JL Sluggers vs. IRI Mariners

With Game 1 in the books, the Sluggers turned the page to the final chapter in their inaugural season. By this time the sun was setting and gnats swarmed 'round the sweaty bodies of the Sluggers players. It was anything but glamorous, yet the Sluggers knew that they could not be distracted in their quest for a .500 record and the third place division finish.

Trotting out the same lineup as Game 1, the Sluggers once again got out to a fast start. After Law Dawg was called out on a controversial (blown) call at first base, Wicked Hittah, Plan B, and Fluffy all reached base safely and scored to get the game started. More stellar defense in the bottom half of the inning, left the Mariners scoreless once again, giving the Sluggers a 3-0 lead after one inning.

The second inning was more of the same as Law Dawg, Wicked Hittah, and Fluffy added three more runs to put the Sluggers up 6-0. Law Dawg would score once more in the top of the third inning, before finally surrendering a run to the Mariners in the bottom of the third. After three it was 7-1 in favor of the Sluggers.

There was a momentary delay in the top of the fourth inning as Fluffy reached base, but the on-deck batter was nowhere to be found. It turns out the missing player was Walk Me, who was discovered seconds later, attached to her cell phone in the dugout. Despite ending her phone call abruptly to take her turn at bat, Walk Me proved that she is definitely capable of multitasking (as if we didn't know that already) as she casually stepped up to the plate and recorded another hit. Fluffy, Walk Me, and New Guy would all come around to score in the inning, making it 10-1 Sluggers.

The Sluggers would add seven more runs before the game was called due to time restrictions, including two runs scored by Law Dawg, his third and fourth of the game, and runs scored by Wicked Hittah, Plan B, Fluffy, Walk Me, and New Guy. The final score: Sluggers 17 - Mariners 2.

Some memorable plays occurred in the second game as well. After shifting Fluffy to left field for a pull hitter, the IRI player hit the ball to deep center where Fluffy was forced to run a good 25 yards to track the ball down, which he eventually did, albeit gasping for air afterward. New Guy and G-Man combined on some nice infield plays, as did Wicked Hittah and Plan B. Stellar on defense as always, Law Dawg snared multiple line drives with his catlike reflexes, triggering a chorus of oohs and aahs from the fans in attendance. Law Dawg and Fluffy were the players of the night as each scored a total of seven runs between the two games. Both players will certainly be hot commodities on the free agent market this winter.

The victory moved the Sluggers to 9-9 on the season, which is quite the feat considering that their firm is only a small fraction of the size of most in their division.

On behalf of the Sluggers, I want to thank Jackson Lewis, Greased Lightning, and Walk Me, for helping fund, support and start up the softball team. I would like to thank those who participated, making the JL Sluggers a reality, especially Walk Me and Squirt, the only players to participate in every single game even through injuries. I would also like to thank all of the fans who attended games and supported us through reading the blog. It has been a fun ride, and we hope to do it again next year!

Go Sluggers!
-Coach

Pictured: (Top Left) New Guy rips a line drive into centerfield. (Right) The Sluggers newest fans, Pam Mak and her husband Marc, pose for a picture from the Sluggers dugout. (Bottom Left) G-Man connects on one of his six hits on the night.

JL Sluggers @ IRI Mariners

With the sun setting on the 2008 softball season, the Sluggers were looking to go out with a bang. While the playoffs were out of reach, a couple of wins would give them a chance at a .500 record on the season, as well as 3rd place in the division. Two feats that seemed a pipe dream just a month or two ago.

With key team members Downtown in San Francisco, Greased Lightning on vacation, and Special K on the DL (she assumed scorekeeping and photography duties), the Sluggers knew it would take a total team effort on Tuesday night. Not only did that mean strong participation, but it also meant a number of players playing unfamiliar positions. Wicked Hittah made his first start at third base, while Ringer made his first start in left field. New Guy and Plan B found themselves protecting the middle of the infield, while Sturgis and Squirt anchored the right side of the outfield. The game also marked the return of Fluffy to the lineup, although noticeably absent was the beard he sported in the home run derby. Law Dawg took the mound for the Sluggers with Walk Me behind the plate. The reliable G-Man once again provided steady defense at first base.

After holding the Mariners scoreless in the top of the first, the Sluggers wasted no time getting out to the early lead. Law Dawg, Wicked Hittah, and Fluffy all crossed the plate in the inning, putting the Sluggers ahead 3-0 in the early going. Carrying the momentum over from another scoreless defensive inning in the second, the Sluggers found themselves sending eleven batters to the plate as they added six more runs to their lead, including a nice RBI single by Walk Me. Squirt, Law Dawg, Wicked Hittah, Fluffy, Walk Me, and Ringer all scored for the Sluggers, extending their lead to 9-0 after two.

