Calm Before The Storm

Missing a few players but no enthusiasm, the Pen & Pencil Club softball team improved its record to 10-2 with a comfortable win over the Franklin Institute by a score of 13-4 on Monday night at Edgeley 8.
We led Franklin by a single run, 3-2, after two innings, but put together a six-run third inning that included eight hits and protected the lead well from there. The Red Inks played good defense throughout, except when George, who was holding a Frisbee, a dog and a beer at the time, failed to come up with a rolling, diving catch in left field. Chris Yasiejko showed him the way on the following batter, coming up with a rolling, diving catch in right center that, without beer, disc or dog, he actually made.
We also pulled off a pair of double plays and didn’t let Franklin bring more than six batters to the plate in any inning. The Instituters spread out 14 hits, all singles.

No outfield assist.

On our side, we had 28 hits and left some folks on base, but overall a good clutch effort. Only four of our hits were for extra bases and that’s the way we want to keep playing, string together a lot of line drives and keep the lineup moving. Super softball intern Tommy Rowan was 4-for-4 to lead the hitting. Brian Donlen (2 RBIs), Mark Nevins (2 RBIs), Yasiejko and George Miller each had three hits. Dan Rubin had two hits, including a double, and four big RBIs. Also two hits for The Management, including a triple that left him very tired, Jon Snyder, Kathy Matheson and Liz Gabor.
So, 10-2 sounds awfully good and looks awfully good in the standings. We have been a little fortunate in our scheduling so far, though. Five of our six remaining games are against teams that are still alive for the playoffs, and all of those can beat us on a given night.

We would like very much to get the No. 2 seed in the league, which would give us that first-round bye and leave us just one game from qualifying for the championship round. To do that, we have to play well against the tough remaining schedule, starting with Tuesday against the Art Museum.
Those with good memories will recall that one of our two losses this season was to the Fighting Griffons. We led that game 11-0 and somehow lost 16-15. We make it look easy, however, as we stopped hitting completely and forgot how to field. So, we owe them one.
The Red Inks quest for that No. 2 seed was helped this week when Bishop’s Collar knocked off the Tap Room, leaving the Tappers 1 ½ games behind us. That margin can disappear quickly, though. We have another game against them, and also another left against undefeated Catahoula.
So, get your running in and get yourself out of any potential conflicts or problems and get yourself back to Edgeley 8 on Tuesday. As you were.

Blind pig, acorn.