Bruisers: KarenC, Andrew, Ron, Ann, MarkF, JohnK, Nancy, Bob, Greg, Amy, Dave, Earl, Shaunna, Jason, JohnD, and Mary Beth.

Bruiser Fans: Jes, Rie, Cassie, Simon, Jesse, Ellie and Old Faithful Sprinkler.

Celebratory diners at Hill Street Cafe: Andrew, Earl, JohnK, Jason, Amy, Dave, Cassie, Nancy, Ron, Ellie, Mary Beth, Simon, Jesse and KarenC.

Injuries: none serious -- a couple of ground ball-related smacks, although KarenC did manage to dent Nancy while warming up before the game. *Sorry!!* The Crawdads actually got the worst damage.

Box score:

Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total
Crawdads	4	1	0	2	3	8	18
Bruisers	0	11	3	8	6	x	28

What a game, gang, what a game!!

It's okay that this was probably the longest game in Bruiser history. It looked started out looking bad. Then it started looking pretty good. Then it got really good and the Bruisers never looked back, mercying the Crawdads in the fourth inning (coming very close to making a double mercy!). In the second inning, the Bruisers batted around, plus one, to score 11 runs -- nine of those coming in after the second out. Adrenalin was almost our downfall in the top of the sixth inning, but we managed to hold it together for the win. The Bobby Song played many times throughout the game.

We had some really good defense going, including a Greg-Bob combo to get a runner at third in the first inning, Jason's one-knee catch in left field in the second inning, KarenC, Bob, Andrew and Greg all making nice infield plays to get batters (Ron... what a rock!), and the All-Andrew 5th inning. Offensively, we were whacking balls every which way, with home runs by JohnK, Bob, Jason and JohnD, triples by Mark, Earl and Jason, and a bases clearing double by KarenC. RBIs were hit in by Karen (3), Andrew, Ann (2), Mark (4), JohnK (2), Bob (2), Amy (2), Dave, Earl (5), Shaunna (2), Jason (2) and JonnD (2). The "Ouch" award goes the the Nick, the Crawdad third baseman who stopped JohnD's line drive, well, painfully, in the fifth inning.

By the way, in answer to the question that came up during dinner, the Bruisers are currently in their fifth season. I went back and read allllll the old game replays, and here's how things have gone:
1997: 3 wins, 12 losses, 1 tie and 1 I-don't-know (missing game replay) (1 win by forfeit)
1998: 6 wins, 11 losses (3 wins by forfeit, 1 loss by forfeit)
1999: 4 wins, 10 losses, 1 tie (2 wins by forfeit)
2000: 3 wins, 14 losses (0 wins by forfeit)
2001 so far: 4 wins 9 losses, 1 tie (0 wins by forfeit)
Notable notes: The highest scoring game we've ever played was a 33-32 loss in 1998. Highest scoring inning is 17 runs in 1998. 2001 is our first year with 3 wins in a row.

Next week's game is TUESDAY JULY 31, on field H3 (the one by the ball-eating sewer) against the L.A. Radars (who, incidentally, beat the Homers in mercy this week). I know we'll be missing Andy, Marc, Mikael, Jason, and probably Bob(?). Everyone else please be sure I know if you're coming or not. Dinner will be at Soda Jerks.

See y'all Tuesday!
Karen :)