The Sluggers produced a third consecutive scoreless defensive inning, as the Mariners managed to send only four runners to the plate. The inning probably would have ended after just three batters, but Plan B nearly missed turning a double play. In the bottom of the inning, Law Dawg tallied the only run for the Sluggers who now had a commanding 10-0 lead after three.

The Sluggers finally gave up a run in the top of the fourth, but by then the game was well in control. When all was said and done, the Sluggers stayed on top with a 13-6 victory. Some plays of note in the game included a double play by New Guy, RBI singles by Walk Me and Squirt, a triple by Fluffy, and an RBI double by G-Man.

Pictured: (Top Left) Fluffy swings for the fences in his return to the Sluggers' Lineup. (Right) Wicked Hittah takes a cut at an offspeed pitch. (Bottom Left) Plan B muscles into another line drive screamer past the mound.

FAS Home Run Derby

Fearing no one, Fluffy jumped at the chance to be a participant in the 2008 FAS Home Run Derby. The derby was held at Braddock Park in Clifton, Virginia. The outfield fences were measured at 300 feet to all fields, and the weather was decent. Team manager, Wicked Hittah, served as Fluffy's pitcher in the contest. Fluffy's entire competition can be found in this exclusive video:




As you can see, things didn't go exactly to plan. However, it wasn't just Fluffy that struggled in the competition. No home runs were hit at all in the first 40 minutes of the competition. It wasn't until over a dozen players had tried, before someone finally hit one out. Fluffy wasn't feeling too bad, seeing how everyone else was doing. Then came Jessica...

Jessica was the only woman in the competition, but boy did she ever put on a show. With her very first swing, she hit a home run. She would go on to hit three more. Jessica's four home runs were too much for Fluffy, who decided it was time to drown his sorrows away.

Fluffy, Wicked Hittah, Plan B, Nebraska, and Squirt, decided to hit up Glory Days Grill for some Wings, Nachos, and Beers. Sadly, on this night, even the mildly spicy wings had more pop in them than Fluffy's bat. That being said, it does appear that he deserved two more swings, as the video above shows he clearly only took eight swings. Of course, it goes without saying that those final two swings would have resulted in mammoth home runs, yet Fluffy was robbed. Indeed, Fluffy was robbed.

Pictured: Squirt and Nebraska cheer on Fluffy while enjoying some ice cold smoothies under the hot summer sun.

Standings Update

Breaking News from FAS League Office:

Scitor Corporation has been removed from the Corporate Coed Softball League. As a result, all games played by Scitor have been purged from the schedule.

What this means for us is that we are now 7-9 on the season, with a chance to have a .500 record with two wins on Tuesday. It also means that barring an upset by Cooley over Veris Consulting, we have a very good chance at finishing in 4th place.

Not bad for a first year team with far fewer employees to draw from than most others in the league.

JL Sluggers vs. ALPA Flyers

After a satisfying victory, the Sluggers let themselves relax a little too much at the start of the second game. Mystified by the "spinner" being pitched by ALPA, they swung at too many bad pitches and got in a hole early on in the game. Much like the first inning, the Sluggers failed to score first as ALPA took a 1-0 lead to begin the game. Unfortunately, after Law Dawg reached to lead things off for the Sluggers, the next six batters were retired in a row. Facing a 2-0 deficit, it appeared that the Sluggers just needed to get things in gear offensively. Yet, ALPA jumped out to a 6-0 lead after scoring four runs in the top of the third, putting the Sluggers in an even deeper hole. To lead off the bottom of the third inning, New Guy singled before being replaced by Downtown as a courtesy runner. After being moved around the basepath by Squirt, Downtown faced a situation where he was on third base and also the on-deck batter. Thankfully, Law Dawg singled in Downtown just in time for him to take his turn at bat, and in doing so, cut the the lead to 6-1. Downtown would get another workout in the fourth inning, as he replaced Wicked Hittah who had reached second base safely. Downtown scored on a close play at the plate as Greased Lightning knocked in the second run of the game for the Sluggers, and later scored himself, making it a 7-3 ballgame in favor of ALPA.

Despite a night that had been filled with spectacular defensive plays by the Sluggers, the fifth inning of game 2 was the nail in the coffin. ALPA managed to string together six more runs, increasing their lead to 13-3. The Sluggers didn't quit though, as Squirt, Law Dawg, and Downtown each scored again in the bottom of the inning, but the Sluggers still trailed 13-6. After a scoreless top of the sixth inning, the Sluggers came to bat one last time in the bottom of the sixth, adding another run, this time scored by Ringer. It was too little too late however, as ALPA's big fifth inning was too much to overcome in the late stages of game.

