OTTAWA – Coming off a worrisome loss in their fifth game of the tournament, the fun bunch finished the round robin 4-1. While still an excellent record, the magical hitting that propelled the team to an unbeaten 3-0 record on staturday, was showing signs of fading as the team began to show their age.

Sadly, that trend continued in the final. Opportunity after opportunity was squandered as the fun bunch simply could not get a clutch hit leaving runners stranded in most innings. Their stellar defensive play kept the game within reach, but no one was able to rise to the occasion, with no one having more than two hits in the game, and no one scoring more than one run.

Perhaps the best chance and turning point of the game occurred in the sixth inning. Steve “field marshal” saunders had blasted a leadoff solo home run to cut the Athletic lead to 3 runs 10 – 7. With a modicum of momentum in their favour leah “road runner” morrell and glen “the wrangler” rankin had each got hits and were standing at third and second respectively bring scott “boom boom” saunders as the tying run to home plate.

With his big brother emploring him to “wait for his pitch” , “boom boom” swung mightily at the first offering with was a tad low to generate a hard grounder right to first base for the third out to end the fun bunch dubious rally. The fun bunch went meekly in the seventh , three-up, three-down with three weak pop-ups. The team limped across the finish line, hot, dirty, exhausted, and now disappointed.

While they had made it to the A Final for the first time since they had won the championship in 2011 (when ironically they had beaten the Athletics 8-5), they realized they weren’t so much as beaten but rather beat themselves, unable to bring their ‘A’ game to the ‘A’ final.

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Field marshal’s note:

Awesome tournament everyone!

I think we just ran out of gas. Next year we will try to recruit 6 women I think that will help.

Some awesome highlights:

Leah on her unprecedented two home run rampage and torrid hitting streak!

Alison with a DOUBLE in the final!

New recruits ryan, meghan and jessica who all pitched in to help us out

Glen’s new home at second with some spectacular plays

John “methuselah” devries age-defying game play.

Magical hitting by everyone on Saturday

Superb defense (best in the league) – we held athletics to 11 runs and they were CRUSHING all of their opponents including one game where they mercied the opposition

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TEAM PHOTOS taken after final at CARLINGTON #2

team photos