Friday, June 29, 2012
Fantastic! Early Lead Holds Up, as Bullets Top Scientific American
Shaking off the disappointment of their three-game losing streak, the DC Bullets started a new winning streak Thursday evening, making it two in a row as they bested Scientific American 11-5 on North Meadow #2. Jumping out to an 8-0 lead after three innings, the Bullets survived a late rally to close out the victory. Of the thirteen Bullet players, seven different batters drove in at least one run, and seven different batters scored at least one.
After retiring SciAm in the first, the Bullets grabbed a quick lead with Vince Letterio - who rotated among all four outfield spots during the game - yanking a groundball down the third base line. A misplay in the corner enabled Vince to leg out a leadoff triple, and Mike Lorah followed by hitting a ball in nearly the exact same spot for an RBI double. After Andrew Arnold flew out to left, Kevin Schwoer drove Mike home with a base hit to center. Nel Yomtov and Sal Cipriano flew out, but the Bullet defense and pitcher Pat Brossoh - undefeated as a starter in 2012 - shut down the opposition in the second to maintain the two-run edge.
After Christine Napolitano lined out to start the bottom of the second, Pat, Laura Demoreuille and Neil Hiremath singled in sequence to add a run. Allison Dugas-Behan's fielder's choice and Dan Bertoldi's groundout ended the frame.
With the defense continuing to hold down Scientific American's hitters - the third through fifth also passed without SciAm scoring, in part due to Andrew's ridiculous range in left field and CNap and Laura sticking SciAm's lefty leadoff hitter with a hitless afternoon - the Bullets finally broke the game open in the third.
After Danielle Yannetta's pop up, Vince singled and sprinted around to third on Mike's base hit. Andrew's fielder's choice scored Vince, and Kevin singled. Back-to-back doubles by Nel and Sal plated three more runs. CNap and Pat closed out the five run outburst with successive singles to drive Sal home.
In the fourth, Neil's lead off single was wasted, but DC added two runs in the fifth when Mike and Andrew picked up one-out singles, moved into scoring position on Kevin's chopper to the mound, and scored on Nel's line drive to centerfield.
Top six, Scientific American finally broke through with a three-run rally. Pat doubled with one out in the bottom half, moved up on a ground out, and then scored when Neil outran a routine groundball to shortstop. After SciAm went scoreless in the seventh, both teams agreed to an extra inning - thirteen minutes still remained on the permit; see what happens when both teams are on time and we forego batting practice!
The Bullets went quickly, with only Danielle reaching on an infield single, and Scientific American added two more runs in the top of the eighth to wrap up the game.
With the win, the Bullets climb to 9-4 (2-2 NYMSL). Tomorrow morning, North Meadow #7, 11am, Wall St. Journal hosts the Bullets in a big New York Media Softball League showdown. It's ON!
Bullet Box:
OF Vince Letterio - 2-4, 2 R, triple
3B Mike Lorah - 3-4, 2 R, RBI, double
LF/1B/SS Andrew Arnold - 1-3, 3 R, RBI
RCF Kevin Schwoer - 2-3, R, RBI
SS/LF Nel Yomtov - 2-3, R, 3 RBI, double
DH Sal Cipriano - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, double
2B Christine Napolitano - 1-3
P Pat Brosseau - 3-3, 2 R, RBI, double
1B Laura Demoreuille - 1-3
LCF Neil Hiremath - 3-3, 2 RBI
C Allison Dugas-Behan - 0-3
RF Dan Bertoldi - 0-3
C Danielle Yannetta - 1-3
Additional note: The 7:00 permit holders, the Wild Things, wound up short players, so Mike and Nel stayed on to play a second game. The Wild Things were absolutely shelled, 19 (I think, but it was hard to keep track) to 2. However, Mike and Nel represented the Bullets well, driving in both Wild Thing runs - Mike's fifth-inning RBI triple, followed immediately by Nel's run-scoring double, salvaged some pride in not being shut out, and Mike provided his steady third base defense to the cause (Nel, roaming the outfield, didn't see quite as much action, but also acquitted himself well).
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
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
Friday, June 22, 2012
Bullets' Ego and Stats Buoyed up by Rubin Museum
The DC Bullets looked forward to a chance to redeem themselves against New York magazine on Thursday, but a change in the magazine's working hours prevented their squad from making it to North Meadow #2 by game time. Fortunately, the great crew at the Rubin Museum stepped in on short notice to provide the Bullets an opponent. The Bullets put an emphatic halt to their three-game losing skid, pummeling the Museum staff 26-1.
Firstly, a huge thanks to the Rubin team for coming out on short notice and in arid conditions. They're a fun bunch, as we got to find out when several of them came to the bar with us after the game, and their team's still fairly new. Once they figure out who their regulars are going to be and what those players' strengths will be, I'm sure they're going to be a much more competitive team. Good luck, Rubin!
In the first, Rubin put immediate pressure on the Bullets, grounding and flaring a series of hits just beyond the reach of a DC fielder. With the bases loaded and two outs, Larry Ganem seemed to work out of the inning scorelessly when he induced a routine groundball to second, but Joel Press buckled under the pressure, bobbled the ball, and denied Larry (and co-pitcher Pat Brosseau) a shutout. (I have to give Joel a hard time about it; he had a monster game at the plate.) Larry retired the next batter, and the Bullets went to work making up the early deficit.
Vince Letterio and Mike Lorah started DC up with back-to-back singles, and Andrew Arnold put the team in the lead, banging a triple over the left fielder's head. DC never trailed again. In fact, twelve batters later, when John Choi, the last hitter in the lineup, grounded a two-run single into left, only one Bullet batter had been retired, and DC opted to enact the mercy rule - going back into the field without making a third (or second) out. Kevin Schwoer added in RBI hit, Joel Press clubbed a bases-loaded triple, and Larry, Pat, Dan Bertoldi and Blake Kobashigawa provided tack-on run-scoring hits.
