As if he doesn’t have enough to do with his editorial duties and co-captaining and playing shortstop for the DC Bullets, Adam Schlagman also plays softball occasionally with the crew at Seamless Web, and he arranged to pit his teams against one another Thursday afternoon in Central Park. Schlagman, fortunately, remained loyal to the Bullets and was in his customary third spot in the line-up. However, Seamless Web had trouble mustering enough players for the game, so four members of the DC squad played for the opposition, giving each team a complete ten-player roster.
Though the Bullet volunteers played well for Seamless Web, it wasn’t enough to overcome a Bullet team hungry to snap a two-game losing streak. Scoring in five of their six innings at the plate, led by Adam “no sympathy even if they are my other team” Schlagman’s 4-4, two-homer day (plus he scored four times, drove in four, and doubled) the Bullets didn’t give their opponent a moment to breathe. Even with a late-inning defensive meltdown to make the score look more presentable, DC came away with an 18-12 win.
After Seamless Web jumped ahead with two quick runs in the first, DC responded with a two-out rally. Schlagman jump-started it with his first long ball of the afternoon, a drive to deep left field. Left fielder Andrew Arnold (5-5, 3 R, RBI, 2 doubles) singled, and came all the way around on first baseman Brian Cunningham’s base hit to tie the game. Sal Cipriano (4-4, R, 2 RBI, double), who spent time at second base, right field and catcher to give aching teammates a breather (that’s a co-captain for you!), followed with a double, and 2B/C/RF Christine “CNap” Napolitano (2-4, R, 2 RBI) put the Bullets ahead with an RBI single to left.
Seamless Web, however, kept the early pressure on, scoring three times in the second for a 5-3 advantage, and pitcher Larry Ganem’s (2-4, RBI) one-out single was the only baserunner the Bullets mustered in the bottom half. Larry worked a scoreless top of the third, however, giving his team a chance to get back into the game. Adam and Andrew singled to open the Bullet’s half, and Brian grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving runners on the corners with one out. Sal’s line single scored a run, and after a pop-out by CNap, SCF Joel Press and RF/2B/LF Nel Yomtov both picked up base hits, with Nel driving home Brian for the tying run.
Seamless Web scored once in the fourth, briefly taking their final lead of the game, because the Bullets sent eleven hitters to the plate in the last of the fourth to take control. Neil Hiremath (1-5, R), centerfielder, singled and went to third on third baseman Mike Lorah’s base hit. Schlagman’s sacrifice fly knotted the score. Andrew doubled, and both Mike and Andrew came home on Brian’s (2-5, 3 R, 3 RBI) line shot to left. Sal and CNap singled to score Brian, who troopered on despite being hobbled by a sore knee. After Joel’s fly out, Nel and Larry each drove home an additional run with singles to center. The six run frame put the Bullets ahead 11-5.
Seamless Web got back one run in the fifth, but Mike Lorah (3-5, 3 R, 2 RBI, triple, homer) answered by leading off the bottom half with a long home run to left center. Adam and Andrew drilled successive doubles to left field to add another run, and Andrew scored one out later on Sal’s base hit.
DC continued to pile on runs in the sixth, following a scoreless turn by their opposition. Doubles by Joel (2-4, R, double) and Nel (3-4, R, 3 RBI, double), a triple by Mike, and Adam’s second home run of the day accounted for four additional runs.
Achy (a few players recovering from the dehydrating exhaustion of Monday’s game, plus Brian’s sore knee, and two new in-game injuries: Adam’s scraped knee and Nel’s sore shoulder) and in control of the game, a few Bullets shifted positions for the final inning. The results weren’t terribly pretty. Seamless rallied with five runs, but the deficit proved a little too much, and Larry Ganem and the Bullets finally secured the final out to close the 18-12 win.
The Bullets are now 10-3. They’ll look to improve on their 4-2 record in the New York Media Softball League next Thursday against Newsweek at North Meadow #2 in Central Park.
Game Notes:
A big thanks to Adam Staffaroni, Brian Walters, Katie Kubert and Pat Brosseau for graciously agreeing to spend the afternoon on the Seamless Web side of the field. Staff played a flawless second base and finished 2-4, with a run scored against his usual teammates. Brian (3-4, R, RBI, double) and Pat (2-3, 2 R) made up half the opposing outfield, and Katie (0-4, RBI) handled the catching duties with her usual sense of humor.
With a big NYMSL game next Thursday, all the injured Bullet players are encouraged to take it easy this coming week. Everyone needs to be in game shape for Newsweek.
And, of course, a thanks to Seamless Web for coming out to play. It was a fun game, and we look forward to doing it again some time.
