First Stop vs. Rivershed Sluggers
First Stop (FS) battled the Rivershed Sluggers (RS) all the way to extra innings, which were not even needed. For the second game in a row, FS went to extras by mistake. More on that later.
RS came out swinging, scoring two runs off a long single by Judd “Magnum” Washburn. FS got one back after Smith Donelan drove in Justin Aker. RS pitcher Ronzoni Hacker walked two batters to load the bases with two out but Andrew Nevin popped out to Ronzoni to end that threat.
RS bats went cold in the second and scoreless. They saw Joe “Krugzz” Kruglak suffer his team’s only “Cold Beer K” of the game. Max Elles scored to tie the game 2-2. The third saw DJ Dave Hoffenberg and Nate Mispel both hit and score to give RS a 4-2 lead. Gordy Mitchell scored in the fourth to stretch the lead 5-2.
RS had their worst inning of the game in the fifth, going down 1-2-3. FS woke their bats up, scoring two off of RBIs by Collin “Hungry Like The” Wolf and Big Time Bobby Dederer, to cut the deficit to one. They had two runners on but Elles suffered a “CBK” looking for the third out.
RS had a great sixth, scoring five runs for a 10-4 lead. Three of those were off a blast by Justin “Green Light” Brown.
FS had a great sixth as well with their Justin (Aker) also blasting a three-run homer. Wolf added a solo home run to put the deficit back at two (10-8). RS could not build on their lead, going scoreless in the seventh. Nevins scored for FS in the bottom off a throwing error and Scooter Watelet got all the way to third with two outs but Johnny “Not So” Sharpe committed a rare “CBK” looking to end the inning.
This is where things got interesting. RS thought the error cost them the tying run but were relieved when Sharpe struck out, saving the winning run.
In the top of the eighth, Washburn jacked a two-run homer to break the 10-10 tie. As FS was up to bat, their scorekeeper Wyatt “Most Honest Person” Mosher noticed his team only had nine runs. The game was actually over in the seventh with RS winning 10-9. It makes the “CBK” by Sharpe even more damaging, because a hit would’ve scored the tying run.
Rivershed Sluggers vs. Rock Warriors
RS had a doubleheader and unfortunately for them, their bats went cold after that thrilling win. Buddy “Not the Dog” Bartlett started the scoring in the first with a solo home run for Rock Warriors (RW). The game featured many home runs (all by RW), many “CBKs” (all by RW), a web gem for each team and a WTP hit (Warning Track Power aka a slightly missed home run) for each team.
Bartlett was the star of the game going 4-4 with four runs scored and three RBI’s. Kevin Duprey and Jordan “JT” Tolar each had a home run. The “CBKs” were by Mikey Davis, JT, Craig Brothers and Collin “Diz” Clark. Diz also made a web gem along with RS Luke Carey. The WTP s were by Warren Bombardier and Mitchell. Rock won 7-1. What really did it for them was turning a record four double-plays.
Rivershed Sluggers vs. Sushi Yoshi
Last Wednesday, July 20, RS blasted Sushi Yoshi 19-5. Mispel started the scoring in the first and his RS teammates scored in every inning thereafter. There weren’t any home runs in the game for RS but everyone scored and/or got a hit. Mispel was the star at the plate scoring four runs with three RBIs.
First Stop vs. Chasin Tail
First Stop and Chasin Tail (CT) have had the best three game series in the league this year. The first game was won by First Stop by 4 runs and next FS won by one. Duane “Grandma’s Boy” Laughlin started the scoring for CT with a two run blast in the first. FS answered right back with three runs, two of which were off a bases clearing triple by Big Time Bobby. FS practically hit through their order in the second, scoring five runs to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Jake “From State Farm” Clark-Trapana, Wolf and Aker drove in the runs. Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the third. Dakota Booska got a run back in the fourth but FS went down 1-2-3 again. They still had a comfortable 8-3 lead.
Things got uncomfortable in the fifth after CT scored three to cut the deficit to 8-6. That woke FS up, practically hitting through their order again, this time scoring four runs off three doubles in a row. The sixth saw a team hit through their order and it was CT with seven runs to take their first lead of the game, 13-12. Laughlin started the scoring with a home run. His team followed with a hit parade, batting back to him where he grounded out with two runners on to end the inning. Patrick Bowen also had a homer. Aker was at it again jacking his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to regain the lead for FS 14-13. Nevins ended the sixth with the game’s only CBK, looking.
Bowen drove in the tying run (14-14) but got stranded at second and couldn’t break the tie. To the bottom of the seventh we go. Elles grounded out to third for the first out. League veteran Scooter Watelet put his all into the next pitch and put the ball over the fence for a walk-off home run to give FS a thrilling 15-14 win. Scooter said, “I love softball and put a good swing on it. I put everything I had into it.”
Diz was the umpire and said, “Off the bat, I knew it was gone. It was such a great game.”
Upcoming games
July 27 Library Field on River Road
- 5:50 p.m. Sushi Yoshi vs Rock Warriors
- 7 p.m. Chasin Tail vs Rivershed Sluggers
Aug. 1 Library Field on River Road
5:50 p.m. Rock Warriors vs First Stop
7 p.m. Chasin Tail vs Sushi Yoshi
Aug. 3 Library Field on River Road (Start of the Playoffs)
- 5:50 p.m. (4) Seed Rivershed Sluggers vs (5) Seed Sushi Yoshi
- 7 p.m. Winner of 5:50 game vs (1) Seed
Standings
1) Rock Warriors 7-1
2) TIE: First Stop 6-3 Chasin Tail 5-3
4) Rivershed Sluggers 3-7
5) Sushi Yoshi 0-7
