FUNBUNCH CHALK UP FIRST WIN
Team finally fields full squad in third game of the season
OTTAWA- Well the rust was definitely showing on the johnny-come-lately team members who decided to make an appearance to help out their struggling team, but the bolstered ranks turned out to be just what the doctor ordered as the fun bunch beat the aquabats 21-13 in a game that started slowly but steadily improved inning by inning. Sure Scott "boom boom" Saunders, badly misjudged a lazy fly early in the game to allow the aquabats to score five runs but that error paled in comparison to the travesty that unfolded in the first inning. With the fun bunch at bat, Rowena "throw it home" Sams managed one of her trademark precision infield hits and was giddily trotting into first base when "boom boom"--pitching for the first time this season--inexplicably fielded the ball and proceeded to mow down his own teammate. The entire field went silent in utter shock. Meanwhile in the fun bunch dugout Steve "field marshall" Saunders promptly went ballistic and started gesticulating wildly for a time out as he screamed out "wrong team". Unable to obtain acknowledgement from his defiant brother, "field marshall" proceeded to storm the mound. Sensing imminent danger, Scott made a bee-line for the dugout as his big brother chased him off the field. "I have played in this league for 25 years and have never, ever seen anything as atrocious as that play", said Saunders seethingly through gritted teeth. When asked to explain his bizarre behaviour Scott mumbled sheepilshy - "It's my first game of the season and I kinda forgot which team I was on for a minute". After that debacle, however, the fun bunch settled down and showed flashes of brilliance--reminiscent of the team that won the league championship last season. There was Rowena grinding out a two out single to set the stage for Richard "wild thing" Bujold to blast a monster three run shot and earn a modicum of redemption following his strike out the inning before with two runners on. Then there was not one but two in the park home runs generated by Martin "the gazelle" Desjardins and Glen "the wrangler" Rankin both with deep shots to the fence followed by blazingly fast base running to manufacture two runs and keep the momentum going. Add to that rock-solid play at first base by Kathy "I'll catch anything" Adare and aggressive fielding by Tea "the terminator" Derakhshan and you could see the semblance of a championship team emerging. Going into the "endless" 9th inning, the "never say die" Aquabats proceeded to load the bases bringing their best home run threat to the plate. One pitch later the ball was launched to a well placed gap in left field. With the aquabat carousel of players clearing the bases, Glen "the wrangler" Rankin made the play of the game when he launched himself in the direction of the descending fly ball only to snag it in his outstretched glove to end the inning and secure the first win of the season for the fun bunch.
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