OTTAWA – It was the best of times, it was the worst of times last night at Hampton Park diamond as the undefeated fun bunch took on their arch-arch-nemesis the Athletics in what was to be a no-holds-barred battle royale.

Team co-captain Alison “Bulldozer” Hale sauntered into the diamond with a hearty “Buongiorno” to greet her teammates—making her season debut after her extended vacation in Italy. Well rested and well fed, she wasted little time in putting on a one woman tour-de-force as she proceeded to get four hits – including an easy double. Just getting started, she also scored on the next play all the way from second on a single, beating out the throw at home for one of her two runs on the night. Clearly a force to be reckoned with, she also called off steve “field marshal” saunders on an mid-field pop-up as he backed up to make the play. “This one’s mine”, she growled, startling “field marshal” in the process and causing him to yield to the surly rover. “I don’t know what they put in the water over there, but this is incredible”, astonished third base woman jess “bullseye” belanger remarked with incredulity.

With her player-of-the-game status assured, “bulldozer’s” world suddenly went sideways in a shocking turn of events. Heading into the last inning, with the team chanting her name, she rounded first hell-bent on yet another double. About two thirds of the way to second base, she stiffened up, let out a high pitched yelp and proceeded to barrel roll in the dusty infield. Laying motionless on the ground her teammates rushed to her aid. “Give her some breathing room for gawds sake”, came the booming voice of “field marshal”, as he moved the crowd back and attempted to diagnose the situation. It seemed “Bulldozer” had hurt her leg and was having trouble getting to her feet, so “field marshal”, glen “the wrangler” rankin and scott “boom-boom” saunders lifted her up and carried her off the field like a fallen soldier. Unbeknownst to her at the time, her season had just ended thanks to a torn hamstring muscle bringing her highlight reel evening to an abrupt end.

Facing the Athletics for the first time this year, Steve “field marshal” saunders knew the team would have their hands full. Looking for revenge after the devastating loss to the Athletics in the tournament final last year, “field marshal” was sounding the battle cry in the dug out before the game.

Missing John “methuselah” Devries (golf game) and Clark “lightweight” Lawlor (too tired), the team steadied themselves for the clash that was about to ensue.

The Athletics gave the fun bunch a scare when they scored four runs on a grand slam home run in the first inning , after an error cost them an out at third. But once again Meghan “marathon” Saunders got on base (the only woman to do so in the first inning) after a breathtaking sprint down the line to beat out the throw at first. With two out and her uncle steve “field marshal” saunders coming to the plate she looked towards her father—scott “boom boom” saunders on the pitching mound for further instruction. “Two out – run on contact” , came the curt directive.

Content to let his baby brother take the spot light with an impressive game last week, “field marshal” was ready to reassume his role as team leader. He strode to the plate, the weight of his team once again on his broad shoulders. He cast a glance towards first base and gave “marathon” a playful wink as he crushed the first pitch over the home run fence and once again into the nearby dog park where “the wrangler” was forced into a vicious tug-of-war with a particularly feisty bichon frise for possession of the game ball. Ripped achillies tendon, hyperextended elbow and torn rotator cuff had made life miserable for “field marshal” but you couldn’t tell as he attempted to turn back the cruel hands of time.

After two innings the Athletics were ahead 7-5. A new member of the team was responsible for all seven of their runs with two home runs. The fun bunch defense was looking a little sketchy with a few fly balls dropping in for hits and a couple of in field over throws. “the wrangler” had seen enough and he made a couple of fielding changes to stem the bleeding, moving himself to left field and adrian “sweetspot” seaman to second base. His intuition proved uncanny, as the team allowed only five more runs over the next six innings including two scoreless innings. Suddenly the high-octane offense of the Athletics had started to sputter and cease up.

The fun bunch offense on the other hand shifted into over-drive with everyone getting at least a couple of hits and scoring at least one run. “marathon” went five-for-six and scored five runs. Leah “the roadrunner” morrell and alison “bulldozer” hale, had four hits, jess “bulls eye” belanger had three hits and kathie “daredevil” adare had a pair. Ryan “man-o-war” Matishuk had five hits, “boom boom” and “sweetspot” each had four hits and “the wrangler” had three including a home run.

“field marshal” hit two more home runs – both of them grand slams, but the second one was a rare in-the-park grand slam that came complements of “the wrangler” who was running for the hobbled “field marshal”. With the three fastest runners on the team involved in the play, the Athletics didn’t stand a chance. Out of home runs, and with a weak Athletics fielder in right field , “field marshal” drilled a hard liner right down the foul line that rattled around in the corner of the outfield before the hapless fielder could pick up the ball. Meanwhile “marathon”, “man-o-war” and “the wrangler” were all galloping around the bases to deliver four more runs and plunge the final dagger between the eyes of the Athletics. Scoring only a single run in the bottom of the inning and down 24-12 they waved the white flag of surrender. Fun Bunch win and extend their unbeaten record to 4-0.