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Sluggers
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Sluggers
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Sluggers (Finally) Flush Crappers 29-13 The Sluggers, the leagueâs hottest team since the All-Star break, won their third straight, jumping them over the idle Shriners Hospital into second place. See the league standings to see how the Green and White stack up to the rest of the league. After an embarrassing 28-5 beating at the hands of the CRP Crappers on June 13, not to mention eight straight losses to the Crappers since 1998, the Sluggers finally took one back. It almost wasnât that way, however. The Crappers scored five quick runs in the top of the first. Slugger veterans started to get that familiar feeling again. But the coach would have none of it. The skipper started the bottom of the first with an infield single, and was quickly sent home on the first of three triples by George ãThe Hit Manä Hart. Will ãThe Naturalä Jamieson immediately drove in Hart with a single, and quickly crossed the plate on Dan ãDingerä Landesmanâs shot to right field that witnesses say reached the tennis courts. The bases werenât empty for long when Aaron ãPenguinä Mathieu hit a hard single. Tamara ãT Stopä Stanley followed with a single of her own. Matt ãIn Theä Hunt drove in Mathieu with the teamâs seventh consecutive no-out hit. Brian ãWightman Canât Jumpä pounded his first of three doubles to drive in Stanley. Robert ãStretchä Orleman brought home Hunt with his single, which was the teamâs ninth consecutive no-out hit. The tenth batter, Matt ãThe Rockä Ronzio allowed Wightman to walk home with an impressive sac fly to left. Wendy ãWender Womanä Millard followed with a single, the teamâs 10th hit of the inning. Suddenly, the Sluggers were on top 8 to 5. But unlike other contests with CRP, this time, the Sluggers never relinquished that lead. The win guarantees the Sluggers a second- or third-place finish in the league. It also guarantees that the Crappers will finish last or second-to-last. The CRP four-year stranglehold on the MDC softball crown is finally over. Playing Small Ball A Lot of Firsts
Rock the Vote A Triple Shy of the Cycle (Again) and Other Offensive Feats Perhaps they could have borrowed a triple from George ãThe Hit Manä Hart, who had a couple triples to spare Wednesday. He was 5 for 5 with three triples and four RBI. Although Hart earned Offensive Player of the Week honors, he only wanted to talk about his teammatesâ contributions when reporters caught him in the locker room after the game. Hart asked reporters, ãHow awesome was it when the CRP outfielders moved way in on Wendy [Millard] and T Stop [Tamara Stanley] just to have both of them rocket the ball over their heads? They can hit. And youâd think the other team would learn after the first time, but no. They just keep moving in, and our players keep making them pay. Weâll earn their respect one way or the other.ä Millard was 3 for 4 with three singles and two runs scored. Stanley was also 3 for 4 with two runs scored. She had a double and 4 RBI. Brian ãWightman Canât Jumpä was 4 for 4 with three doubles and 2 RBI. Not one to pay attention to stats, Noah ãN$ä Cushing told reporters after the game, ãIt was nice to get my first extra-base hit of the year.ä A quick glance at the leader board shows that Cushing is actually second on team in doubles with six. He was 3 for 4 in the 12 spot in the order. When reporters pointed this out to him, N$ said, ãWell that be nice, n all. I just wanna send props out to my peeps, you dig?ä Matt ãIn Theä Hunt was 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Matt ãThe Rockä Ronzio rocked a shot to left field in the fifth inning that was so deep it should be measured in fathoms. He also hit a long sac fly to cap the scoring in an eight-run first inning. This offensive showing reminded us of his Double A ball days when he lead the league in home runs. After toiling in Double A with the Newton Noogies for three long years, Ronzio finally got his shot this season when the Sluggers incumbent right fielder, Bob ãOtisä Le Roy, went down with a back injury during Spring Training. The news on Otis is a little shaky. He reportedly told Coach Tony that his back was healed and that heâd play Wednesday night. Otis was nowhere in sight at the Esplanade Wednesday. One of the Knights of the Keyboard did catch up with him later this week, however. The Rumor Mill Reporters asked Coach Tony for his reaction to Le Royâs comments. He was quoted as saying, ãAll the negativity in this town sucks. I got news for you. Peter Howe is not walking through that door, folks. Eleanor Roe and Chris Cornell are not walking through that door. Chris Price is not walking through that door. Iâm sick of all the negativity from you guys and the fans. It sucks, it stinks, and it sucks.ä Defensive Player of the Game In other defensive highlights, Brian ãWightman Canât Jumpä was solid again on the mound. Heâs finally showing that heâs human by letting up the occasional walk or home run. ãYeah, he gave up the occasional solo shot, or let a runner walk to first,ä Coach Tony said. ãBut with our defense, we can off-set those little mistakes.ä äHe stayed ahead of hitters, thorowing strikes early in the count,ä back-up catcher Noah ãN$ä Cushing said. Cushing was taking charge at back stop with Isaac ãThe Tool Manä Taylor on the DL with this nasty injury. ãYou know what be best Îbout dis? He be usinâ his forkball as an out pitch after setting up dem hitters wit his off-speed stuff. He really be keepinâ Îem off balance, G. He da truth, yâall.ä Kudos to the Scorekeepers Player of the Week Tamara ãT Stopä Stanley made two such plays on Wednesday--one in the field and one at the plate. First came her heads-up twin killing in the top of the third inning. With two runs in via solo shots, one out, and runners on first and second, the Crappers were threatening to close the 12-7 gap. The batter grounded to short, the runner on first ran to second, but the runner on second inexplicably stayed at second base. Vinciguerra, playing short, lobbed the ball to Stanley for her first putout of the game. Then she chased the runner (we use that term loosely) toward third and made an accurate throw around the exceptionally large base runner to George ãThe Hitmanä Hart, who completed the inning-ending, rally-crushing double play. ãStanleyâs always been solid at keeping the ball in front of her,ä Coach Tony said. ãThatâs how she earned her nickname. But she has struggled with turning the deuce. I donât know that all the criticism she received in that regard from the press was necessarily warranted, but the fact is, sheâs worked hard to shake off that stigma. Itâs nice to see her hard work paying off.ä Stanley recently signed an endorsement deal with Adidas (note the complementary cleats sheâs wearing in these photos) for $13.5 million. ãIâm very pleased that Adidas has asked me to be the spokesperson for their new Women's Diva Mundial FG cleat,ä the Slugger said in a recent press conference. ãItâs a superior product. It has soft, durable ULT-K leather with central lacing, and lightweight contoured Pebax with TPU studs. Itâs for intermediate to top-level female players. Iâm serious. If you donât believe me, check it out on their Web site. Thereâs no doubt that itâs enhanced my performance. They really help my feet grip that mostly-clay infield on the Esplanade. I can really fly down the line when Iâm wearing my Women's Diva Mundial FG, made only by Adidas.ä One thingâs for sure. Stanley has hustle. She leads the league in infield hits. She doesnât get cheated on her swing either. Check out T Stopâs swing and hustle here. See Stanleyâs Player of the Week stats and photo here. Next Game Batting Summary
Pitching Summary
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