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.