OTTAWA-It was going to be a tough uphill battle. The team knew that. Not only were they playing their nemesis the aquabats, but they would be missing the offensive and defensive prowess of their decorated and renowned leader steve “field marshal” saunders. Still suffering from debilitating sciatica caused by a punishing collision in his championship hockey game, “field marshal” was unable to run or hit and barely able to walk. Yet—despite the searing pain—he arrived at the diamond fully dressed for action. He would provide leadership, guidance and moral support – in addition to his stellar pitching skills to help shepherd his team through this challenging game.

The field was a sloppy mess. A storm had rained out the previous two games leaving the infield a muddy disaster. Home plate was a quagmire. First base was a morass. Even with cleats, the team was going to be slipping and sliding when running around the bases.

Making her debut was Jaime “J J “ saunders. An accomplished hockey player but a softball neophyte, she would be filling in for her fallen cousin Paris “songbird” Patricelli, a victim of an injury sustained in an over zealous tennis game. Nervous as she was for her inaugural game, she took solace in the completion of her uncle’s arduous boot camp on the weekend. The bane of every rookie that has played for the team, “field marshal’s” boot camp is legendary for its punishment--designed to separate the “wheat from the chaff”. Despite the pain, blisters, and exhaustion, “J J” passed with flying colors and was promoted to first-class rookie. Given the green light to play as a substitute she jumped at the opportunity to join the team.

Despite the offensive onslaught last week, the team got off to a rather tepid start, racking up zero runs in the first two innings causing “field marshal” some consternation as he contemplated pencilling himself into the line to shore up the shaky offense—pain notwithstanding. Common sense prevailed however as he allowed the team to “work their way out of this mess”, choosing instead to instill fear and terror by releasing a no-holds-barred diatribe as they sat heads-hung in the dugout. Rookie “J J” was trembling and on the verge of tears, when her older sibling Meghan “marathon” Saunders—now a sophomore-- sidled up beside her, and put a firm arm around her shoulders. “Listen kid, it takes a few games to get used to it I know, but you’ll be a stronger player in the end”, she stated matter-of-factly. “J J “ stopped shaking. She lifted her chin and took in a deep breath. Confident and determined she strode to the plate – her first appearance in the top of the third inning. With a steely gaze she swung at the first pitch and smashed it into the outfield for a single. Elated, she glanced over at her uncle on his perch at the pitching mound, desperately looking for approval. Scowling, he looked back, directly into her puppy-dog eyes, before mercifully casting her a playful wink of approval. She exhaled in a great whoosh of relief.

Both “J J” and glen “the wrangler” rankin came in to score the first two runs for the fun bunch. However, at the end of three innings the funbunch were still behind 6-2. They would have to do better – and soon.

The team righted the sinking ship in the next inning. Leah “the road runner” morrell went 3 for 4 and scored three runs, Emily “big time” Belanger and her big sister Jess “bullseye” belanger also both went 3 for 4. Ryan “man-o-war” matishuck went 4 for 4 , scored four runs and belted two mammoth home runs. Glen “the wrangler” Rankin finished the game 5 for 5 with five runs scored. Clark “pound em back” Lawlor, Adrian “sweetspot” Seaman, and Scott “boom boom” Saunders each scored two runs. The team was on cruise control.

Sure there was one contentious moment—there had to be when playing the aquabats—when their umpire awarded an extra base to their baserunner implying that “the roadrunner” had fielded a ball “out of play”. “the roadrunner” was incensed. Known as a “competitive” player , she contravened the umpire vociferously. “I was not out of play – and if you had been in the right position it would have been obvious to you”, she hissed through clenched teeth and drawn back lips. The aquabats however were desperate. Nauseous with wave after wave of relentless fun bunch offense—their team was in free fall. The umpire was trying to give them a leg up with a home-town call. It took all of the fun bunch infielders to physically restrain “the roadrunner” and calm her down, before the inning could continue.

“The roadrunner”—now looking for payback-- lead the team to complete the trouncing of the aquabats 21-9, as the fun bunch chalked up their second win in a row.