After Rubin's scoreless second, DC's turn at bat went much the same. Vince singled and Mike drilled a two-run bomb to dead center. Andrew, Kevin and Nel Yomtov singled to the bases. Sal Cipriano popped out to shallow center, and Christine Napolitano cashed in a run with a fielder's choice grounder. With two outs ... well, there never was a third out. The next eight hitters reached safely, mostly station-to-station run-scoring singles, and after John's single, the Bullets again opted for mercy.
The third went quietly, with Rubin scoreless and DC tallying only a single run. Vince hustled out a double and sprinted home on Mike's liner to left center. Andrew singled, Kevin grounded to third, where Mike was forced, and Nel singled, loading the bases for Sal. The Captain launched a high pop-up to the shortstop, who, backpeddling, missed the ball. However, he recovered quickly and threw home to force Andrew at the plate. The pitcher, covering, then threw across to second base to force an inattentive Nel, who'd not run from first base, for an inning-ending double-play.
DC added three more in the fourth. CNap lined a single to left, and Joel demolished the first pitch he saw, launching it to deepest left field for a two-run homer. After Larry's pop-up, Neil lined a hit to left center, moved up on Allison Klein's similar line drive single, and came home on Dan's fielder's choice for the final run of the afternoon. Pat added a double, but Blake and John grounded out to end the inning and, as it turned out, the game. With the Rubin team getting to the field almost forty minutes after scheduled game time and the 7:00 permit holders ready and waiting, the Bullets/Rubin contest was limited to just four innings.
7-4 (2-2 NYMSL), the Bullets have a full slate of games next week. On Monday, at Hecksher Field #2, they'll meet Left/Right for the first time ever. Then it's Scientific American on Thursday at North Meadow #2 and the first meeting of 2012 with reigning New York Media Softball League champions Wall St. Journal on Saturday at North Meadow #7.
Bullet Box:
LF Vince Letterio - 3-3, 3 R, double
3B Mike Lorah - 3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, home run
LF Andrew Arnold - 3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, triple
3B/SS Kevin Schower - 2-3, 2 R, RBI
SS Nel Yomtov - 3-3, R
1B Sal Cipriano - 2-3, R
SCF Christine Napolitano - 1-3, 2 R, RBI
2B Joel Press - 3-3, 3 R, 6 RBI, triple, home run
P Larry Ganem - 2-3, 2 R, RBI
CF Neil Hiremath - 3-3, 3 R, RBI
2B/RF Allison Klein - 2-3, 2 R, RBI
C Dan Bertoldi - 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI
P Pat Brosseau - 3-3, R, 2 RBI
RF/CF Blake Kobashigawa - 2-3, 2 RBI
RF John Choi - 2-3, 3 RBI
Also, thanks again to Danielle Yannetta and Andrew Marino for joining the Rubin Museum roster for the evening.
3B Andrew Marino - 1-2
C Danielle Yannetta - 0-2
Firstly, a huge thanks to the Rubin team for coming out on short notice and in arid conditions. They're a fun bunch, as we got to find out when several of them came to the bar with us after the game, and their team's still fairly new. Once they figure out who their regulars are going to be and what those players' strengths will be, I'm sure they're going to be a much more competitive team. Good luck, Rubin!
In the first, Rubin put immediate pressure on the Bullets, grounding and flaring a series of hits just beyond the reach of a DC fielder. With the bases loaded and two outs, Larry Ganem seemed to work out of the inning scorelessly when he induced a routine groundball to second, but Joel Press buckled under the pressure, bobbled the ball, and denied Larry (and co-pitcher Pat Brosseau) a shutout. (I have to give Joel a hard time about it; he had a monster game at the plate.) Larry retired the next batter, and the Bullets went to work making up the early deficit.
Vince Letterio and Mike Lorah started DC up with back-to-back singles, and Andrew Arnold put the team in the lead, banging a triple over the left fielder's head. DC never trailed again. In fact, twelve batters later, when John Choi, the last hitter in the lineup, grounded a two-run single into left, only one Bullet batter had been retired, and DC opted to enact the mercy rule - going back into the field without making a third (or second) out. Kevin Schwoer added in RBI hit, Joel Press clubbed a bases-loaded triple, and Larry, Pat, Dan Bertoldi and Blake Kobashigawa provided tack-on run-scoring hits.
After Rubin's scoreless second, DC's turn at bat went much the same. Vince singled and Mike drilled a two-run bomb to dead center. Andrew, Kevin and Nel Yomtov singled to the bases. Sal Cipriano popped out to shallow center, and Christine Napolitano cashed in a run with a fielder's choice grounder. With two outs ... well, there never was a third out. The next eight hitters reached safely, mostly station-to-station run-scoring singles, and after John's single, the Bullets again opted for mercy.
The third went quietly, with Rubin scoreless and DC tallying only a single run. Vince hustled out a double and sprinted home on Mike's liner to left center. Andrew singled, Kevin grounded to third, where Mike was forced, and Nel singled, loading the bases for Sal. The Captain launched a high pop-up to the shortstop, who, backpeddling, missed the ball. However, he recovered quickly and threw home to force Andrew at the plate. The pitcher, covering, then threw across to second base to force an inattentive Nel, who'd not run from first base, for an inning-ending double-play.
