Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Smoked! Valiant Bullets Stung by High Times

There's good and there's bad in every game. The dark cloud in Friday's silver lining is that the High Times Bonghitters bested our DC Bullets 12-5. On a more positive note, however, the Bullets played a much sharper game than the previous day's lackluster effort against truTV.

I can only recall two egregious errors in the High Times game, both dropped pop-ups that were turned into fielder's choices anyway. Third baseman Mike Lorah rushed a throw and wound up giving away an extra base on the overthrow, but the runner would've been safe at first anyway and didn't score in the end. In short, the game turned out to be a solid defensive effort and a reminder how capable the Bullet's defense can be. Alas, the High Times team just lit up Larry Ganem with hard line drives in the early innings to build up a quick and insurmountable lead, and the Bullet offense continues to press. Jay Kogan's been locked in and Pat Brosseau's a hitting machine right now; the rest of the bats have scuffled, however.

In the first, after Neil Hiremath's pop-up, Nel Yomtov started things up with a single. Mike Lorah's early season struggles continued, however, as he's either trying to do too much or when he does hit the ball well, it seems to go right to somebody. This time, High Times pitcher snared a screaming liner and doubled Nel off first to close out the inning.

High Times' leadoff hitter immediately homered to centerfield, an ominous start for sure, and the Bonghitters scored six times in the bottom of the first, all the runs they'd need. But they added four in the second and two in the fourth for good measure.

DC got on the board in the second, as Jay Kogan led off with a double. Pat Brosseau followed with a hard line drive single to the left fielder. Jay had to hold at third, as the ball got to the outfield so quickly. Joel Press's RBI single got Jay home, but three straight fly ball outs from CNap, Sal Cipriano and Vince Letterio stalled the momentum.

Brian Walters singled to start the third, but was doubled off on Laura Demoreuille's line drive back to the pitcher. Larry Ganem flew out to end the third.

Neil's single, Nel's fielder's choice and Mike's double off the edge of the centerfielder's outstretched glove (the relay back to the infield was abetted by sunbathers - I felt I should've been awarded an extra base, but what can you do? ;) set up Jay Kogan's two-run single in the fourth, but back-to-back groundouts ended the threat, and the Bullets went in order in the fifth and sixth innings.

In fact, with Neil's fly out to start the seventh, nine straight Bullets were retired from the fourth through seventh innings. Nel ended that streak through with a one-out single, but Mike (trying to do too much) popped up to center for the second out. Jay worked a walk to move Nel into scoring position, and Pat cashed him in with a base hit. Joel singled to load the bases, and CNap drove home another with a single to left. But Sal grounded out to shortstop to wrap the game.

4-5 (1-1 NYMSL), the Bullets have two games this week. Comedy Central comes to North Meadow #2 on Thursday, and the Bullets travel to North Meadow #7 on Saturday morning for an NYMSL showdown against 2010 champion (but two-time regular season loser to DC!) Wall St. Journal.

Bullets Box:
LCF Neil Hiremath - 1-3
SS Nel Yomtov - 2-3, 2 R
3B Mike Lorah - 1-3, R, double
LF Jay Kogan - 2-2, 2R, 2 RBI, BB, double
OF Pat Brosseau - 2-3, RBI
OF Joel Press - 2-3, RBI
2B/RF Christine Napolitano - 1-3, RBI
OF/1B Sal Cipriano - 0-3
LF Vince Letterio - 0-2
OF Brian Walters - 1-2
1B/2B Laura Demoruielle - 0-2
P Larry Ganem - 0-2

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