Sunday, April 14, 2013

Bullets Spring into 2013 Season with Win over ProPublica

The 2012 season didn't end the way the DC Bullets wanted, but in their 2013 season debut, the team served notice that they're looking to rebound in a big way. Against ProPublica, the Bullets looked solid offensively and defensively, coming away with a resounding 18-3 victory.

With 2012 Rookie of the Year and MVP Kevin Schwoer toeing the pitching rubber on the Elysian familiarity of North Meadow #2 in Central Park, the comic book makers stifled the top of ProPublica's batting line-up in the first, giving DC a chance for an early lead. And The Bullets took advantage of the opportunity.

The top five hitters all reached base to start the season with a bang. After Mike Lorah lined a single to left, Andrew Arnold smashed an RBI triple for a quick lead. Kevin followed with a fly to deep center which ProPublica's centerfielder couldn't hang onto, and Kevin sprinted all the way around to score on the two-run home run. Singles by Jay Kogan and Vince Letterio kept the pressure on, which sputtered slightly when Sal Cipriano fouled out and Christine Napolitano lined out to left. Neil Hiremath came through with a big two-out hit, doubling to left center, allowing both Jay and Vince to cross the plate for a five-fun season-opening frame.

The middle part of ProPublica's order plated two runs in the second to cut into DC's lead, and the comic book makers mustered only Laura Demoreuille's one-out single, a line shot to left, in their half of the frame.

After shutting down the opposition in the third, DC retook the momentum. Taylor Esposito and Mike reached on base hits, and after Taylor was erased on Andrew's fielder's choice, Kevin and Jay collected back-to-back singles to push the lead back to five runs. DC had a chance for more, but Kevin was doubled off second base on Vince's fly out to center.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth, CNap's base hit being DC's only baserunner. ProPublica tacked on a third run in the fifth, but the Bullets put the game away in the bottom half, scoring 11 runs. Dan Bertoldi led off the inning with a single, and one out later, rookies David Pina and Brittany Holzherr collected base hits as well. Dan was able to score during some confusion on the base paths with benefit of an infield error, and then Taylor crushed a triple to left field to bring David and Britt home. Mike's RBI infield single plated Taylor, then Andrew's fielder's choice erased Mike. The next eight hitters all reached base with two outs - Kevin started it with a bomb to deepest center field, an easy two-run homer. Not to be outdone, Jay, who was voted the second inductee into the team's Hall of Fame during the off-season, smashed a long solo home run to left.Vince singled, took second on an over-throw, and scored on Sal's smash base hit to left. Singles by CNap and Neil loaded the bases, and Allison Klein cashed in a run with a looper into right field. Dan (in his second plate appearance of the fifth) capped the inning, punching a two-run single to left, but Allison tried to go first-to-third and got caught in an inning-ending rundown to close out the frame.

Both teams went scoreless in the sixth, and ProPublica turned in a three-up-three-down seventh, including back-to-back strikeouts from Kevin to close out the game.

With a 1-0 record, the DC Bullets meet BuzzFeed for the first time ever next Thursday on North Meadow #2.

Bullet Box
3B Mike Lorah - 3-3, 2 R, RBI
SS Andrew Arnold - 1-3, 3 R, RBI, triple
P Kevin Schwoer - 3-3, 2 R, 5 RBI, two home runs
LF Jay Kogan - 3-3, 2 R, RBI, home run
OF Vince Letterio - 2-3, 2 R
1B Sal Cipirano - 1-3, R, RBI
SCF Christine Napolitano - 2-3, R
CF Neil Hiremath - 2-3, R, 2 RBI, double
2B Allison Klein - 1-3, RBI
RF Dan Bertoldi - 2-3, R, 2 RBI
1B Laura Demoreuille - 1-3
C David Pina - 2-3, R
2B Brittany Holzherr - 1-3, R
C Taylor Esposito - 2-2, R, 2 RBI, triple

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