DC added three more in the fourth. CNap lined a single to left, and Joel demolished the first pitch he saw, launching it to deepest left field for a two-run homer. After Larry's pop-up, Neil lined a hit to left center, moved up on Allison Klein's similar line drive single, and came home on Dan's fielder's choice for the final run of the afternoon. Pat added a double, but Blake and John grounded out to end the inning and, as it turned out, the game. With the Rubin team getting to the field almost forty minutes after scheduled game time and the 7:00 permit holders ready and waiting, the Bullets/Rubin contest was limited to just four innings.
7-4 (2-2 NYMSL), the Bullets have a full slate of games next week. On Monday, at Hecksher Field #2, they'll meet Left/Right for the first time ever. Then it's Scientific American on Thursday at North Meadow #2 and the first meeting of 2012 with reigning New York Media Softball League champions Wall St. Journal on Saturday at North Meadow #7.
Bullet Box:
LF Vince Letterio - 3-3, 3 R, double
3B Mike Lorah - 3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, home run
LF Andrew Arnold - 3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, triple
3B/SS Kevin Schower - 2-3, 2 R, RBI
SS Nel Yomtov - 3-3, R
1B Sal Cipriano - 2-3, R
SCF Christine Napolitano - 1-3, 2 R, RBI
2B Joel Press - 3-3, 3 R, 6 RBI, triple, home run
P Larry Ganem - 2-3, 2 R, RBI
CF Neil Hiremath - 3-3, 3 R, RBI
2B/RF Allison Klein - 2-3, 2 R, RBI
C Dan Bertoldi - 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI
P Pat Brosseau - 3-3, R, 2 RBI
RF/CF Blake Kobashigawa - 2-3, 2 RBI
RF John Choi - 2-3, 3 RBI
Also, thanks again to Danielle Yannetta and Andrew Marino for joining the Rubin Museum roster for the evening.
3B Andrew Marino - 1-2
C Danielle Yannetta - 0-2
Friday, June 15, 2012
NBC Sports' Write-up!
As noted, we played/lost to NBC Sports yesterday evening. Our opponents put together their own comic-book inspired "write-up". Kudos to them, it's pretty awesome:
NBC Sports Sends Bullets to Third Straight Loss
With Thursday's 13-6 loss to NBC Sports, the DC Bullets have lost three consecutive games. However, unlike the last two games where our own defensive lapses or impatient at-bats doomed the team, the NBC Sports squad provided steady offense (at least one run in every inning, but no more than three runs in any frame) and robbed DC of several hits with plus defensive plays. The score might've been tighter if a few line drives moved two feet to the left or right, but the team from 30 Rock simply outplayed the comic book makers. On this particular day, anyway...
After NBC grabbed an early lead - their fifth hitter blooped a two-out, two-run triple onto the right field line - DC hit four balls hard in the bottom of the first, but never moved a runner past second base. Vince Letterio led off with a line single to left, and moved to second on Andrew Arnold's hard grounder to shortstop. However, Nel Yomtov hit a bullet directly at the third baseman, and Mike Lorah followed suit, with a line drive directly to NBC's second baseman, our own Allison Klein, helping out the short-handed opposition.
NBC added two more in their half of the second. Sal Cipriano started off DC's second inning with a double, a line drive to left that skipped under the left fielder's glove (one of only two NBC misplays that I can recall). Christine Napolitano singled into shallow left, but Sal was unable to advance with the ball being directly behind third base. Neil Hiremath followed with a line drive toward the middle, but the lunging shortstop snared the ball. Sal and CNap moved up a base on Dan Bertoldi's slow ground ball out before Blake Kobashigawa grounded out to end the threat.
With three more run in the top of the third, NBC Sports opened up a seven run edge, but the Bullets finally got on the board in the bottom half - though smarter baserunning and a luckier bounce might've led to more. Allison Dugas-Behan legged out an infield single and moved to second when the pitcher's throw to first went wide and out of play. Andrew Marino, making his 2012 debut, crushed a drive to deep left center, scoring Allie easily. However, slightly over-exuberant Andrew was thrown out easily at third base for the first out. Danielle Yanneta (who played two innings for the opponents, but moved back to the DC side in the third when NBC's own late-arriving woman made the scene) grounded out, and Vince tattooed a hard grounder off the third baseman's shins, but NBC's man on the hot corner recovered in time to throw a bullet to first to retire Vince.
After holding NBC to one run in the fourth, DC briefly cut into their lead. Andrew Arnold doubled to deep left field. After Nel popped out, Mike ripped an RBI single through the middle and then came around to score on Sal's double into the left field corner. A pop-up by CNap and a groundout by Neil - featuring another strong throw by an NBC infielder to get the speedy Mr. Hiremath - ended the threat, however.
NBC added two in the fifth (the Bullets went meekly in order - a fly to left from Blake sandwiched between groundouts by Dan and Allie) and three in the sixth, and the game went to the last of the sixth, with time running out on the permit and DC down 13-3.
Andrew Marino crushed another drive toward left center, only this time NBC's centerfielder made a terrific diving catch to rob extra bases. Danielle and Vince followed with one-out singles, and Andrew Arnold capitalized, crushing a drive to deep left field for a three-run homer. Almost as impressive as Andrew's power was his fancy footwork, dancing around the tag to score the third run. However, it was to be the Bullets' last gasp, as Nel flew out to left and Mike was again robbed - NBC's centerfielder making another spectacular catch, this one a back-to-the-infield, over-the-shoulder showstopper to again steal extra bases from a Bullet hitter.
6-4 (2-2 NYMSL), the Bullets will attempt to right the ship (and perhaps gain a little revenge) against New York magazine next Thursday on North Meadow #2 in Central Park. New York handed DC their first loss of the summer back in early May, a 19-14 slugfest at Walker Park.
