Machine vs Good Times
GAME 1: Machine 7 Good Times 5
At Heckscher Field, Good Times started fast with 3 runs in the first inning helped by some unMachine like
sloppy defense and a walk. Machine broke through with 5 in the 4th, added 2 more in the 5th then held
on as Good Times added 2 to make the final score-Machine 7 Good Times 5.
GAME 2: Machine 15 Good Times 5
In Game 2 it was deja vu all over again as Good Times, thanks to clutch hits and a porous Machine defense scored 4 in the top of inning one. Machine came back with one in the bottom of the first
then added 6 in the second, to take a 7-3 lead. Good Times added 2 more runs, but Machine scored in
every inning except one –final score-Machine 15 Good Times 5. Machine wins the series 2-0
and will meet the Bandits in the Finals this Sunday @1 PM , Heckscher Field #1 for the 2009 LMSL Cup.
Dukes vs Bandits
GAME 1: Duke's 7, Bandits 2
It was clear early on that nothing was going to be easy. Both teams were scoreless in the first two innings. The Bandits left the bases loaded in the first inning. Duke's bats woke up in the top of the third inning when they put a string of hits together resulting in 3 runs. The Bandits answered in the bottom of the third when Kevin scored a run; we left the bases loaded with Pete M., Petemo and Hermes left stranded.
Duke's hit a home run in the 4th inning and tacked on three more in the sixth inning. The Bandits scored one more run in the sixth inning. We lost for the first time in about a month. As we started walking off the field I heard Mere say, "I guess we're just going to have to play three games today" and I knew that she was right and we would find a way to win.
GAME 2: Bandits 5, Duke's 1, 10 innings
The Bandits scored one run in the 4th inning when Deng crossed the plate as a result of Petemo's single. There would not be another run on the board from either team until the 7th inning. This game was a defensive gem. Everyone did their part-- sliding catches in the outfield, good throws in the infield and a lot of good communication among the fielders.
Duke's was the home team in this game and the top of their lineup was up in the bottom of the 7th. We had a 1-0 league and were in need of three outs. Duke's lead-off hitter started with a single and then followed up with two pop ups from their #2 and #3 hitters. The cleanup hitter smoked a single and the #5 hitter dropped a ball right in front of me and a run scored to tie the game. They did have a chance to win the game but the runner was held up on third base. The next hitter hit a dribbler to Kevin and that was the third out.
Neither team scored in the 8th inning and the Bandits bats exploded as we tacked on 4 runs. Deng started the rally with a single and Pete M. and Hermes followed up with singles. Bryan picked up an RBI when he lined the ball to third base allowing the runner to score. Bill picked up a RBI, Bri advanced the runner and Mike had a clutch RBI.
Duke's didn't score again and we forced a third game. We love our boosters, we love the rally caps and we love the slow clap for wiling us to a third game and the chance for a glorious comeback.
GAME 3: Bandits 4, Duke's 1
At this time, I think we had been playing softball for about four hours. Both teams were tired, hungry but not wanting to quit. Our 9th inning heroics forced a palpable momentum shift and we were now the hungry team that was not going to quit.
Duke's came out of the gate swinging away; the first three batters hit singles and Kevin jammed up the clean-up and #5 hitter with pop ups to left and right field. Colin walked to bring a run in and Ali batted out to the pitcher. Bases were loaded and only one run came in. Duke's managed only four hits after the first inning and none of them resulted in runs.
The Bandits went down in order in the second, third and fourth innings until we started another late inning rally in the bottom of the fifth. Petemo started the rally with a single and Hermes and Bryan followed up with singles of their own. Bill had a huge at bat resulting in 3 RBIs (I don't remember what happened, errors?!).
The Bandits late innings comeback continued in the sixth inning when Kevin started a two out rally by scorching a single. Deng and Pete followed with singles and Petemo had a clutch bases loaded walk that brought Kevin across the plate.
Duke's came up in the top of the 7th inning with their last chance to put some runs on the board. Jordan started off with a base hit but overran second base. He got caught in a run down between 2nd and 3rd base. Bryan and Pete threw the ball back and forth until Jordan made a desperate leap back to second base. Bryan jumped right after him and tagged his foot before he got back to the base and he was called out. Colin came up and hit a single and the next two batters popped out. Bryan caught the last out hit by Pete Miranda. Celebration begins!
2009 LMSL CHAMPIONSHIP (BEST 2 OF 3)
SUNDAY AUGUST 30 1PM HECKSCHER FIELD #1
BANDITS VS MACHINE