Slugs victorious!

It took three games, but the Slugs got their first win of the season Thursday, an 11-7 conquest of Dirty Deeds.

The Slugs batted around mid-game after a slow start and built up a cushion of several runs.

That was a good thing, because the Deeds started to hit in the last couple of innings. They closed the gap but could not erase the Slugs advantage in Thursday's nightcap.

“We stayed focused, played within ourselves, and finally gave Coach Kepley the win he deserves,” infielder Nancy Fairbanks said.

The Slugs’ success came as every team member wore pink Susan G. Komen wristbands in honor of Sarah Lillis, the wife of Slugs standout Ryan Lillis.

Dan Smith made a strong 2011 pitching debut and also had a good night at the plate. Dustin Nicolodi pounded the ball and played a tight shortstop, battling the infield’s bumper crop of weeds.

Catcher Juliet Williams snared a foul pop behind the plate and had a key hit.

The team celebrated its victory at the Tallac. More than 15 players attended the festivities, where refreshments and pizza were served.

Dribblers:

• Thursday’s game included the first 1-5-3 double play in Slugs history.
  

• Katherine Skorupski’s sister, Elizabeth, of Dayton, Ohio, attended the game and cheered on the Slugs.

• The Slugs face always-tough SoCals Force next week at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday.

Slugs getting closer to first W

Confronting bumps, bruises and a shoebox-sized strike zone, the Slugs came up just short Thursday against the Isotopes.

It was a particularly painful night for the Smith-Dugan household. First baseman Dan Smith had to leave the game after a softball slammed into his shin, causing a huge contusion. Later, catcher Molly Dugan took a throw off the shoulder, forcing Coach John Kepley to once again go to his bench.

Pitcher Erin McGuire got squeezed all evening but never stopped battling. The Isotopes capitalized on the situation, taking walks on fine-looking pitches.

The Isotopes scored a few runs in the first innings. But the Slugs fought back with a seven-run rally. Key hits came from Mark Martin, McGuire, Melody Gutierrez, Ed Fletcher and others.

The atom variants later pulled ahead despite some Slugs defensive magic. Outfielder Katherine Skorupski caught a line drive, catcher Judy Lin snared a foul pop, and second-baseman Gutierrez laid out to stop a grounder from going into right field.

The Slugs went down quietly in the home half of the last inning, with a final score of 11-7.

“Victory was so close I could taste it,” Coach Kepley said after the game. “But I smell a win coming on.”

Game notes:

• Smith spent the rest of the game icing his shin under the supervision of team nurse Mackenzie Yamamura and is listed as day-to-day. (Wait a sec: Who was that playing some tough D at the Y Friday morning??)

• The Slugs had fans Thursday – Kevin Yamamura’s parents and 2029 prospect Finn Yamamura.

• The Slugs play league newcomers Dirty Deeds next Thursday at 7:30.