Bullet Box:
CF Vince Letterio - 2-3, R
LF Andrew Arnold - 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, double, home run
SS Nel Yomtov - 0-3
3B Mike Lorah - 1-3, R, RBI
1B Sal Cipriano - 2-2, RBI, two doubles
SCF Christine Napolitano - 1-2
P Neil Hiremath - 0-2
RF Dan Bertoldi - 0-2
2B/1B Blake Kobashigawa - 0-2
C Allison Dugas-Behan - 1-2, R
RF/2B Andrew Marino - 1-2, RBI, double
C Danielle Yannetta - 1-2, R
Also, thanks to Danielle and Allie K. for joining the NBC Sports' roster.
Danielle - 0-1
Allison Klein - 1-3, R
After NBC grabbed an early lead - their fifth hitter blooped a two-out, two-run triple onto the right field line - DC hit four balls hard in the bottom of the first, but never moved a runner past second base. Vince Letterio led off with a line single to left, and moved to second on Andrew Arnold's hard grounder to shortstop. However, Nel Yomtov hit a bullet directly at the third baseman, and Mike Lorah followed suit, with a line drive directly to NBC's second baseman, our own Allison Klein, helping out the short-handed opposition.
NBC added two more in their half of the second. Sal Cipriano started off DC's second inning with a double, a line drive to left that skipped under the left fielder's glove (one of only two NBC misplays that I can recall). Christine Napolitano singled into shallow left, but Sal was unable to advance with the ball being directly behind third base. Neil Hiremath followed with a line drive toward the middle, but the lunging shortstop snared the ball. Sal and CNap moved up a base on Dan Bertoldi's slow ground ball out before Blake Kobashigawa grounded out to end the threat.
With three more run in the top of the third, NBC Sports opened up a seven run edge, but the Bullets finally got on the board in the bottom half - though smarter baserunning and a luckier bounce might've led to more. Allison Dugas-Behan legged out an infield single and moved to second when the pitcher's throw to first went wide and out of play. Andrew Marino, making his 2012 debut, crushed a drive to deep left center, scoring Allie easily. However, slightly over-exuberant Andrew was thrown out easily at third base for the first out. Danielle Yanneta (who played two innings for the opponents, but moved back to the DC side in the third when NBC's own late-arriving woman made the scene) grounded out, and Vince tattooed a hard grounder off the third baseman's shins, but NBC's man on the hot corner recovered in time to throw a bullet to first to retire Vince.
After holding NBC to one run in the fourth, DC briefly cut into their lead. Andrew Arnold doubled to deep left field. After Nel popped out, Mike ripped an RBI single through the middle and then came around to score on Sal's double into the left field corner. A pop-up by CNap and a groundout by Neil - featuring another strong throw by an NBC infielder to get the speedy Mr. Hiremath - ended the threat, however.
NBC added two in the fifth (the Bullets went meekly in order - a fly to left from Blake sandwiched between groundouts by Dan and Allie) and three in the sixth, and the game went to the last of the sixth, with time running out on the permit and DC down 13-3.
Andrew Marino crushed another drive toward left center, only this time NBC's centerfielder made a terrific diving catch to rob extra bases. Danielle and Vince followed with one-out singles, and Andrew Arnold capitalized, crushing a drive to deep left field for a three-run homer. Almost as impressive as Andrew's power was his fancy footwork, dancing around the tag to score the third run. However, it was to be the Bullets' last gasp, as Nel flew out to left and Mike was again robbed - NBC's centerfielder making another spectacular catch, this one a back-to-the-infield, over-the-shoulder showstopper to again steal extra bases from a Bullet hitter.
6-4 (2-2 NYMSL), the Bullets will attempt to right the ship (and perhaps gain a little revenge) against New York magazine next Thursday on North Meadow #2 in Central Park. New York handed DC their first loss of the summer back in early May, a 19-14 slugfest at Walker Park.
Bullet Box:
CF Vince Letterio - 2-3, R
LF Andrew Arnold - 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, double, home run
SS Nel Yomtov - 0-3
3B Mike Lorah - 1-3, R, RBI
1B Sal Cipriano - 2-2, RBI, two doubles
SCF Christine Napolitano - 1-2
P Neil Hiremath - 0-2
RF Dan Bertoldi - 0-2
2B/1B Blake Kobashigawa - 0-2
C Allison Dugas-Behan - 1-2, R
RF/2B Andrew Marino - 1-2, RBI, double
C Danielle Yannetta - 1-2, R
Also, thanks to Danielle and Allie K. for joining the NBC Sports' roster.
Danielle - 0-1
Allison Klein - 1-3, R
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
WNYC Stymies Bullet Offense, Hands DC Second Consecutive Loss
Well, that was a frustrating game.
North Meadow #10 has never been kind to the DC Bullets, and WNYC always plays everybody tough. So maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise that neither team mustered much offense. With each team eking out only a baserunner per inning, the game went very quickly (a good thing, I suppose, since the 6:00 scheduled time turned into a 6:40 first pitch and the game went two extra innings before a decisive run could score). In the end, the comic book makers rapped out only thirteen hits, spread across nine frames of softball, and WNYC managed just a few more, walking off (literally) with a big 4-3 win in New York Media Softball League action Monday evening.
Both teams trades zeros in the first, with their clean-up hitters grounding out with a runner aboard - Nel Yomtov, who'd singled with two outs in DC's case. The Bullets looked like they were going to break through in a big way in the second, as Kevin Schwoer, Sal Cipriano and Christine Napolitano all singled to load the bases with nobody out. Andrew Arnold followed with a line drive down the left field line, scoring Kevin easily. Sal pulled up at third, but then took off for home when the left fielder momentarily bobbled the ball. The throw home, somehow, bizarrely, ricocheted off Sal's head, directly to pitcher - who covered the plate - and Sal was tagged for the first out. Pop-ups by Vince Letterio and Larry Ganem stalled the rally, limiting DC to one run. WNYC responded in kind, tallying a single run and knotting the score.