Not to be overlooked in the loss were some stellar defensive efforts from the Sluggers. On one play, Law Dawg charged a slow ground ball down the third base line, picked it up and made an off-balance throw to first base, beating the runner by half a step and drawing praise from Greased Lightning who thought he was watching his beloved A-Rod for a second, before realizing that the throw resulted in an out and didn't end up in the first row of the bleachers. Another fantastic play was made by Walk Me, as she pounced on a slow dribbler out in front of the plate and fired a strong throw to first base for the out. Walk Me also had some nice catches throughout the game with plays occurring at home plate, but none matched the smoothness of her fielding gem to first base. Also worth mentioning was the diving effort given by Downtown on a bloop single in which he almost caught the ball and nearly broke New Guy's ankles at the same time. New Guy also made some fine defensive plays at shortstop, a rarity for a left-hander, including snaring a line drive to end a bases loaded threat early in the game. At the plate, the most consistent hitter in the game was Plan B, who crushed one ball into the left-center gap and produced several other hard hit balls in the game.

Overall it was a tough loss for the Sluggers, but it was certainly made easier knowing that they had at least taken one game in the doubleheader. Next week, the Sluggers make their season finale against the IRI Mariners, and hope to end the season on a winning note. Next week also marks the return of the fabled hitting giant known as Fluffy to the squad. He will be returning after spending the last few weeks locked in a bunker, studying for the bar exam.

Pictured: Walk Me makes a great play to get the runner at first in what at first appeared to be an infield single.

JL Sluggers @ ALPA Flyers

With a game time temperature of right around 90 degrees, it looked like it was going to be another long evening under the sun at Baron Cameron Park. Greased Lightning took the mound again, making his fourth consecutive start for the Sluggers, while Walk Me started again behind home plate. It was a bruised and battered infield for the Sluggers with ailing New Guy battling a sore knee at shortstop, and Wicked Hittah playing first base in his return from a torn hamstring. At third Law Dawg anchored the hot corner, and Plan B started her first game at second base. The outfield for the Sluggers was all about the speed. With Nebraska playing left field and Downtown in left center, there were very few balls that weren't tracked down almost immediately, which was key in limiting ALPA to singles. In right field, Ringer and Squirt combined to prevent any balls from getting past them and kept ALPA at bay.

ALPA struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Sluggers responded quickly scoring the next six runs of the game. While the Sluggers hit well at the plate, the real story of the game was their defense. New Guy and Plan B combined for several putouts up the middle making life easy for Greased Lighnting and the rest of the Sluggers defense.

With the score still 6-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, ALPA was able to put the pressure on the Sluggers as they scored three runs, cutting the deficit to just two runs heading into the last inning. Yet the Sluggers were determined to pull out the victory. Feeling the lead slip away, the team rallied for three more runs in the top of the seventh inning, giving them a 9-4 cushion heading into the last half inning. After two quick outs, ALPA was able to score one more time, but the Sluggers shut the door when New Guy snared a sharply hit line drive from the shortstop position and fired to first for the final out. The final score of 9-5 gave the Sluggers their seventh win of the season, against the same team that had beaten them 18-3 earlier in the year. Manager Wicked Hittah praised his team after the game, saying that strong defense and good communication really helped them stay in control of the game. "That may have been our cleanest game of the season. We were a well-oiled machine."

The game also marked the end of a season long losing streak for Sluggers SuperFan, Nancy Bussey, as the team won their first game of the season with her in attendance.

Pictured: New Guy tosses to Plan B for one of their many outs up the middle on defense in the game.

JL Sluggers @ BAE Bombers

Could it happen? The upset of the year?

In 1988, when the lyrical geniuses known as Daryl Hall and John Oates sang "So close, yet so far away," it is without a doubt that they were foretelling the events that unfolded in Tuesday night's second game at Baron Cameron Park. Having just been annihilated 21-1 by the undefeated BAE Bombers, and their beverage cooler missing from the dugout on perhaps the hottest day of the season, it would have been easy for the Sluggers to simply roll over and die. Yet they didn't, at least not right away...

For the first time since July 10th, the Sluggers took the lead in a game, as leadoff hitter Downtown circled the bases in the top of the first inning. The 1-0 lead was short lived however, as BAE would respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. In the second inning neither team was able to score, thanks in large to some excellent defense by both teams. In fact, it was one of the better fielded games all season for the Sluggers, which included a nice foul ball catch by Walk Me, numerous defensive gems by Law Dawg, who was making his season debut at third base, and topped off by a spectacular display of concentration by Nebraska. On what looked to be a routine play, Nebraska settled under a fly ball to right field, only to Fluffinize it and have the ball squirt out of his glove. Yet this time, Nebraska quickly turned and scooped the ball out of mid-air, inches before it would have dropped for a hit. The play drew plenty of ooohs and ahhhs, but perhaps even more chuckles from the parties involved, especially the umpire.

