Defending champions lead early in the Chittenden Softball League

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg

Flannels Fanatics vs Rock Landscaping

It has not been a good early season for Flannels Fanatics (FF) as they are on a two-game losing streak and both of those losses have been by mercy — a 10 run deficit after five innings of play. 

In three games this season, they scored less runs total than the runs scored against them in the last game alone. 

In their last game against Rock Landscaping, they started off well after Josh “Purple Guy” Souza  scored off a Judd “Fore” Washburn single to take the early lead. FF Pitcher Ronzoni Hacker was “En Fuego” right from his first pitch. He got lead-off batter Mikey Charron Jr to suffer a “Cold Beer K,” looking and then Colby Raymond struck out next for two quick outs. Unfortunately for FF, that was the last good thing that happened. 

Rock batted through their order, scoring five runs, off three bad errors from the FF infielders. 

FF stranded two runners in the second inning and then once again got Rock’s lead-off batter out but once again, Rock batted through their order. This time they scored six runs while FF committed two errors. Nobody scored in the third inning. FF scored in the fourth but stranded two more runners, this time after Ronzoni suffered a “CBK” to end the inning. 

Rock shined offensively in the bottom of the fourth scoring five runs, all earned, with three coming off a speedy inside-the-park home run from Raymond. Rock scored two more and FF’s Ronnie Crosby ended the game with a “CBK.” 

Final score: Rock Landscaping 18-2.

Rock Landscaping vs. First Stop Base Camp

In the bottom half of the doubleheader, Rock battled First Stop Base Camp who had a lot going in the top of the first but couldn’t get anybody home and stranded the bases loaded. 

In the bottom, Rock jumped out to a 2-0 lead off a bomb of a home run by Ethan Patch. Nobody scored in the second but FSBC took their first lead in the third (5-2), scoring five runs, while practically batting through their order. 

Rock tied it in the bottom off a few base hits and a nice looking sac by Bailey Peters who came off the runner-up team to join the defending champs. 

The fourth saw FSBC strand the bases loaded but Rock broke the tie off a two-out single from Charron. FSBC tied it again in the fifth with Bobby Dederer scoring off a Shawn Smith RBI but he still hit into a double-play. Chris Major ended the inning with a “CBK.” In the bottom of the fifth Rock broke the tie again, taking a four-run lead (10-6). Two were off a bases clearing double by Buddy Bartlett and two off a monster home run by league newcomer Nate Traynor. Dederer stopped the onslaught with a beautiful running web gem catch. 

The sixth was not pretty for FSBC defensively as Rock hit through their order, scoring six runs, to put the game out of reach. Patch added his second two-run home run. Collin “Hungry Like The” Wolf shined at shortstop, turning a double-play on Peters after first bobbling the ball but stayed with it. Dederer could not keep up his hot play and hit into a game ending double-play. 

Rock Landscaping won, 16-6.

Standings

Rock Landscaping 3-0

Dirty Mike & The Boys 2-1

Flannels Fanatics 1-2

      4)  First Stop Base Camp 0-3

Schedule

(All games played at Barstow School Lower Field)

Wednesday, June 30

 5:50 p.m. Dirty Mike & The Boys vs. First Stop

7 p.m. Rock Landscaping vs. Flannel’s Fanatics

Wednesday, July 7 

5:50 p.m. Dirty Mike & The Boys vs. Rock Landscaping

7 p.m. First Stop vs. Flannel’s Fanatics