The third inning went quietly. Another two-out single, this one by Dan Bertoldi, kept DC from putting any pressure on the opposition. One out into the fourth inning, Mike Lorah lined a single into center field, and then Kevin - who seems to have sewn up the rookie of the year ballot only a third of the way into the season and is eyeing the team MVP award - clubbed a line drive over the right fielder for a two-run home run. But then Sal lined out to the short fielder and CNap popped out, as the Bullets stalled again.
Larry slapped a two-out single to right in the fifth, and Neil beat out a five-foot roller with one away in the sixth, but DC couldn't capitalize. Making his 2012 season debut, Jeff "Hard Luck" Boison, following Neil's hit, drilled a scorcher right back at WNYC's pitcher, who somehow speared the ball and then doubled Neil off first. Nice play, much credit there. But for the most part, the Bullets made it easy, with routine pop flies galore.
WNYC rallied for two runs in the last of the sixth to tie the score. With out across and two outs, Neil Hiremath got his glove on a slicing liner in shallow center field, but couldn't hang onto the ball. The tying run scored easily, but the go-ahread run - attempting to come all the way around from first base - was gunned down at the plate by Neil, giving the Bullets a chance to retake the lead in the seventh.
Alas, with the heart of the order up, the comic book makers had their worst offensive inning of the evening, as Nel and Mike popped up to first and Kevin flew out to left. WNYC's scoreless turn in the bottom half took the game to extra innings. With two outs already registered, again, Andrew lined a base hit to left in the eighth. Nothing came of it. Larry led off the ninth with a single, only the second time DC put their leadoff hitter on base in an inning. After pop-ups by Joel Press and Laura Demoruielle, Dan flared a single to left, pushing the go-ahead run into scoring position. Jeff, however, continued his hard luck ways, driving a pitch to deep center where it was run down for the final out.
Last of the ninth, WNYC first hitter rolled what appeared to be a routine ground ball to third, but Mike couldn't stay with the bad hop (off the chest, juggled momentarily, but ultimately fumbled), putting the winning run on first base. A line drive single to center moved the potential run to second base. The final batter of the game smacked a grounder to Nel's backhand side, where our shortstop was able to knock the ball down, but unable to come up cleanly with it. With Mike on the outfield side of the third base bag and the baserunner bearing down, Nel's shovel pass crossed behind the runner to the inside of the bag, where Mike couldn't reach it. The ball trickled into the WNYC dugout, allowing the runner to walk home with the win for WNYC.
The frustrating loss drops the Bullets to 6-3 (2-2 NYMSL). The next game is Thursday on North Meadow #2 against NBC Sports.
Bullet Box:
CF Neil Hiremath - 1-2 / RF Dan Bertoldi - 2-2
2B Blake Kobashigawa - 0-1 / RF/2B Jeff Boison - 0-3
SS Nel Yomtov - 1-3
3B Mike Lorah - 1-3, R
LF Kevin Schwoer - 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, home run
DH/1B Sal Cipriano - 1-3
SCF Christine Napolitano - 1-3
LF Andrew Arnold - 2-3, RBI
CF/RF Vince Letterio - 0-3
C Larry Ganem - 2-3
P Joel Press - 0-3
1B/2B Laura Demoruielle - 0-3
North Meadow #10 has never been kind to the DC Bullets, and WNYC always plays everybody tough. So maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise that neither team mustered much offense. With each team eking out only a baserunner per inning, the game went very quickly (a good thing, I suppose, since the 6:00 scheduled time turned into a 6:40 first pitch and the game went two extra innings before a decisive run could score). In the end, the comic book makers rapped out only thirteen hits, spread across nine frames of softball, and WNYC managed just a few more, walking off (literally) with a big 4-3 win in New York Media Softball League action Monday evening.
Both teams trades zeros in the first, with their clean-up hitters grounding out with a runner aboard - Nel Yomtov, who'd singled with two outs in DC's case. The Bullets looked like they were going to break through in a big way in the second, as Kevin Schwoer, Sal Cipriano and Christine Napolitano all singled to load the bases with nobody out. Andrew Arnold followed with a line drive down the left field line, scoring Kevin easily. Sal pulled up at third, but then took off for home when the left fielder momentarily bobbled the ball. The throw home, somehow, bizarrely, ricocheted off Sal's head, directly to pitcher - who covered the plate - and Sal was tagged for the first out. Pop-ups by Vince Letterio and Larry Ganem stalled the rally, limiting DC to one run. WNYC responded in kind, tallying a single run and knotting the score.
The third inning went quietly. Another two-out single, this one by Dan Bertoldi, kept DC from putting any pressure on the opposition. One out into the fourth inning, Mike Lorah lined a single into center field, and then Kevin - who seems to have sewn up the rookie of the year ballot only a third of the way into the season and is eyeing the team MVP award - clubbed a line drive over the right fielder for a two-run home run. But then Sal lined out to the short fielder and CNap popped out, as the Bullets stalled again.
Larry slapped a two-out single to right in the fifth, and Neil beat out a five-foot roller with one away in the sixth, but DC couldn't capitalize. Making his 2012 season debut, Jeff "Hard Luck" Boison, following Neil's hit, drilled a scorcher right back at WNYC's pitcher, who somehow speared the ball and then doubled Neil off first. Nice play, much credit there. But for the most part, the Bullets made it easy, with routine pop flies galore.