It seemed like it could possibly be their night, as everything seemed to be going well for the Sluggers. In the top of the third inning, they retook the lead as New Guy and Plan B rounded the bases making the score 3-2. BAE would add another run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game before the Sluggers would once again take control in the top of the fourth. Only an hour before, the Sluggers trailed 21-0 in the top of the fourth inning, yet in this game they led 4-3. It was truly a remarkable turnaround. The go ahead run was scored by Squirt as Walk Me, Squirt, and Sturgis all reached base safely. After Walk Me was forced out, Squirt came around to score, putting the Sluggers ahead.

Had the softball Gods been as hot as the Sluggers all were, they would have been sweating enough to make the rains fall from the sky and end the game right there. Instead, they must have forgotten their beverage cooler as well, because the rains never came and the game went on. If only it had ended there...

The Bombers would go on to score 21 runs in the final two innings of the game, while the Sluggers would only tally two, making the final score 24-7 in favor of the first place Bombers.

Despite the late inning collapse, it was a hearty effort by the Sluggers on a night where they could have easily just packed it in. The Bombers left plenty to be desired in the sportsmanship column, once again, but what do you expect from a company that builds products such as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System.

As the Sluggers head into their final 6 games of the season, things are looking bright with the schedule featuring three opponents each with sub .500 records on the season. With a 4-11 record to date, a winning season is no longer possible for the Sluggers, but they do hope finish out the season on a high note, beginning this Sunday against Sage Software at Wakefield Park in Annandale. The game could mark the return of Wicked Hittah from the disabled list, and moves the team one game closer to the return of Fluffy from the mentally unable to perform list.

Pictured: (Upper Left) This ball was removed from play after Greased Lightning delivered a thunderous stroke early in Game 2. (Upper Right) Walk Me fearlessly crouches behind home plate after nearly having her face taken off on consecutive foul balls earlier in the game. (Lower Left) Downtown anticipates turning an unassisted triple play as the sun casts its rays over the field. (Lower Right) Squirt and Special K anchor the Sluggers' "Pink" corner late in Game 2.

JL Sluggers vs. BAE Bombers

The idiom "Dog Days of Summer" originated with the Ancient Romans, signifying the time of year when Sirius - the brightest star in the sky and most prominent in Canis Major (The Big Dog) - rose and set with the sun, leading the Ancient Romans to believe it caused the blistering heat in the summer months. Of course, had you not known that, you may have thought it had something to do with the dozens of canines anxiously watching Tuesday's game, salivating with every tossed softball that floated through the air, begging to be fetched.

All poorly scripted dog jokes aside, Tuesday's first game against BAE was indeed blistering, as temperatures exceeded 90 degrees and the humid air seemed to bring the Sluggers to a slowed pace. Yet, BAE, likely benefiting from some aerospace anti-humidity cloak designed by their Softball Research and Development wing, seemed unaffected by the sultry weather and jumped out to a 9-0 lead early in the first inning.

Yet, the Sluggers did not give up. After a rough first inning, they settled down on defense, holding BAE to only two runs in the top of the second inning. Things turned sour again in the third inning, as BAE tacked on another seven runs, increasing their lead to 18-0. The Bombers would add three more in the fourth, making it a 21-0 game before the unthinkable happened: the Sluggers scored...

Special K singled to reach base for the Sluggers. She was followed by Law Dawg who capitalized on a BAE defensive miscue, and unhesitatingly took second, literally forcing Special K to take third base, where she slipped in safely, just ahead of the tag. With runners at second and third, Greased Lightning stepped to the plate, looking for a two-run base knock. He took a mighty swing, but his bat just got under the ball a little too much, lifting it high into the outfield. The ball was deep enough to allow Special K to score on the sacrifice fly, and the Sluggers were on the board, 21-1. Unfortunately, that would be the end of the rally, as the game was called due to the 20 run slaughter rule after four innings. The painful loss mathematically eliminated the Sluggers from the playoffs, forcing many fans to already begin looking toward next year's campaign.

Perhaps a bit irritated by the gnats that had been swarming up his nose all game, Manager Wicked Hittah reacted a bit emotionally to the news that his team had just been eliminated from playoff contention:

(High-pitched exasperated tone)

"Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game. "

Pictures: (Above) The sun certainly made its presence known on Tuesday. (Bottom Left) Manager Wicked Hittah shows off his torn hamstring for the camera.

JL Sluggers vs. Scitor Corporation

With a miserable first game behind them, the Sluggers had reason to be optimistic in Game 2, as ten players took the field to start the game with Sturgis waiting in the wings as the team's extra hitter. While the first inning of Game 2 wasn't nearly as painful as Game 1, Scitor still managed to get out to an early 8-0 lead after sending 13 batters to plate in the inning. While the end result still left a lot to be desired, the inning did mark the pitching debut of Greased Lightning as manager Wicked Hittah, currently on the 15-day DL, closed his eyes and hoped for the best.
Greased Lightning seemed in command on the mound, even having a few words for the umpire now and again, but the Sluggers simply couldn't keep Scitor from scoring.

