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.