Bruisers vs. Crawdads, August 9, 2005

Bruisers: KarenC, Randy, Juan, ScottM, Jes, Rob, Andrew, EricG, Nancy, birthday boy EricB, Ron, KarenT, Douglas, Mandell, and Ann.

Bruiser Fans: Cassandra, Ann's neighbor Julie and her floofy dog Lennie

Victory diners at Soda Jerks: Jes, Nancy, EricB, Ron, Julie, Ann, Douglas, Andrew, Randy, KarenT, ScottM, and KarenC.

Box Score:

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Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total
Crawdads	0	1	3	3	5	4	16
Bruisers	0	8	6	3	2	X	19

It was definitely worth delaying the start of the game to wait for the Crawdads pitcher to arrive. Both teams came with plenty of players, the teeny weeny footballers stayed (mostly) out of the way, and we had a very good and fun game (with good pitching! Yaay!). At first it looked like it would be a fairly low-scoring game, but then it turned into a standard C League romp. We managed to score early and often, tried to give the game away in the later innings, but managed to hold off the Crawdads for the victory. Our teams are now 1-1 for the season.

Notable events include the 1-2-3 first inning where Jes(SF) grabbed the ball and threw it to KarenC(2B) in time to cut down the lead runner, Juan(LF) made a nice catch, and then Nancy(P) fielded a dribbler and got it to Ron(1B). In the second inning Douglas(C) made a great play to catch a ball heaved in from the outfield by Juan(LF) to tag the runner two steps from home and deny him a home run. The fourth inning was All Ron as he made an unassisted double play by fielding a grounder, tagging the runner coming off first, and then stepping on the base before the hitter got there, and then he caught a ball fielded by EricG(SS) for the third out. In the fifth inning Mandell(SS) started a double play to Ron(1B) for the first two outs, then we fell apart. Sometimes that third out is the hardest one to get, huh? We had trouble with that pesky third out in the fifth inning, too, but came out okay.

Offensively, we did well. Almost everyone got at least one hit. Home runs were hit by Randy and EricB. RBIs were earned by KarenC, Randy (4), Rob, Andrew (2), EricG (2), Nancy (2), EricB (4), KarenT, Douglas, and Ann. KarenT's RBI came at the sacrifice of her shoulder which was struck by a throw from the pitcher, and when the ball landed fair nobody fielded it, so EricB took home. Andrew gets a Sneaky Feet award for scooting home behind the catcher on Nancy's single, and Mandell gets one for getting hime while the fielders were busy with the aftermath of KarenC's flyout in the fourth. Douglas was robbed of a really pretty hit by a great running catch by the Crawdads left fielder. Jes gets an "oops, my bad" for coming to the plate with one out and the bases loaded and hitting a dribbler up the third base line which resulted in a double play.

BTW: Those of you who were playing golf out there (and you know who you are!) have homework. You will handwrite for me, 200 times, "This is softball, not golf" and bring it to the next game. The business end of your bat should never come up from below your knees to hit a ball.

Restaurant notes: The Homers found out last week that Fuddruckers had closed and is looking for a new location. We found out the same thing about Soda Jerks last night; they will be closing their current location Sept. 5, but don't yet know where their new location will be.

Our next game is Wednesday, August 17 when we'll be the visiting team against the L.A. Radars. So far I believe we'll be missing the Reddings. Everyone else should be sure I know if you're coming or not.

Have a great week! Only three more games to go!

Karen :)