Figuring "anything you can do, I can do better," the Sluggers came to the plate in the bottom of the inning, looking for revenge. Special K made good contact out of the lead off spot, but was thrown out at first base on a fine defensive play. Gutting out a quad injury, New Guy got the rally started with a basehit, followed by another hit by Greased Lightning. Both players scored when Fluffy tripled them home, cutting the deficit to six. The Sluggers would get one more home when Plan B blasted a shot into left field, scoring Fluffy and making the score 8-3.

Things appeared to be under control until Scitor came to bat in the second. With a five run lead at the start of the inning, Scitor sent 12 batters to the plate, tacking on eight more runs in the second. After the Sluggers failed to score any runs of their own in the second, Scitor added four more runs in the third, before the Sluggers finally put them away with three consecutive outs to end the inning. After three innings, the score was 20-3 in favor of Scitor.

Things started off well defensively for the Sluggers in the top of the fourth when Squirt Sno-coned a whistling line drive, snagging it out of the air for the first out of the inning. Having witnessed her gold glove capabilities at second, Scitor avoided Squirt for the remainder of the inning, scoring five more runs with balls hit as far away from second base as possible. The inning ended on a fine 5 to 4 putout from Special K to Squirt for the automatic third out at second base. Wicked Hittah nearly reaggravated his hamstring when he fell off the bench after witnessing the play, calling it "one of the plays of the year."

With the game winding down, a late surge by the Sluggers resulted in one more run as Plan B singled home Fluffy for his third run on the night and her second RBI. Intern Sturgis also reached base, but was unable to score before the Sluggers were retired. In the end, the Sluggers fell 25-4 at the hands of Scitor, but it was a gutsy effort by all that attended. With Thursday's game in doubt due to participation, it is likely that the Sluggers will be looking to get back to their winning ways next Tuesday at Baron Cameron Park in Reston.

Pictured: (Top Center) Nothing but smiles from the Sluggers faithful, oh and occassional, "Keep your glove down Greased Lightning!" (Left) Plan B knocks in one of her two RBIs in the game. (Right) Sturgis takes a mighty swing for the fences.

JL Sluggers @ Scitor Corporation

And the clock struck midnight...

Eventually all good things have to come to an end, as the Sluggers unfortunately found out on Tuesday night. With only eight players to start the game, in a league that allows ten, it seemed that every pitch Squirt threw over the plate ended up being hit to a vacant area of the field. Let's just say that those in attendance became very familiar with the Sluggers' nicknames, as most of the inning was spent staring at the backs of their jerseys. As the inning progressed, a few of the stragglers bolstered the defense, eventually resulting in a full squad. However, the damage had already been done as Scitor sent 24 batters to the plate and scored 22 runs in a painful first inning.

After stranding Fluffy at third base in the top of the first inning, it looked like the Sluggers might get things rolling in the second when Plan B ripped a ball down the left field line. In a stroke of poor luck, the Scitor left fielder had underestimated her power, and was positioned shallow enough to make a difficult catch, robbing Plan B of a sure double. The Sluggers were finally able to get on the board in the third inning, when Fluffy batted in Intern Sturgis for the first run of the game, and then later scored himself on a double by New Guy. Squirt pitched a scoreless third inning for the Sluggers, but unfortunately it was too little too late as Scitor won it easily, 25-2.

Reaching base safely in the game for the Sluggers were Fluffy, New Guy, G-Man, Plan B, Greased Lightning, and Intern Sturgis, while Fluffy and New Guy supplied the RBIs.

Pictured: (Above) Nebraska tries to knock one into the cornfields as he awaits the pitch. (Right) Squirt lofts one into the batter, who undoubtedly swung and missed.

JL Sluggers @ IRI Mariners

On a beautiful sunny evening for baseball, one word can summarize the game's events: Fluffymania! In potentially his final game before temporarily leaving the team for the bar exam, Fluffy fell only a single shy of the cycle. In the first inning he walked, followed by a triple, then a double off the wall, and capped off the night with a Grand Slam home run. Yet, despite Fluffy's brilliance on the diamond, he was far from being the only star for the Sluggers. A tremendous team effort lifted the Sluggers to their third consecutive win, bringing their record to 4-5 on the season, and placing them in a tie for fourth place in the division.

After getting two quick outs to start the game, some shaky defense by the Sluggers let IRI load the bases in the first inning. However, Law Dawg calmly struck out IRI's number six hitter, to get the Sluggers out of the first inning jam unscathed. In the bottom-half of the inning, Greased Lightning led off for the sluggers, poking a single to start things off. Patiently, Special K, Wicked Hittah, Fluffy and Law Dawg walked consecutively as IRI began to unravel. Anxious to impress his new teammates and his family in attendance, New Guy unloaded the bases as he ripped a double into the outfield, bringing home even more Sluggers. The Sluggers sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, resulting in a 7-0 lead.