WNYC rallied for two runs in the last of the sixth to tie the score. With out across and two outs, Neil Hiremath got his glove on a slicing liner in shallow center field, but couldn't hang onto the ball. The tying run scored easily, but the go-ahread run - attempting to come all the way around from first base - was gunned down at the plate by Neil, giving the Bullets a chance to retake the lead in the seventh.
Alas, with the heart of the order up, the comic book makers had their worst offensive inning of the evening, as Nel and Mike popped up to first and Kevin flew out to left. WNYC's scoreless turn in the bottom half took the game to extra innings. With two outs already registered, again, Andrew lined a base hit to left in the eighth. Nothing came of it. Larry led off the ninth with a single, only the second time DC put their leadoff hitter on base in an inning. After pop-ups by Joel Press and Laura Demoruielle, Dan flared a single to left, pushing the go-ahead run into scoring position. Jeff, however, continued his hard luck ways, driving a pitch to deep center where it was run down for the final out.
Last of the ninth, WNYC first hitter rolled what appeared to be a routine ground ball to third, but Mike couldn't stay with the bad hop (off the chest, juggled momentarily, but ultimately fumbled), putting the winning run on first base. A line drive single to center moved the potential run to second base. The final batter of the game smacked a grounder to Nel's backhand side, where our shortstop was able to knock the ball down, but unable to come up cleanly with it. With Mike on the outfield side of the third base bag and the baserunner bearing down, Nel's shovel pass crossed behind the runner to the inside of the bag, where Mike couldn't reach it. The ball trickled into the WNYC dugout, allowing the runner to walk home with the win for WNYC.
The frustrating loss drops the Bullets to 6-3 (2-2 NYMSL). The next game is Thursday on North Meadow #2 against NBC Sports.
Bullet Box:
CF Neil Hiremath - 1-2 / RF Dan Bertoldi - 2-2
2B Blake Kobashigawa - 0-1 / RF/2B Jeff Boison - 0-3
SS Nel Yomtov - 1-3
3B Mike Lorah - 1-3, R
LF Kevin Schwoer - 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, home run
DH/1B Sal Cipriano - 1-3
SCF Christine Napolitano - 1-3
LF Andrew Arnold - 2-3, RBI
CF/RF Vince Letterio - 0-3
C Larry Ganem - 2-3
P Joel Press - 0-3
1B/2B Laura Demoruielle - 0-3
Friday, June 8, 2012
Chamber Empty, Frustrated Bullets Fall to Forbes.
The Bullets knew coming into their third NYMSL tilt things were about to get more difficult, but having dominated Newsweek/Daily Beast in the first two games of the league season their confidence was soaring. Their latest opponent (Forbes), though, were looking for some payback after being shutout on the season series last year (which contributed to them missing the playoffs in their inaugural league season). Frustrating DC with great defense all night, they got that payback with an 8-5 victory over the comic book makers.
DC got off to a decent start with three consecutive singles from Neil Hiremath, Nel Yomtov, and Kevin Schwoer that plated the Bullets' first run. A fly out and fielder's choice (by a returning Andrew Arnold) set up the first of many frustrating plays. Team manager Sal Cipriano roped a line drive that was destined for the left field line, and probably 2 RBI's, but was denied with a nice snare by the Forbes third baseman. A heavily stacked top of the Forbes order pushed them to the early lead in the bottom half of the inning 2-1.
In the top of the second, two fielder's choices and a ground out sandwiched two singles by Larry Ganem and Allison Klein, but none came across. Forbes was also held scoreless in the bottom half of the second.
Both teams put up two more runs each in the third. First, Nel singled and Kevin followed up with his 3rd HR of the year, a booming shot to center. Forbes to their credit answered back with 2 consecutive home runs that went under left fielder Kevin's glove and rolled away into the Riverside night.
Nel and Sal singled around an Andrew walk in the top of the third, but Forbes escaped with the bases loaded. That was the first of three straight goose eggs in the coming innings that their defense put up. Forbes struck their biggest blow of the night scoring 3 runs that ultimately put the game out of reach in the bottom of the 4th. They added one more in the bottom of the sixth to make the task all the more difficult for DC.
But the Bullets don't give up easily, and after a ground out and line out by Neil and Nel, Kevin doubled and scored on John's single. Andrew added another single which set up the final frustrating play of the night, amazingly with Sal again. The DC Manager stroked a hard grounder seemingly through the 3B/SS hole, but the SS somehow grabbed on his back heel and tried to make the play to first. John, in the meantime, scored as the ball was overthrown into the Bullets "bench" area. Sal, hearing shouts that it's "live ball" rounded first heading towards second base with Andrew starting his run to the plate. Forbes' first baseman, however, made sure that didn't happen as he recovered quickly and fired to second where the second baseman (miffed from an earlier incident) put a hard tag on Sal for the final out.
A tough battle on an unforgiving field was won by the home team on this night, but the last inning 2-out rally left the Bullets craving more. They'll have to wait till August for the rematch to get back at Forbes, but they'll be right back to NYMSL action this Monday against WNYC. That game will be played on the shock jocks' North Meadow Field #10 at 6PM.
Big offensive shout out goes to Kevin, who once again had a big night almost scoring his second cycle in a row, missing out on a triple! On the defensive side, Neil made a tremendous outstretched catch of a line drive fly to right center that saved the Bullets from further damage.
