FUN BUNCH ON A ROLL
Team comes from behind to win third game in a row
OTTAWA-Down 11-10 heading into the top of the 7th inning--their precarious two game winning streak on the line--the fun bunch listened intently as Steve "field marshall" Saunders once again read them the all-too-familiar riot act. "We beat this team 31-4 last year for crying out loud", he shouted belligerently as the unperturbed "Stop Hitting On Us" players continued to sip beer coolers from the dugout--their loud music contributing to a festive atmosphere. In fact, they couldn't believe their luck. The usually solid fun bunch had once again dug themselves a hole with a couple of error-filled innings contributing to nine of their eleven runs. Even the team stalwarts were affected including Kathy "I'll Catch Anything" Adare who misplayed a couple of routine throws, 25 time gold-glover Steve "downtown" Saunders who missed his release point and threw a rare pitch off line, Martin "the gazelle" Desjardins who overran a fly ball and Alison "bulldozer" Hale who dropped an easy toss at 2nd base to allow a runner to advance to third. At the end of the inning, "field marshall" called a time out and instructed everyone to take a collective deep breath as they were about to right this sinking ship. First he told everyone that "Stop Hitting on Us" were in way over their heads and had no business taking a lead in the game. Then he moved Richard "wild thing" Bujold to 2nd base allowing "bulldozer" to return to her more comfortable rover position. Next up, he promoted Patti "gazoo" Anderson's niece Jamie to third base. Although Jamie had never played the game before, "field marshall" could sense that she was a keeper. Boy did that do the trick as "Stop Hitting on Us" proceeded to score a grand total of three runs in the next four innings. Sure "wild thing" made things interesting, when on his first play as 2nd baseman he continued his juggling act--and prolonged audition for "America's got talent"--only to drop the ball and allow a runner aboard with an error. But his teammates backed him up with a sharp four-up-three-down inning, keeping the unearned run from scoring. Offensively, however, "wild thing" hit for the cycle with a rare single, double, triple and home run in four at bats in a modest attempt to redeem himself. "Downtown" also had a homerun, a triple and two doubles to score four runs in four at bats and lead the men as "I'll Catch Anything" led the women with three hits and three runs scored in five at bats. But the shining star of the game was Jamie "MVP" Anderson. A neophyte playing in her first baseball game ever, she crushed pitches into the deep outfield, snagged hard grounders at third, took force outs with composure as runners were bearing down on her and was able to throw the ball to first with zing from third. "Absolutely Amazing", extolled Paolo "slip-n-slide" Daros, who had run afoul of "field marshall" for failing to purchase cleats in the off season costing him a chance to score on the previous play. Team president Soren "scoop" Sorensen was said to be negotiating a long term contract with Jamie's agent immediately after the game. Heading into the ninth inning with a comfortable 19-12 lead, the fun bunch had a disappointing turn at bat--unable to cash in two base runners who were left stranded in scoring position. "Stop Hitting on Us" made things mildly interesting when they scored two runs, but then the fun bunch defense shut them down and went on to earn a well-deserved third win in a row.
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