The bottom of the order proved dangerous for IRI as in the second inning, the 8-9-10 hitters in the lineup all came to the plate and scored, followed by another run by their leadoff hitter. After 1 1/2 innings, the Sluggers' lead had been cut to three, 7-4. That would be as close as IRI would get, as the Sluggers shut down their scoring for the remainder of the game, including a 1-2-3 third inning, followed by a two strikeout fourth inning for Law Dawg.

Despite two quick outs, the Sluggers continued to pour it on bottom of the third inning. Greased Lightning led off with a single, followed by a powerful rip by Special K, unquestionably her hardest hit ball of the season. Wicked Hittah stepped up to the plate and hit a ball over the left fielder's head. Despite scoring both base runners, the play proved costly as he felt a pop in his hamstring as he prepared to round third. After the inning, Wicked Hittah was quick to point out that it would have been an inside-the-park home run had he not been slowed by the injury. Team scorekeeper and photographer, Mrs. Wicked Hittah, was just as quick to roll her eyes, calling her husband the youngest old man that she knew, after yet another injury.

With the runner still at third, Fluffy, came to the plate and tripled deep to the outfield, putting the Sluggers up 10-4. Law Dawg, New Guy, and Walk Me would each single to load the bases, but the Sluggers couldn't bring them home and left them loaded.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, after a leadoff walk by Squirt, a single by Greased Lightning, and a walk by Special K, Fluffy once again came to the plate in what could probably be described as the at-bat of the season thus far. Wasting no time, Fluffy stroked the ball into deep right center field and had no aspirations of slowing down, despite what the Taco Bell dinner in his stomach may have been telling him. Instead, Fluffy rounded second base with his eyes already on the plate, kicking up dirt as he went. By the time he rounded third, there was no question that the Fluffy train was rumbling home and IRI couldn't even attempt to stop it. The end result was a bases clearing Grand Slam to finish off IRI and put the Sluggers up 16-4.

It was an impressive win for the Sluggers as only hours before, they weren't sure that they would have enough players to field a team. Fortunately enough players came through, and in a big way. Twenty-four times, Sluggers reached base safely in the game, including five extra base hits. It was a truly a night for the ages.

For those wondering about the injury which caused Wicked Hittah to leave the game, he decided to seek medical care immediately following the game, but urgent care was closed. His playing prognosis for playing next week is currently questionable. Regardless, if the Sluggers show another strong team effort like they did all this week, they should be just fine.

Pictured: (Top left) Greased Lightning pokes one of his three singles on the night. (Middle Right) Special K connects on a blazing single, which is amazing considering that if you look closely, she did it with her eyes closed. (Bottom left) Ringer awaits the pitch as shadows creep over Bready Park.

JL Sluggers @ Cooley Godward Kronish

Are you kidding me? Two wins in one night? You better believe it!

Still giddy from their first win, and exhausted due to the heat, it looked like Game 2 might be a letdown for the Sluggers. Trailing 3-1 after the second inning, the water cooler had emptied and the team was running on fumes. Yet, as the sun went down and the lights came on, the show finally began. Downtown and Special K led off the third inning with back-to-back singles, followed by back-to-back doubles by Greased Lightning and Wicked Hittah out of the three and four spots in the order. Law Dawg knocked in the final run of the inning with an RBI single to put the Sluggers up 5-3 with Cooley still to bat in the bottom of the inning.

Cooley got one back in the third, but the Sluggers exploded for six more runs in the fourth as Downtown, Special K, Greased Lightning, Fluffy, Ringer, and Squirt all rounded the bases for the Sluggers. Great pitching and stellar defense shut down Cooley in the fifth, leaving the score at 14-8 in favor of the Sluggers. The game was called as the lights went out, literally, in the bottom of the sixth inning, leaving the Sluggers once again victorious, for the second game in a row and clinching the season series 2-1 against Cooley. They'll be trying for three wins in a row as they face the IRI Mariners, Thursday - 7pm at Bready Park.

Player of the game honors go to Downtown, who reached base safely four times (8 times total on the night), and Fluffy who hit his second and third triples of the night, breaking out of his offensive slump at the most opportune time.

Pictured: (Top) The evening was all a blur for Wicked Hittah and the Sluggers, as they scored 38 runs, surpassing their season-to-date total by 22 runs. Squirt (Right) takes over catching duties after Walk Me tried to barehand a ball fired in from the outfield during a close play at the plate. Walk Me would gut out the final few innings in right field, despite some massive swelling.

JL Sluggers vs. Cooley Godward Kronish

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!!

