Cody Englander
Staff writer
Monday’s slate of games marked the halfway point in the Chautauqua Men’s Softball League season before the playoffs begin.
The double-header began with a game between the YAC PAC (2–3) and the Fish Heads (2–3) dueling for second place in the softball standings.
The Fish Heads got on the board first with a run from Will Chubb.
After the first inning, the team settled into their comfortable style of play — which may have led to their downfall.
While the Fish Heads got off to an early lead, wading in only a shallow water of runs allowed for the YAC PAC to gain momentum.
In the top of the third inning, the YAC PAC had their most uncharacteristic inning of the year.
Their offense, which has often been stagnant, exploded. Eight runs in the third inning was the deciding factor in a game with largely zero-run innings.
While the Fish Heads were able to pick up small portions of runs throughout, they never had a scoring outburst like the one the YAC PAC mustered.
The game finished with a score of 10–7 in favor of the Youth Activity Center’s own.
“I wouldn’t call it an upset. We’re conditioned, we’re disciplined, we’re built for these moments,” said YAC PAC left fielder Drew Bennett. “At the end of the day, friendship always wins. Watch out for the YAC PAC.”
The second game was a slow and methodical high scoring battle between the Slugs (5–0) and Arthritics (1–4).
While the elder team has had issues, the Slugs also weren’t coming into the easiest game of the season, despite their perfect record.
“We had a couple players that joined us for the first time,” said Slugs captain and pitcher Dan Miller. “It’s hard playing man down — we only had nine players.”
With the thin roster and only three outfielders, the Slugs played with salt in the wound.
The first inning got off to a 3–3 start, opening up the league’s highest scoring game of the season early.
The Arthritics took advantage of the Slug’s smaller roster early in the game, with five runs in the second inning and two in the third.
However, the Slugs stayed on the Arthritics tail with an incredible play of luck in the top of the fourth, in which a ball was hit right down the middle and landed directly into Miller’s glove.
This moment seemed to shift the momentum, marking the first scoreless inning of the game.
This was followed by a four-run inning for the Slugs, going up 12–10. For the first time in the game, it was as if the Arthritics fell asleep behind the plate.
However, the Slugs weren’t in the clear yet. Holding onto a 15–11 lead and the Arthritics up to bat, the Slugs let off three straight walks, which would turn into three straight runs.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Slugs needed to trail ahead, at the time leading by just one run.
That, the Slugs did, with their shell-less back against the wall.
Three runs allowed for them to extend to an 18–14 lead.
Needing four runs in the seventh, the Arthritics gave it everything they had. Unfortunately, all they had were two runs.
The Slugs continue their season of dominance, having yet to lose a game thus far.
“We played tough,” said Miller. “That’s a great team we beat today.”
