of the night however, was the play of Nancy "knock em out of the park" Harris and Alison "bulldozer" Hale who were the only two Fun Bunch women to show up and took turns alternating at bat in a hitting frenzy that saw both women with three at bats in the first inning alone. "bulldozer" was atoning for her absence from the last game when she mysteriously "opted out" of the game. Trotting into the dugout, with her head held down, she apologized to her teammates and vowed to "lead with her bat tonight". Martin "the gazelle" Desjardins returned after a two game absence to his usual spot in centre field--eagerly vacated by steve "field marshal" saunders--and proceeded to put on a defensive clinic as he caught everything within a country mile of him and kept the Aquabats from scoring until they figured out that there were no hits to be had in centre field. In a "new look" infield, Glen "the wrangler" Rankin played first base as both regular first base women, Kathy "daredevil" Adare and Chantal "rum runner" Bujold were absent. After their torrid start, however, the Fun Bunch ran into a spot of trouble when all their home runs were used up and the guys were forced to get creative to keep the ball inside the park with not always the desired results. In fact, the offense sputtered and ground to a complete halt in the fourth inning as the team failed to score a run in the final three innings. Sensing the shift in momentum, the Aquabats devised a new strategy and began targeting players in the infield and deliberately avoiding centre field. This new game plan paid immediate dividends as they scored five runs in the sixth inning with nary an out, while also employing some very aggressive base running. All of a sudden, the Fun Bunch rock-solid defense began to show some cracks, with missed grounders and juggled balls in the outfield--the heat apparently taking its toll on the team (not the Aquabats though). An exception, however was a very unusual play that unfolded as a liner was hit down third base to Nancy "knock em out of the park" Harris. With a runner heading to second, "Knock em out of the park", stopped the ball, picked it up and tossed it--rather unexpectedly--to "field marshal" at short, who pivoted--lightning fast--and threw it to "bulldozer" who was planted firmly on 2nd glove outstretchED--exactly as she had been taught by "field marshal"--for the out. "you don't see that every day", lamented the Aquabat pitcher as he shook his head in disbelief. In the last inning, after the Fun Bunch offense sputtered and went stone cold with nary a hit, the Aquabats now trailed 16-7 and sensed victory dangling before them. With an Aquabat runner heading hard to third after a deep hit to the outfield, "the gazelle" gathered up the ball and sailed a bullet over the cut-off man ("field marshal" at short) directly to "bulldozer" at third. Realizing that she was headed for imminent danger, she stood her ground and braced herself for the wave of pain that was sure to follow. Gritting her teeth, the ball made contact with her glove and drove her back a foot-and-a-half as she held on, forcing the runner to slam on the breaks at third--astounded that she had caught the ball. "Now that is how you lead by example", noted "field marshal" as he observed the play from close quarters and gave "bulldozer" a playful wink of acknowledgement. The Aquabats rallied for four more runs to end the game 16-11 and put a bit of a scare in the Fun Bunch, something the team will have to be wary of in their next game tonight against the Athletics.
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