If you like offense, Tuesday's game had plenty of it! Kian's Dental Visitors/Hitting Team, managed by Davis, put 11 runs on the board. Rhonda the Tax Lady's Sitting/Middle Team, managed by Hill, finished with a whopping 30 runs, while Jarrett Ford's Home/Fielding Team, managed by Wally, battled their way to 17. The final score might look one-sided, but there were some impressive rallies, big hits, and defensive efforts along the way!
First Inning: Everybody Came Ready to Hit!
Team Davis came out swinging. Williamson singled, followed by hits from Rad, Davis, Zelazny, Sensabaugh, and Reagan. Four runs crossed the plate, but Team Hill had an answer—and then some!
Guzzo got on base, Gutenberger singled, Rusty doubled, Doyle and Turchetta reached base, and Jorge and Tutrani followed with singles. Five runs scored, giving Team Hill the early edge.
Team Wally wasn't about to be left out of the opening-inning fireworks. Nestor and Rounds singled, Carlos doubled, and Sully added a hit as four runs came home. Toro, Muniz, Leslie, and Gil also contributed hits, but with the bases loaded, the rally came to an end. Still, it was quite an opening inning!
Second Inning: The Defense Settles In
The defense tightened up a bit in the second. Shaffu, Lopez, Clos, and Skidmore strung together singles for Team Davis, producing two runs.
Team Hill's Testa got things started with a triple to right-center, and BJ drove him home. That was the only run Team Hill managed in the inning.
Team Wally, however, saved its best for two outs! Boito, Thompson, and Pat singled before Nestor doubled, bringing home four runs. A clutch rally that kept Team Wally right in the mix!
Team Wally's Defense Gives Davis Fits
Team Davis managed just one run in the third, thanks to Davis's double and contributions from Zelazny, Sensabaugh, and Reagan. Then Team Wally's defense shut them out in the fourth.
Davis's squad wasn't done trying, though. In the fifth, Clos doubled and Skidmore singled before Williamson blasted a ball to right field, driving in three runs! Rad then scored with help from his hit and contributions from Ernesto and Zelazny, bringing the inning's total to four runs.
Reagan led off the sixth with a hit, followed by singles from Amy and Donna, producing another run. Team Davis made an effort to gain ground in the final inning, but with the bases loaded, the runners were left stranded.
Team Hill Finds Another Gear
Team Hill was just getting warmed up! In the third, the first five batters crossed the plate. Guzzo and Gutenberger singled, Rusty doubled, and Doyle and Hill singled. Raymundo added a single, and Turchetta doubled as the runs kept coming.
Team Wally answered with a rally of its own. Sully doubled, Toro singled, Muniz reached base, Leslie singled, and Gil got on. Three runs scored, and the game was tightening up.
Bottom of the fourth: Hill 11, Wally 11! We had ourselves a ballgame!
But Team Hill wasn't about to stay tied for long. Tutrani and Testa reached base, BJ doubled, and Hudson got on. Constantine then launched a huge triple to center field, followed by a single from Marino. Four more runs crossed the plate!
Team Wally came up just one run short of matching that production, stringing together singles from Thompson, Pat, Nestor, Rounds, and Carlos for three runs.
The Sixth and Seventh: Hill Pulls Away
Team Hill continued to pile on the runs in the sixth. Tutrani reached base, Testa doubled, Hudson singled, Constantine doubled, and Marino added another hit. Three more runs scored.
Meanwhile, Team Wally's bats went cold. Three up, three down in the sixth.
Then came the seventh, and Team Hill decided to make a statement! Guzzo, Gutenberger, Rusty, and Doyle all singled. Hill's sacrifice fly brought in runs, Raymundo and Turchetta singled, Jorge reached base, and Tutrani singled before the third out finally arrived.
Seven runs in the inning! Team Hill finished with 30, putting the game well out of reach.
Team Wally had been sitting on the bench waiting for that long inning to end, hoping for a miracle comeback. Unfortunately, it just wasn't in the cards. Three up, three down, and the game was over.
But How About Them Girls!
The final score wasn't the only story of the day. Our ladies made their presence felt!
- Donna was making them earn those hits from the mound.
- Terri was tracking down fly balls in left field.
- Leslie had wheels on those bases.
- Amy made a throw home that deserves a mention—and you guys are seriously going to keep testing that arm? Way to go, Amy!
That's what senior softball is all about: competing hard, making plays, supporting your teammates, and having a little fun along the way.
Congratulations to Team Hill on the big win, and hats off to Teams Davis and Wally for battling throughout the game. There were plenty of hits, a few big defensive moments, and some great individual efforts to celebrate.
Until next time, keep swinging, keep hustling, and keep enjoying the game!
See you on the field!