Bullets Box:
CF Neil Hiremath 1-4 R
3B Nel Yomtov 3-4 R
LF Kevin Schwoer 3-4 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
DH John Choi 2-4 R, RBI
SS Andrew Arnold 1-3 BB
1B Sal Cipriano 2-4 RBI
RF/2B Christine Napolitano 1-3
SC/C Joel Press 1-3
P Larry Ganem 2-3
C/RC Blake Kobashigawa 1-3
2B/RF Allison Klein 1-3
DC got off to a decent start with three consecutive singles from Neil Hiremath, Nel Yomtov, and Kevin Schwoer that plated the Bullets' first run. A fly out and fielder's choice (by a returning Andrew Arnold) set up the first of many frustrating plays. Team manager Sal Cipriano roped a line drive that was destined for the left field line, and probably 2 RBI's, but was denied with a nice snare by the Forbes third baseman. A heavily stacked top of the Forbes order pushed them to the early lead in the bottom half of the inning 2-1.
In the top of the second, two fielder's choices and a ground out sandwiched two singles by Larry Ganem and Allison Klein, but none came across. Forbes was also held scoreless in the bottom half of the second.
Both teams put up two more runs each in the third. First, Nel singled and Kevin followed up with his 3rd HR of the year, a booming shot to center. Forbes to their credit answered back with 2 consecutive home runs that went under left fielder Kevin's glove and rolled away into the Riverside night.
Nel and Sal singled around an Andrew walk in the top of the third, but Forbes escaped with the bases loaded. That was the first of three straight goose eggs in the coming innings that their defense put up. Forbes struck their biggest blow of the night scoring 3 runs that ultimately put the game out of reach in the bottom of the 4th. They added one more in the bottom of the sixth to make the task all the more difficult for DC.
But the Bullets don't give up easily, and after a ground out and line out by Neil and Nel, Kevin doubled and scored on John's single. Andrew added another single which set up the final frustrating play of the night, amazingly with Sal again. The DC Manager stroked a hard grounder seemingly through the 3B/SS hole, but the SS somehow grabbed on his back heel and tried to make the play to first. John, in the meantime, scored as the ball was overthrown into the Bullets "bench" area. Sal, hearing shouts that it's "live ball" rounded first heading towards second base with Andrew starting his run to the plate. Forbes' first baseman, however, made sure that didn't happen as he recovered quickly and fired to second where the second baseman (miffed from an earlier incident) put a hard tag on Sal for the final out.
A tough battle on an unforgiving field was won by the home team on this night, but the last inning 2-out rally left the Bullets craving more. They'll have to wait till August for the rematch to get back at Forbes, but they'll be right back to NYMSL action this Monday against WNYC. That game will be played on the shock jocks' North Meadow Field #10 at 6PM.
Big offensive shout out goes to Kevin, who once again had a big night almost scoring his second cycle in a row, missing out on a triple! On the defensive side, Neil made a tremendous outstretched catch of a line drive fly to right center that saved the Bullets from further damage.
Bullets Box:
CF Neil Hiremath 1-4 R
3B Nel Yomtov 3-4 R
LF Kevin Schwoer 3-4 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
DH John Choi 2-4 R, RBI
SS Andrew Arnold 1-3 BB
1B Sal Cipriano 2-4 RBI
RF/2B Christine Napolitano 1-3
SC/C Joel Press 1-3
P Larry Ganem 2-3
C/RC Blake Kobashigawa 1-3
2B/RF Allison Klein 1-3
Friday, June 1, 2012
Bullets Rout Newsbeast
Thursday afternoon at Riverside Park, the DC Bullets batted around twice in the first inning, tallying seventeen runs, en route to a 27-7 blow-out win over Newsweek/Daily Beast. The victory boosts the Bullets to 2-0 in New York Media Softball League (or 2-0-2 if you want to count for the rainouts). The downside to these offense-heavy games is trying to jam in all the offensive highlights - and there were a lot. Kevin Schwoer had a 5-5 day with a cycle and 7 RBI. Sal Cipriano and John Choi had four hits each, and Vince Letterio, Mike Lorah, Christine Napolitano, Larry Ganem and Dan Bertoldi compiled three-hit afternoons, including a three triple day from Mike.
The first turn through the line-up, in the top of the first, the Bullets made only one out, and that one out only when Vince didn't realize that he didn't get a base on an overthrow of first and was tagged out while strolling to second base. The other ten batters all scored, with John, Sal and CNap collecting RBI singes (two scoring on John's hit) before Kevin clubbed a two-run triple to deep center field. After an infield single, Dan drove home a run with a line single to left and Allison Dugas-Behan legged out an infield hit to load the bases. The second time through the line-up, Neil Hiremath singled for two more runs, and Vince singled to reload the bases. Mike stroked an outside pitch into the right field corner for a bases-clearing triple. Nel added an RBI double. Two more hits loaded the bases, before CNap's fielder's choice tacked on another run - but created the second out, with John being forced at third base. Kevin's RBI double gave him half the cycle (still in the first inning), then Larry and Dan capped the explosion with run-scoring singles. Allie lined out to short to end the slaughter.
To their credit, Newsbeast did not give up. They battled back with five runs in the bottom of the first, causing a few Bullets to say that the game was far from over.
So DC got those five runs back in the second - Mike notched another triple, a one-out flare into right, scoring Neil, who'd walked leading off the frame. Nel's fly to left was deep enough to bring home the second run, before John singled, Sal doubled, and CNap, Kevin and Larry singled in sequence to plate three more runs. Newsbeast answered with one run in their half of the second, when a line-drive split the left center gap, enabling Newsbeast's first baseman to circle the bases for a solo home run.
The third started almost the same as the second. After Allie was retired, Neil drew a walk, Vince smashed a long foul fly out to left, and Mike hammered a long triple to dead center field to score Neil for the inning's only run.
Sal and CNap singled with one out in the fourth, and Kevin completed his cycle with a bullet to center field, enabling him to circle the bases and easily beating the relay throw home.
