Cody Englander
Staff writer
Within the fiery dust clouds of Sharpe Field, the second week of the Men’s Chautauqua Softball League began with a Monday double header.
The Fish Heads (2–0) faced the Slugs (2–0) in the first game, each team looking to remain undefeated.
The Slugs and Fish Heads began the game on equal footing. The score was 2–2 heading into the second inning. Despite the name, the Slugs were quick to get on bases and pick up outs, keeping the score neck and neck.
The Fish Heads’ game plan was going swimmingly, at least for the first two innings. The team found themselves up 4–3 before the third inning.
Every time the Fish Heads looked like they would swim away with the lead, the Slugs were on their tail, eventually surpassing them in the top of the fourth with a booming seven runs, hitting ball after ball into open zones in the outfield. While the Fish Heads were able to bring the score to 12–7 with two runs of their own, this inning defined the game.
A sprinkling of runs for both teams in the back half of the game kept the game close, though the Fish Heads never had a body to keep them afloat, as proven in the seventh inning in which they went scoreless to end the game 15–11 in favor of the Slugs.
The Slugs remain undefeated for the season and the Fish Heads picked up their first loss.
“We’ve got a good group of guys,” said Slugs player Matt LaVerde. “This win puts us in a good position to make things interesting.”
In the second game on Monday, the YAC PAC (1–2) took on the Arthritics (0–3).
The game was filled with quick outs and short spurts of incredible hits. While most innings were scoreless, the YAC PAC found themselves on the scoreboard in the second inning with two runs.
The Arthritics, possibly due to joint pain, struggled to get on base through most of the game.
By the end of the third inning, the YAC PAC picked up two more runs against the scoreless Arthritics.
The top of the fourth inning harbored hope for the aging stars, as the Arthritics had their first run of the game. This hope was diminished by the YAC PAC as quickly as a Clubber can eat a Hot Blue, scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning to bring the score to 9–1.
While the Arthritics would find another score in the sixth inning, it would be their last, the game ending 9–2 with an uneventful seventh inning.
This game, the YAC PAC seemed to have developed their own version of a “no-fly zone” with a suffocating outfield presence, aided by their power of friendship.
“The fact that we’re all here, and we’re all best friends — that’s what won us the game,” said Marshall Howe from the YAC PAC. “The league better watch out.”
The Arthritics may need to take this offseason to look at upgrading their joints and retooling their roster, moving to a winless season thus far.
The Slugs matched up against the Fish Heads once more at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Sharpe Field, as the Arthritics faced the YAC PAC at 6:30 p.m. to round out the double header.
