New Season Begins

Change comes with every new season of Ad League softball and we'd be fooling ourselves if this season was going to be any different. There's usually a few new teams. There's almost always a new umpire (since Bill isn't umping anymore). And there's always, ALWAYS, roster additions and subtractions. But this year, there's also a big change with our team name -- this season we're called the Slashers. New name + new additions on the roster = new results? Like, maybe, a championship? Time will tell.

So, last night the new season of Slasher softball started against our cross-Crossroads/Downtown rival, NK. We have a very storied history with NK, not just in softball, but in kickball, too. To say that we were amp'd for the first game of the season against them would be a tinsy lie.

The Slashers lost the coin toss so they were designated the away team. Coacherson issued the lineup and it was time to play. There were a lot of new faces in the Slasher lineup with Smashlee, B, and Meshell making their collective softball debuts.

This is where the facts get a little murky as the scorebook is not in front of me so this is how it may or may not have played out.

Much like last year, the slashers started off the first inning with a bang. 7 straight hits to begin the inning put the Slashers up 7-0 on MeShell’s sacrifice RBI. McShit quickly followed that up by driving in another run to make the score 8-0. Only a leaping catch by NK’s shortstop on a liner by PJer could slow down the offense and end the top half of the first inning.

A few first inning jitters and some leaky defense led to NK plating 9 runs in their half of the inning to go up 9-8 in what could only be described as a defenseless first inning.

The Slashers came back with 3 runs in the top of the second, two of which came on Coacherson’s 2 RBI sac fly that plated The Truth and DeShawn. Historical fact: This is the first documented 2 RBI sac fly in Slasher history. Beardo’s Heath Kennedy-style (falling on his ass) catch allowed NK to only get 4 runs of their own to give them 12-11 lead after two innings.

The 3rd inning was the turning point in a pivotal stretch in the season’s first game. The bats stayed alive with McShit, Smashlee, PJer, The Truth, and B all scoring to give the Slashers 5 more runs in the top half. Some stellar defense, including an over the shoulder catch by PJer held NK to just 1 run and gave the Slashers a 17-13 lead going into the final inning.

McShit helped himself out leading the inning off the 4th with the first round-tripper of the year, making the score 18-13. 2 more runs came in and built the lead to 20-13 that was nearly more as WRAM drove 3 foul balls down the third baseline that were just barely foul.

Needing 7 runs to tie, NK came out swinging. The first 2 runners in the inning scored as the nerves set in for everyone except The Truth. A running, shoestring catch by the veteran outfielder got the Slashers their first out. A double by NK scored a run and made the score 20-16. The next batter dribbled one to short for the second out that put the Slashers one out away from their first victory of the season. A deep drive into center field looked like trouble but The Truth would not be denied and made a leaping catch to end the game and secure the W.

So the Slashers are 1-0 and will take the field against a TBD opponent at a not-so-specific time next Wednesday night. Congrats to all and special thanks to B and Smashlee for filling in and doing a kick-ass job.