Thursday night's softball game between the DC Bullets and Random House turned out to be a poor showcase for both team's defensive units. The Bullets allowed a season-high 9 runs, including each of the first five batters of the game. However, DC's bats, with some assists by Random House's gloves, unleashed an amazing 35 hits, including eight extra-base hits, to plate a season-high 25 runs in a 25-9 triumph. Joel Press, making his season debut, dominted the highlight reel with two triples, a double, three runs scored and four RBI.
After the first inning, the very high final score didn't look likely. Taking advantage of two miscues on the DC infield, Random House's first five hitters all scored, and DC mustered only a two-out single, lined off the pitcher's shin (hope you're okay!), by Mike Lorah. Defensively, the Bullets stepped up in the second inning, but again managed only one baserunner in the bottom of the frame - Nel Yomtov's lead-off base hit.
After Random House went scoreless in the third, the bottom portion of the line-up put DC on top. Singles by Pat Brosseau, Vince Letterio and Allison Klein (sandwiched around a Blake Kobashigawa pop-up) loaded the bases, and Joel Press cleared them off with a booming triple. A wild throw allowed Joel to score as well. Larry Ganem and Kevin Schwoer showed off their opposite field power, lining hits down the right field line. Larry legged out a triple, and Kevin came all the way around, and DC never trailed in the game again.
Bottom four, the comic book makers batted around, plating 11 more runs and blowing the game open. Highlights included Nel's two-run double, Sal Cipriano's RBI single, and Pat's three-run opposite field homer. Allison, Joel and Larry also collected RBI during the deluge. Christine Napolitano, who led off the inning with a base hit, made the final out on a line drive directly at the left fielder. Fifteen different batters took a cut between CNap's two plate appearances in the inning.
Random House caught the scoring bug in the fifth, plating four more runs, but the Bullets bettered that in the last of the fifth, as the first six hitters up singled in a row - Mike, John Choi, Nel, Brian Cunningham, Laura Demoreuille and Sal. Pat added a sac fly and Blake an RBI hit as well.
Joel Press led off the sixth with his third extra-base hit, another triple, and scored on Larry's single, Kevin and Dan Bertoldi singled to load the bases, and two more scored on Neil Hiremath's line drive single. Dan got doubled off second base on a shallow fly ball from CNap, and Mike fouled off three pitches to end DC's day at the plate. Larry Ganem, making his season debut on the mound, pitched a scoreless seventh for the final score.
Impressively, the 13-16 slots in the DC line-up didn't make a single out, going a combined 12 for 12, driving in 10 runs. That's production from the end of the line-up that you like to see! Defensive highlights included Mike's backhand stab of a smash grounder to end the fourth inning and Pat's leaping catch in right field. Also, well wishes to Ailen Lujo, who departed the game after pulling a leg muscle in her at-bat in the third inning.
The Bullets (3-0) face The Economist next Thursday on North Meadow #2 in Central Park.
Bullet Box:
LCF Neil Hiremath - 2-4, 2 RBI
RCF Christine Napolitano - 1-4, R
3B Mike Lorah - 3-4, 2 R
DH John Choi - 1-3, R
SS Nel Yomtov - 3-3, R, 3 RBI, double
1B/2B Brian Cunningham - 2-3, 2 R
1B Laura Demoreuille - 1-3, R, RBI
LCF/1B Sal Cipriano - 2-3, R, RBI, double
RF Pat Brosseau - 2-2, 2 R, 4 RBI, sac fly, home run
RCF/3B Blake Kobashigawa - 2-3, R, RBI
LF Vince Letterio - 2-3, 2 R
2B/C Allison Klein - 2-3, 2 R, RBI
2B/SS Joel Press - 3-3, 3 R, 4 RBI, double, 2 triples
P Larry Ganem - 3-3, 3 R, 3 RBI, triple
LF Kevin Schwoer - 3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, home run
C Dan Bertoldi - 3-3
C Ailen Lujo - 0-1
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