Friday, July 13, 2007

Who's Your Daddy?

By Neurotic D-Leaguer

When they took the field Thursday evening, the Slugs didn't know they would rally in the last inning for victory over Papa Flanagan's.

In fact, one Slug didn't even know this after playing in the game.

Before a record-setting crowd of seven for the 2007 season, the Slugs defeated Papa Flanagan's, moving their record to 2-0 in Summer League.

While Coach Tamara Keith served her second suspension of the year for bringing a pink water bottle to softball, the Slugs' good play extended up and down the available roster. From Jim Miller's dazzling outfield play and brilliant hitting in the lead-off spot to Ellen "Sproutsy" Chrismer's gritty game behind the plate, the home team kept it close all game before locking down the Flanaganses in the top of the last inning and coming back from a three-run deficit in the bottom half.

The game was so close that the Slugs' right fielder didn't realize her team had won.

"We won?" Judy Lin asked after the celebratory handshakes.

Her confusion might have resulted from ex-Slug-turned-turncoat Chris Bryce pitching and hitting cleanup for the Flanaganses, with a newfound Zen and needing only one shirt for the entire game. Or she just might be that confused all the time.

But she wasn't confused when a Flanagan hit a rocket shot to right in the last inning. Lin knocked her hat off like a pro, charged in and made a sweet one-handed grab. The roar of the crowd sounded like at least 10 people were there.

Lin joined an outfield of Ed Fletcher, Miller and Ahmed Ortiz that combined for nearly flawless play. Other defensive highlights were Christa Hunter snagging some wicked liners at third; shortstop John Kepley combining on a double play with Harrison Sheppard, who played a great game in his inaugural appearance at first; and Erin McGuire's usual outstanding pitching performance.

The only lowlights were another bite by the injury bug (this time a mosquito, not five wasp stings) and Matt Coldwell not showing up again. Kevin Yamamura, resting a sore Achilles' tendon, provided insightful analysis from the bench and expertly managed the baserunning in the decisive final inning.

What we do know is that the Slugs -- at 2-0, in first place, with momentum and improved teamwork, and Yamamura and Chrismer getting extra time from next week's bye to heal up -- are poised to rekindle the venerable Slugs tradition of the undefeated manager taking a shower at the 49'er Truck Plaza after the season.

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