Congratulations to the Sluggers on their fantastic first victory of the season. Staring across the field at a team that beat them 20-0 only 7 days before, the Sluggers weren't intimidated, thanks in large to a full roster for one of the first times this season. The Sluggers got off to a strong start as Law Dawg, aided by some strong defensive help, allowed only one batter to reach safely in a scoreless top half of the first inning. What happened next was, well...awesome. Downtown, Special K, Greased Lightning, and Wicked Hittah all reached base safely and came around to score. After two quick outs, the team batted around again, with each of the next ten batters scoring. The final run of the inning scored when G-Man doubled in Fluffy after Fluffy had cleared the bases with a thunderous triple. In all, the Sluggers sent 18 batters to the plate in the first inning, with 14 of them scoring. To put this in perspective, the Sluggers had only scored 16 runs all season, and had been shutout in each of the last two games.

The Sluggers once again held Cooley scoreless in the second inning, but could not capitalize with any runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Cooley closed the gap to 14-3 after the top of the third, but the Sluggers roared back again. Wicked Hittah led things off in the inning with a single. Law Dawg, Fluffy, G-Man, and Walk Me, all reached base safely to lead things off. After two quick outs, Downtown, Special K, Greased Lightning, Wicked Hittah, and Law Dawg came around to score. When Ringer reached base in the fourth inning, it ensured that every member of the team reached base safely in the game. After posting a 24-3 lead through three innings, the Sluggers let off the gas a little bit, allowing Cooley to creep back and narrow the margin to 24-15, but that would be all she wrote. The Sluggers didn't have to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning, and the first victory of the season, without the aid of a forfeit, had been recorded.

With the outstanding all around effort, it would be tough to name a player of the game. However, New Guy played an excellent defensive left field. Despite showing up in a Stillers hat, he showed an ability to close on a flyball effortlessly with his blazing speed. At the plate, Wicked Hittah led the team going four for four with four runs scored, followed by Downtown, Special K, Greased Lightning, and Law Dawg, who each scored three times in the game. It was already a night to remember, and yet it had only just begun.

Pictured: Downtown (top) collects one of his four hits in the game while Fluffy (right) rips a triple to the outfield, one of three on the night for him.

JL Sluggers @ Cooley Godward Kronish

Staring a forfeit in the face, due to a lack of players, the Sluggers kept their cool and were saved just minutes before the first pitch. Pitcher, Squirt, fought her way through traffic and pulled into the parking lot just before game balls were exchanged. In an emergency relief situation, team photographer and official scorekeeper, Plan B, volunteered for duty and stepped in as right fielder for the Sluggers (which is why there are no photographs). Left without a scorekeeper, the original Slugger diehard, Superfan Nancy Bussey, stepped to the plate and kept score for the game. The Sluggers did their best to take it easy on Nancy, as they unfortunately were not able to score any runs for the second straight game. Cooley, on the other hand, showed no remorse, rounding the bases 20 times and exhibiting some questionable sportsmanship in the game's final inning. Nonetheless, the Sluggers stood strong and did their best to be competitive.

Hours after returning from his trip to Mexico, manager Wicked Hittah, faced an aggressive press looking for explanations to the team's 5-game losing streak.

"We didn't have our A-game tonight," Wicked Hittah said. "We had some nice plays out there defensively. Squirt made a nice grab, as did Fluffy, and Greased Lightning made a nice play on the corner. Smooth-swinging Walk Me once again made solid contact at the plate and Nebraska gave us speed in the outfield. As for myself, apparently I left my game at the border. Hopefully we can all forget about this game and come back next week."

With the roster stretched thin, the big question may be exactly who will come back next week? With the impending bar exam, the team's cleanup hitter, Fluffy, will be taking a leave of absence beginning July 11th through the end of the month. Other prior commitments leave the team dangerously thin in terms of fielding a roster, but that doesn't worry the manager.

"We had a strong turnout when signups went around. Right now we're averaging about 50% of those that signed up at each game. I know we're losing a couple of players in the next couple of weeks, but I'm confident that those who signed up will step in contribute. After all, our firm motto is "All we do is work...except when we're playing softball."

Despite another loss, the JL Sluggers have nothing to hang their heads about, nor did they. In fact, the team should be commended for its "no quit" attitude which they have brought with them to each and every game. As the casual fan in attendance will tell you, there is nothing but encouragement and optimism coming from the JL Sluggers' side. They keep working hard, knowing that eventually it will all pay off for them. Now if only they could get more players.

JL Sluggers @ Scitor Corporation

Still hobbled by injuries and playing with only nine players instead of the allowable ten, the JL Sluggers played a gritty game against Scitor Corporation. Pitching her second game in a row, Squirt started off allowing only three runs in the first inning and two runs in the second inning. Sadly, the JL Sluggers just couldn't hit the ball. Slowed by injuries across the board, they managed four hits in the first inning, but couldn't get a single player past second base safely. In the third inning, Scitor poured on the runs, scoring eight times to gain a 13-0 advantage. A defensive bright spot occurred in the final inning, as Wicked Hittah, playing an overshift for the left-hander at the plate, snared a ground ball, tagged the runner heading from first base to second, and flipped to G-Man to turn the succesful double play. It was the first of hopefully many more double plays turned by the JL Sluggers this season. Offensively, the JL Sluggers hit the ball well but struggled running the bases. Led by the heavy hitting of Special K, Greased Lightning, Walk Me, G-Man, and Sturgis, who each collected two hits in the game, the JL Sluggers threatened on occassion, but failed to cross home plate. In the end, Scitor Corporation got the win, by a final score of 18-0. The JL Sluggers long for the chance at revenge, when they can field a healthy team with enough players to fill each position.

