After securing their spot as the #4 seed in the New York Media Softball League playoffs, the DC Bullets suffered a letdown in their final two games, both against #3 seed BusinessWeek. Following last Thursday’s 12-8 loss, the Bullets finally (after three re-schedulings for weather) concluded their 2009 season with a rematch against BW this past Tuesday.
The 10-3 loss wound up not being much of a contest. While BW scored five runs over the first two innings, the comic book makers batted the minimum number of hitters. The only base runner, Editor Brian Cunningham (1-2, BB, run), who singled leading off the second, was erased on a double-play grounder.
Director of Direct Sales Vince Letterio (1-2, run, RBI) singled with one away in the bottom of the third, and letterer Sal Cipriano (1-2, RBI) hammered a double into left field to plate the run. But missed opportunities followed: In the fourth, Associate Editor Adam Schlagman (2-3) and your humble blogger Mike Lorah (1-3) both singled to open the frame, but three outs ensued. In the sixth, Marketing Publications Representative Rickey Purdin worked a lead-off walk, and moved to second on Schlagman’s two-out single, but Lorah’s pop-up ended the threat.
To the Bullets’ credit, the pitching (Manager, Editorial Admin Larry Ganem) and defense rose to the occasion, keeping BusinessWeek from further scoring through the fifth inning. Schlagman had a diving stop and threw out a runner at first from his backside, while Jay Kogan and Letterio both made a terrific running catchs in the outfield alleys. In the sixth, however, the big BW bats rose up again, doubling their score with a five-run outburst. A few close plays – if my glove was an inch longer or Adam an inch taller – might’ve limited the damage, but the bounces weren’t going DC’s way that inning.
The Bullets trailed 10-1 going into the last half of the seventh. Looking to save a little face and show some fight, Disney’s (thankfully under contract with the Bullets through season’s end!) Doug Harrison (1-3, run) got things started with a base hit, and Brian Cunningham took a base on balls. Another knock by Accounting Coordinator, Edit Admin Larry “LP” Vollano (1-3, RBI) drove Doug home, and letterer Pat Brosseau (1-2) singled to load the bases with no outs. After a line-out to short, Vince Letterio’s fielder’s choice scored Brian, but erased Pat (who executed a nasty take-out slide!). A final pop-up ended the rally and the Bullets’ 2009 regular season schedule.
The Bullets finish 2009 with a 10-9 record, including their 4-6 mark against the more competitive teams of the NYMSL. The team next matches up against NYMSL #1 seed (either High Times or Wall St. Journal, pending WSJ’s final game against WNYC) on Saturday, September 12th at 1:00pm on the Hecksher Fields in Central Park. Comic fans are encouraged to come out and support them Bullets as they try to upset the standings and bring home the NYMSL title.
The Bullets and the Bonghitters split the season series, with the Bullets winning 5-4 and the High Times squad taking the rematch 10-1. Wall St. Journal topped the Bullets twice, 6-3 and 14-6. The winner plays immediately afterward against the victor of the BusinessWeek-Wall St. Journal/High Times match-up that will be occurring simultaneously on the neighboring field. Losers go to the consolation game.