The fifth went quietly. After Allie's lead-off walk, Neil popped up to short. Vince singled to put runners on first and second, but Mike chopped a one-hopper back to the mound, forcing Allie at third, and Nel grounded hard to third base to wrap the Bullets' only scoreless inning of the evening.
Despite a quickly fading sun, the teams squeezed in a sixth inning (getting the soccer and lacrosse players off the field pushed the start time back by a solid twenty minutes). After a double by John and Sal's walk, CNap grounded to the shortstop, forcing John, and Kevin singled to load the bases. Larry's fly to left scored Sal, but after Dan singled to reload the bases, Allie grounded out to end DC's scoring for the evening.
Newsbeasts tallied one final run in the bottom of the sixth, as their second baseman lined a two-out RBI triple into the left center gap. Larry then induced a pop-up to the mound to wrap the game.
Amidst all the hitting, DC managed a few defensive standouts as well. In the fourth, Vince Letterio snared a ball inches off the turf after a long run in left field, and a diving Nel Yomtov stole a line-drive hit in sixth.
The Bullets (6-1, 2-0 NYMSL) meet Forbes next Thursday at Riverside Park in New York Media Softball League action.
Bullet Box:
CF Neil Hiremath - 2-3, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
LF/2B Vince Letterio - 3-5, R
3B/LF Mike Lorah - 3-4, 3 R, 5 RBI, BB, three triples
SS Nel Yomtov - 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, double, sac fly
DH John Choi - 4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, double
1B Sal Cipriano - 4-4, 5 R, RBI, BB, double
SCF Christine Napolitano - 3-5, 4 R, 3 RBI
2B/LF/3B Kevin Schwoer - 5-5, 3 R, 7 RBI, double, triple, home run
P Larry Ganem - 3-4, R, 3 RBI, sac fly
RF Dan Bertoldi - 3-5, R, 2 RBI
C Allison Dugas-Behan - 1-4, R, BB
The first turn through the line-up, in the top of the first, the Bullets made only one out, and that one out only when Vince didn't realize that he didn't get a base on an overthrow of first and was tagged out while strolling to second base. The other ten batters all scored, with John, Sal and CNap collecting RBI singes (two scoring on John's hit) before Kevin clubbed a two-run triple to deep center field. After an infield single, Dan drove home a run with a line single to left and Allison Dugas-Behan legged out an infield hit to load the bases. The second time through the line-up, Neil Hiremath singled for two more runs, and Vince singled to reload the bases. Mike stroked an outside pitch into the right field corner for a bases-clearing triple. Nel added an RBI double. Two more hits loaded the bases, before CNap's fielder's choice tacked on another run - but created the second out, with John being forced at third base. Kevin's RBI double gave him half the cycle (still in the first inning), then Larry and Dan capped the explosion with run-scoring singles. Allie lined out to short to end the slaughter.
To their credit, Newsbeast did not give up. They battled back with five runs in the bottom of the first, causing a few Bullets to say that the game was far from over.
So DC got those five runs back in the second - Mike notched another triple, a one-out flare into right, scoring Neil, who'd walked leading off the frame. Nel's fly to left was deep enough to bring home the second run, before John singled, Sal doubled, and CNap, Kevin and Larry singled in sequence to plate three more runs. Newsbeast answered with one run in their half of the second, when a line-drive split the left center gap, enabling Newsbeast's first baseman to circle the bases for a solo home run.
The third started almost the same as the second. After Allie was retired, Neil drew a walk, Vince smashed a long foul fly out to left, and Mike hammered a long triple to dead center field to score Neil for the inning's only run.
Sal and CNap singled with one out in the fourth, and Kevin completed his cycle with a bullet to center field, enabling him to circle the bases and easily beating the relay throw home.
The fifth went quietly. After Allie's lead-off walk, Neil popped up to short. Vince singled to put runners on first and second, but Mike chopped a one-hopper back to the mound, forcing Allie at third, and Nel grounded hard to third base to wrap the Bullets' only scoreless inning of the evening.
Despite a quickly fading sun, the teams squeezed in a sixth inning (getting the soccer and lacrosse players off the field pushed the start time back by a solid twenty minutes). After a double by John and Sal's walk, CNap grounded to the shortstop, forcing John, and Kevin singled to load the bases. Larry's fly to left scored Sal, but after Dan singled to reload the bases, Allie grounded out to end DC's scoring for the evening.
Newsbeasts tallied one final run in the bottom of the sixth, as their second baseman lined a two-out RBI triple into the left center gap. Larry then induced a pop-up to the mound to wrap the game.
Amidst all the hitting, DC managed a few defensive standouts as well. In the fourth, Vince Letterio snared a ball inches off the turf after a long run in left field, and a diving Nel Yomtov stole a line-drive hit in sixth.
The Bullets (6-1, 2-0 NYMSL) meet Forbes next Thursday at Riverside Park in New York Media Softball League action.
Bullet Box:
CF Neil Hiremath - 2-3, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
LF/2B Vince Letterio - 3-5, R
3B/LF Mike Lorah - 3-4, 3 R, 5 RBI, BB, three triples
SS Nel Yomtov - 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, double, sac fly
DH John Choi - 4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, double
1B Sal Cipriano - 4-4, 5 R, RBI, BB, double
SCF Christine Napolitano - 3-5, 4 R, 3 RBI
2B/LF/3B Kevin Schwoer - 5-5, 3 R, 7 RBI, double, triple, home run
P Larry Ganem - 3-4, R, 3 RBI, sac fly
RF Dan Bertoldi - 3-5, R, 2 RBI
C Allison Dugas-Behan - 1-4, R, BB
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