The Player of the Night awards go to Walk Me, who displayed an impressive swing at the plate, collecting four hits in five at bats between the two games, despite suffering through a painful leg injury early obtained early in the night, and Law Dawg who reached base five times on the night in six chances, and provided key defensive help at shortstop and centerfield for the injury plagued Sluggers defense.

Pictured: Walk Me (left) takes a powerful cut at the plate, resulting in one of her four hits on the night. G-Man (right) eyes one of his four hits on the night.

JL Sluggers vs. Veris Consulting, LLC

It was a painful night for the JL Sluggers Thursday, and that isn't even considering the score. No more than a half inning into the game, Wicked Hittah and Special K were struck by the injury bug as both suffered from pulled quad muscles. Looking more like the Geriatric Sluggers as they hobbled around the bases, it would only be the start of the casualties on the night. Making her pitching debut, Squirt suffered a toe cramp in the second inning, and Walk Me pulled up lame after crushing a base hit to left. It is a good thing that there was no game limit on courtesy runners, because the JL Sluggers were hobbling on and off the base paths a dime a dozen. The good news is that meant the JL Sluggers were getting on base with regularity. In fact, every member of the team reached base safely at least once in the game. The JL Sluggers combined for 17 hits on the night, with runs scored by Special K, Greased Lightning, Fluffy, G-Man, Squirt, Nebraska (2), and Sturgis. Unfortunately eight runs weren't enough as the JL Sluggers fell 22-8 after a 10 run first inning for the visitors. On the bright side, making her pitching debut, Squirt tossed a scoreless second inning, facing only four batters in one of the most efficient defensive innings all season.

Pictured: Squirt (left) lines up to throw a devastating curveball, while Fluffy (right) digs in at the plate, looking for one of his three hits in the game.

JL Sluggers @ BAE Bombers

Still winded from the previous hour's slugfest, the JL Sluggers struggled out of the gate against the Bombers from BAE. With only two runners reaching base in the first two innings, a hit by "Wicked Hittah" and "Squirt" reaching after being hit by a pitch, the JL Sluggers found their second wind in the fourth inning. Trailing 15-0 after the third inning, the JL Sluggers sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the fourth. "Downtown" led things off with a hit to open the inning. Consecutive singles by "Special K," "Wicked Hittah," "Fluffy," "Greased Lightning," "Hitigator," "G-Man," "Walk Me," and "Law Dawg," resulted in five runs in a morale boosting fourth inning for the JL Sluggers. There is no telling how many more runs the JL Sluggers could have scored had the game not been called for exceeding the time limit in the bottom of the fourth inning. The final score was 23-5 in favor of the Bombers, but the JL Sluggers had nothing to hang their heads about, as they discovered their offensive groove before the night ended. The JL Sluggers were anchored on the night by two solid games of pitching from rubber-armed workhorse, "Law Dawg," and the exceptional defense of "G-Man" who made several fine plays at first base.

The JL Sluggers will look to continue their hot hitting in next week's contests against Veris Consulting, LLC and Scitor Corporation at Bready Park, beginning at 6:00pm. Hope to see you there!

JL Sluggers vs. ALPA Flyer

Coming into Thursday night's action, perhaps the only thing hotter than the first-place, undefeated JL Sluggers, was the weather. Facing an experienced and talented ALPA Flyer team, the first inning was nothing short of fireworks, much to the delight of the dozens of spectators. ALPA Flyer took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but the JL Sluggers stormed back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first, with runs scored by "Downtown," "Wicked Hittah" and "Greased Lightning." Also reaching base in the inning were "Hitigator" and "G-Man." The game took a u-turn over next few innings, as a rigorous defensive battle ensued. In the fourth inning, ALPA Flyer added an insurance run to make it a 5-3 ball game before opening the offensive floodgates in the fifth inning. ALPA Flyer took a commanding 18-3 lead in the 6th inning, as the JL Sluggers failed to record a hit after the first.

Providing some much needed comic relief, "Fluffy" gave new meaning to the term outfield assist, as a deep fly ball popped right out of his glove and into the glove of "Wicked Hittah" who happened to be circling around behind the play. "Fluffy" later claimed that it was an orchestrated stunt, probably in an attempt to make the Sportscenter highlights of the week. Overall, it was an encouraging start to the season, but fatigue settled in by the later innings and was just too much to overcome.