Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Heart of the Order Shines as Bullets Take Down Left/Right

The DC Bullets' roster provided plenty of heroics to highlight during Monday's 17-11 win over Left/Right Productions on Hecksher #2 in Central Park. DC's third, fourth and fifth hitters put a monstrous combined stat line of 13-15 with ten runs scored and eleven RBI (including Kevin "Mr. Greedypants Stats" Schwoer's second cycle of the summer). Joel Press also collected two doubles and Laura Demoreuille, playing with a 116 degree fever, added two hits and closed out the game by snaring a screaming line drive that looked destined for centerfield.

In the first-ever game between the Bullets and Left/Right, the opponents, despite the loss, proved a tenacious and talented opponent. The top of their order continually pressured DC - including a four-run first inning. Facing an early deficit, DC begin immediately chipping away at Left/Right's early advantage.

Neil Hiremath tomahawked a head-high pitch into centerfield for a leadoff single, and Pat Breaussow, showing no rust after his seeming interminable honeymoon, rapped a double just beyond the centerfielder's reach. Mike Lorah blooped a two-run double down the right field line and then scored on Kevin's Schwoer's base hit. The comic book makers couldn't manage to tie the game though. After Christine Napolitano and Sal Cipriano grounded into fielder's choices, Joel Press singled and Blake Kobashigawa grounded into a force to close out the first.

DC's defense made quick work of the opposition in both the second and third innings, as pitcher Joel Press kept things under control with a series of routine fly balls to Neil and Kevin. Down a run, the Bullets dug out and then some in the second. Laura led the frame off with a shrieking line drive to left. After Neil lined out, Pat added a single, and then Mike grounded into a fielder's choice. First and third, two outs, things were just getting started. Kevin's double chased Laura home, tying the game, and CNap put the home team on top with the first of her four singles. Sal smoked an RBI base hit to left, and Joel brought CNap home with a booming double. Blake cashed in both Sal and Joel with a line single to center before Laura, who'd started the inning off with a hit, grounded into a fielder's choice to close out the six-run frame.

Neil and Mike singled around Pat's fly out in the third, and Kevin followed with a bomb to right centerfield. Two runs scored on the triple, and Kevin seemed disappointed that he wasn't able to score himself on the play, but honestly, with doddering old-timers like Neil and Mike clogging the bases, what can you expect. Kevin had to freeze at third on CNap's flare just past the third baseman's reach, but Sal picked up the RBI with a groundout to shortstop. CNap came in from second on Joel's second double of the afternoon. Blake then singled to left, but the inning closed out when the third base coach, Coach Lorah, opted to challenge the left fielder's arm and got Joel thrown out by ten feet.

Left/Right seized the momentum shift, plating three runs in the fourth, cutting DC's lead to 13-7, but the Bullets put two more back on the board in the bottom half: Laura grounded a single through the middle and two outs later, Mike drilled a line drive past the second baseman. Kevin and CNap followed with two-out, RBI base hits.

DC took their only scoreless inning in the fifth, following a single run from Left/Right. Joel and Neil collected singles during the frame, but a fielder's choice, a pop up and Pat's grounder to the first base bag prevented any runner from advancing past second base.

Top six was the Mike Lorah defensive highlights inning - Mike got the first out of the sixth by backhanding a smash down the third base line and firing a laser to Laura (who played first in the even-numbered innings) to nip a speedy runner. He also got the third out, snaring a low line drive to keep Left/Right off the scoreboard. Mike led off the last of the sixth with a hard ground single to left, and Kevin completed the cycle with a emphatic home run to center field. The blast also capped DC's scoring efforts for the afternoon - CNap added another single, but the next three hitters went down in order.

Left/Right put up a nice rally in the seventh, tallying three more runs, but with two more aboard, Laura (second base for the odd-numbered innings) ranged to her right and speared a line drive to secure the Bullet victory.

8-4 (2-2 NYMSL), the Bullets meet Scientific American on Thursday at North Meadow #2.

Bullet Box:
CF Neil Hiremath - 3-5, 2 R
RF/C Pat Brosseau - 2-5, R
3B Mike Lorah - 4-5, 5 R, 2 RBI, double
LF Kevin Schwoer - 5-5, 3 R, 7 RBI, double, triple, home run
C/RF Christine Napolitano - 4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI
1B/2B Sal Cipriano - 1-5, R, 2 RBI
P Joel Press - 4-5, R, 2 RBI, two doubles
SS Blake Kobashigawa - 2-5, 2 RBI
2B/1B Laura Demoreuille - 2-4, 2 R

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