BRAWL BUSTERS
Fun bunch score 26 runs to beat the Brawlers for their 11th straight win
OTTAWA-Shoring up their depleted ranks with Clark "fire it up" Lawlor and Rachelle "the rocket" Dalpe, the fun bunch put on a quite a show during fan appreciation night-- the stands packed with fun bunch alumni. Soren "scoop" Sorensen, Betsy "double play" Moore, Maggie "magpie" McGovern and Cliff "home run" Harris--all fun bunch hall of fame members--as well as Ian and Nancy Harris, came out to cheer on their team on a special night at Hampton Park ball diamond. Sensing the enormity of the event, the fun bunch decided to put on a show including a very rare triple play turned in the second inning by Steve "downtown" Saunders. With runners on first and second and nobody out, the stage was set for what was about to unfold. The next brawler batter hit a hard liner directly to "downtown", who quickly proceeded to tag the base runner, step on second base to get the force from first, and then toss the ball to Chantal "rum runner" Bujold to complete the historic play. Making her debut as a new fun bunch recruit, Rachelle "the rocket" Dalpe came out to add some much needed youth to the fun bunch female contingent. Despite not having played ball for a few years, "the rocket" was spectacular going five for six with three runs scored to make an immediate impact with her new teammates. Missing three of their best men--Scott "boom boom" Saunders, John "methuselah" Devries and Martin "the gazelle" Desjardins--all off on holidays, the fun bunch recalled career minor leaguer Clark "fire it up" Lawlor to fill out the roster. "fire it up" then proceeded to do an admirable job, with four hits and three runs scored in six at bats as well as a respectable stint as back-up pitcher. In a move that shocked everyone on the field, Paolo "slip-n-slide" Daros inexplicably showed up--albeit late-- with a new pair of cleats. Tired of being constantly admonished by Steve "field marshal" Saunders for his improper attire, "slip-n-slide" worked the infield like a pro with his new found sure-footedness, stopping and starting on a dime. After contributing a late inning home run, "slip'n'slide" dug in as he rounded the bases effortlessly during his victory trot--as if to accentuate his vise like grip to the infield ."I can't believe it took "slip'n'slide" four years to cough up and buy some cleats", snorted Richard "wild thing" Bujold--still nursing a tender elbow. "Steve was right all along, and I guess I was just too stubborn to take his advice", "slip'n'slide" admitted somewhat ashamedly. " "slip'n'slide" looked like a new man out there tonight", replied "field marshal" when asked for his take on the event. "We're going to have to come up with a new nickname for him I think", he glibly concluded. Seeking to make his own contribution to fan appreciation night, Glen "the wrangler" Rankin made a stupendous attempt to catch an infield fly that went up the middle. Darting all the way from centerfield, "the wrangler" attempted a shoestring catch--glove outstretched. However, as the ball entered his glove, he lost his balance and careened dangerously across the abrasive gravel--face first--only to have his glove fly askew in his valiant attempt to make the out. Sporting two skinned shins, he quickly retrieved his glove and the ball and jumped to his feet to quickly quell the nascent rally--bleeding profusely all the while. Displaying her legendary base running prowess, fun bunch captain Alison "bulldozer" Hale calmly waited for a deep fly ball to be caught before tagging up and advancing to third and eventually come home to score a well earned run. Rowena "scoresheet" Sams also dug deep to leg out an infield grounder to keep the rally going and bring "downtown" to the plate. Attempting to show his appreciation to the fans who came out for the game, "downtown" put on a hitting extravaganza--going seven for seven, hitting two home runs (one in the park) , a triple, two doubles and a single--to hit for the cycle and then some. Richard "wild thing" Bujold also contributed four runs scored going four for seven on the night. Kathie "daredevil" Adare and Patti "gazoo" Anderson each kicked in three hits as their contribution on the festive evening. The fun bunch then "lowered the boom" when they scored a total of eleven runs in the last two innings to pretty much put the game out of reach, leading 26-9 heading into the bottom of the ninth with the brawlers coming to bat. Avoiding a potentially ugly situation, "field marshal" Saunders pondered enforcing the "no sliding" rule when a brawler base runner deliberately slid back into first base in a direct contravention of the league rules. "I took one look at the amount of empty beer cans in their dugout however, and decided rather quickly that the prudent thing would be to let him stay in the game. The last thing we needed was a riot to mar this special night for our team", "field marshal" stated rather wisely.
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