Bruisers vs. Fringes, June 14, 2005

Bruisers: Nancy, DaveS, EricG, Randy, KarenC, Douglas, Ron, Ann, BobG, Mandell, Jes, JohnD, Shaunna, ScottE, KarenT, DaveR, and Jesse.

Bruiser fans: EricB, Ellie, Cassie, Simon, Nickole, Terrac, Hollywood, and Ron's yummy retirement cake (Thanks Ann!) with the insidious red frosting.

Victorious diners at Crown City where KarenC celebrated by having her cake BEFORE dinner: Nancy, EricB, Jes, BobG, JohnD, KarenT, ScottE, Ron, Ann, and KarenC.

Box Score:

Inning	1	2	3	4	5	Total
Fringes	7	0	0	2	0	9
Bruisers	5	4	3	0	X	12

It was a beautiful afternoon for a softball game - light breeze, warm sun, and cake. Big Cake. The Fringes only had eight people at start time, but since they were batting first, they agreed to get started. After the first inning, it looked like it would be another one of those 51-run games; fortunately, it didn't work out that way after the Bruisers broke out Ron's cake in the second inning and were powered on to our fourth victory of the season. We had the pleasure to finally meet the newest beautiful Fringe babies: Renaud and Belen's 6-month-old twins David and Maria, and Kent and Bonnie's 4-month-old Leah. Such cuties!!!

BobG was a busy guy with nice OF catches in the first and third innings, and a good unassisted out at SS in the fifth inning before fielding a grounder and firing it to Ron(1B) for the final out of the game. In the second inning after making a good play to Ron(1B), Mandell(3B) made a "my bad" for interfering with a ball headed towards EricG(SS), but it didn't cost any runs. KarenC(P) teamed with Ron(1B) for two outs in the second inning, and then with BobG(1B) for two outs in the fourth inning. Ann(2B) gets kudos for her running scoop to field a grounder and get it to Ron(1B) in time for an out in the fifth inning.

Offensive efforts looked really good, altho' the game might have been longer if not for some absolutely dreadful pitching by two of the Fringe pitchers which caused our at-bats to go on forever. We had home runs from EricG and BobG, and RBIs from DaveS, EricG (3), Randy, Ron, Ann, BobG (4), and Mandell. Nancy demonstrated good use of gams getting home on Randy's flyout. Mandell gets the night's Sneaky Feet award for getting all the way to third from first on Jes' single while the Fringe fielders were distracted. All in all, a really good game, gang!!

By the way, what _did_ Ron do to earn sewer-watch duty during the fourth inning?

Our next game is next week Thursday June 23 on field H7 (ball-eating sewer). We'll be home team (again) against the Paper Tigers. So far, I only know that we'll be missing Shaunna (she'll be spreading the Bruiser word in Switzerland for two weeks!). Everyone else should be sure to tell me if you're coming or not.

Have a great week!

Karen :)