By DJ Dave Hoffenberg
Ties are meant for the office, not for softball. But for Clearly Moguls and the Wobbly Barn, they apparently are. This was set up as a David vs. Goliath match-up, with the win-less Wobbly taking on the defending champion Clearly Moguls. This is why the games are played: no game is easy just because it looks that way on paper. Excitement was in the air and the stands were packed with fans, even the W.B. bench was packed with extra players turned into fans.
Things started out good for the champs as they shut down the W.B. 1-2-3 and then put up three for a 3-0 first inning lead. Pitching for the W.B. was Dave “Out of the Forrest” MacKenzie who also came out of retirement this year. Clearly Moguls got serious on defense in the second when catcher Jared “F’d Up Is More Fun” Hall came out in a hockey goalie’s mask. Apparently it intimidated the first batter Jason Boyd as he grounded out to second baseman Hunter Pike. The WB put two on base and with two outs, Mackenzie came to bat. In a classic mano a mano pitcher’s duel, Ronzoni Hacker shut down MacKenzie for a huge Cold Beer K, looking. MacKenzie couldn’t C.B.K. Ronzoni in the next inning, but did get him and Russell “The Love Muscle” Dalglish to ground out to start their second ups. C.M. put two on base with “DJ” Dave Hoffenberg’s single and Brett Regimbald’s walk, but Neal Giberti hit into an inning-ending double -lay.
The W.B. fired up their bats in the third and practically hit through their order while scoring four runs to take the lead 4-3. “Ronzoni” added another C.B.K to his record to end their inning and strand another two runners. C.M. responded with back-to-back singles, but Jackie “Blue” Livesey hit into a double-play. They were able to tie the game when Will “I Love This Game Too Much To Retire” Burdick drove in Judd Washburn. The W.B.’s bats were still hot in the fourth and “Music Maestro” Tony Lee Thomas scored and drove in a run to give his team a 6-4 lead. C.M. had no answer and went down 1-2-3. Boyd led off the fifth with a big C.B.K. but the W.B. was able to score a run to stretch their lead 7-4. Hoffenberg and Regimbald both singled and scored and then Washburn drove in “Brando” Remick to tie the game 7-7. They had a chance for more but Jackie “Blue” went down swinging for a big C.B.K. Both teams put a couple runners on base in the sixth but nobody could score and MacKenzie was able to C.B.K. Pike, as well.
The seventh inning saw good defense by both squads. Neal Giberti robbed a sure-fire hit with a circus catch web gem but followed that up with an error drop on a hit by Kailee “Secret Weapon” Munden-Beebower. She was subbed in the sixth when the W.B. pulled Noah Lauderant who was a perfect three-for-three, so it was a surprising move, but it worked out good for them. Unfortunately, nobody could hit her in. C.M. had their chance to win in regulation but “DJ” Dave Hoffenberg was thrown out at third by Kielbiowski, when he should’ve stopped at second.
On to extra innings they go. This was the second extra inning game this season for C.M. and the first ever for the WB. Both teams put runners on and both teams stranded their runners. Time was called due to the second game having to start so … stay tuned for conclusion.
Got wood? We don’t, and we’re proud of it. Clearly Moguls suffered their first loss of the season earlier in the week at the hands and metal bats of Killington Resort. It was a dismal showing for C.M. who got wrecked with a 12-2 mercy loss. Matt Kinsman pitched a gem, only allowing four hits and delivering two C.B.K.s to Nick “Tall Tom Was Wrong” Thomson. The lone bright spots for C.M. were Hoffenberg and Burdick who were both perfect at bat. Burdick slightly better though, since his two hits were home runs, and the only runs scored for the team.
In other news, the “O” teams are now tied in the standings as the league welcomes the OmyaRamas to the win column as they destroyed Outback Pizza 13-1. O.R. is the youngest team in the league by far since many of them are just starting their summer vacation from high school. The team has got better and better as the season has gone on. It’s a big jump from their first game — a 33-0 loss. This win was a solid team effort and their first in team history.
Standings:
First – Killington Resort 5-0
Second, tie: McGrath’s Sushi 3-1; Max Team 3-1
Third – Clearly Moguls 2-1-1
Fourth, tie – Outback Pizza 1-4; OmyaRamas 1-4
Fifth – Wobbly Barn 0-4-1
Schedule:
Wednesday, June 14 Wobbly Barn vs Max Team @ Killington 5:50 p.m.
Max Team vs Killington Resort @ Killington 7 p.m.
Outback Pizza vs Clearly Moguls @ Bridgewater 5:50 p.m.
McGrath’s Sushi vs Outback Pizza @ Bridgewater 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 21
Clearly Moguls vs OmyaRamas @ Killington 5:50 p.m.
OmyaRamas vs McGrath’s Sushi @ Killington 7 p.m.
Killington Resort vs Wobbly Barn @ Bridgewater 5:50 p.m.
Wobbly Barn vs Outback Pizza @ Bridgewater 7 p.m.
There will be a post-game party at Outback Pizza from 8-11 p.m.
Photo by Robin Alberti
Clearly Moguls’ shortstop Brett Regimbald makes an impressive throw to first.
