At least the final score was relatively close. At Hecksher #2 on Monday evening, the High Times Bonghitters held off a late rally to best the DC Bullets 10-7 in the New York Media Softball League. DC's defense could've been slightly sharper, but operated well within the bounds of presentable softball standards, a big improvement over Thursday's Bad News Bearish effort - High Times simply managed a few extra key hits and capitalized on two good innings to claim the victory.
DC took an early lead, as leadoff hitter Pat Broesow singled to center and advanced to second on an errant cut-off throw. After Mike Lorah lined out to shortstop, Andrew Arnold ripped an RBI single to left and took second on the throw home. John Choi flew out to deep left, and Joel Press grounded a single through the left side to score Andrew. High Times managed to halve the lead in the bottom half, but DC held a 2-1 lead after an inning.
In the second, Nel Yomtov collected a one-out base hit, but never advanced beyond first, as Dan Bertoldi popped up to third base and Andrew Marino flew out to center, and the Bonghitters seized on DC's scoreless turn with a five-run second, capitalizing on Pat's uncharacteristic wildness - three walks in the second.
Laura Demoreuille and Pat flew out to start the third, but Mike Lorah got one run back with a laser line drive down the right field line, an easy opposite field home run. Andrew singled as well, but John's fielder's choice ended any possible threat. High Times went scoreless in the third, and DC trailed 6-3 after three.
Joel led off the fourth with a single, moved to second on an overthrow and to third on Christine Napolitano's groundout to third. Sal Cipriano drew a walk to put runners on the corners with one out. Nel Yomtov's fielder's choice grounder scored Joel, but Dan struck out after working a full count. DC was chipping away, but High Times tallied four in the bottom of the fourth to attain their margin of victory - the decisive blows being Mike's errant throw, a weak toss meant to protect his sore right arm more than get an out, which allowed two runs to score, and a mammoth two-run triple to dead centerfield.
The fifth and sixth passed uneventfully. The Bonghitters didn't tack on, but DC never cut into the lead either. Andrew Marino singled in the fifth, moved to second with two outs, and basically gave Mike a free hit by breaking for third on a routine groundball to shortstop and somehow diving around the tag at third base. But the Bullets couldn't capitalize on the two-outs, runners-on-the-corners chance. In the sixth, Joel's one-out hit provided the only offense, so we went to the seventh, DC down by six, 10-4.
After Nel flew out to right field, Dan and Andrew Marino singled to left field. Laura popped out for the second out, and Pat lined a base hit to center to load the bases. Mike scalded a ball into the hole between shortstop and third, but High Times' shortstop somehow made a spectacular backhand play on the ball - and he shoveled to third. Andrew, sprinting from second like a young Hiremath, somehow beat the third baseman to the bag - Dan scored, the inning remained alive. Andrew Arnold picked up his third hit and second and third RBI of the afternoon, singling to left, scoring Andrew and Pat, and bringing the tying run, clean-up hitter John Choi, to the plate. Oh, the drama... if only the lead graph hadn't spoiled the outcome. John launched a fly to deep left, but it hung up long enough for the Bonghitters' leftfielder to run it down for the game's final out.
11-7 (2-5 NYMSL), the DC Bullets meet iTV this Thursday on North Meadow #2.
Bullet Box:
P Pat Brosseau - 2-4, 2 R
3B Mike Lorah - 3-4, R, 2 RBI, home run
LF Andrew Arnold - 3-4, R, 3 RBI
SCF/CF John Choi - 0-4
2B Joel Press - 3-3, R, RBI
RF/SCF Christine Napolitano - 0-3
CF/RF Sal Cipriano - 0-2, BB
SS Nel Yomtov - 1-3, RBI
C Dan Bertoldi - 1-3, R
C Andrew Marino - 2-3, R
1B Laura Demoreuille - 0-3
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