In 2009, the DC Bullets dropped both regular season games, and a playoff match-up, to the Wall St. Journal (the 2009 New York Media Softball League champions).  The Bullets turned the tables with a victory over the Journal in May, and they managed to come out on top against this past Thursday, sweeping the 2010 season series against Wall St. Journal with a thrilling, back-and-forth, extra-inning 12-11 triumph, highlighted by the heroism of Allison Dugas’s clutch two-run hit with the Bullets on the brink of defeat.

In one of the sloppiest softball games ever played, both the Bullets and the Journal made plenty of errors, and even the umpiring had more than a couple suspect moments, but it made for exciting softball.  The lead changed hands six times, and the teams ended up playing eight innings to determine the winner.

After a quick and scoreless first by the Journal, CF Neil Hiremath (1-3, 2 R), 3B Mike Lorah (4-5, 3 R), LF Andrew Arnold (4-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, double, HR) and designated hitter LP Vollano (1-2, RBI) singled in sequence to score a run.  LF Jay Kogan’s fielder’s choice added a second run, and Doc Lauren Fries – who played a hell of a game at shortstop filling in for the traveling Adam Schlagman – lined a two-out single to left to cap the three-run frame.  Lauren finished 3-3, with 2 RBI and a base on balls.

Wall St. Journal charged back into the game, tallying five runs in the second, and might’ve gotten more if not for a strong throw and quick tag on a Journal hitter’s failed attempt to stretch a single into a double.  That controversial call went in the Bullet’s favor, but the tables quickly evened when P Joel Press (1-2) was doubled off first base – controversially – on a line drive back to the pitcher, preventing the Bullets from scoring in the second.  Wall St. Journal added a run in the top of the third, putting the Bullets in a 6-3 hole.

Last of the third, Lorah and Arnold singled, co-captain and C/OF Sal Cipriano walked (0-1, R, BB), and CF Vince Letterio (1-2, RBI) cashed in a run with a base hit to left.  One out later, Lauren and 1B Jerry Cerza (1-2, RBI) added RBI singles to tie the game at six.

The Bullets took back the lead in the fourth, when Lorah singled with two outs, and Andrew Arnold demolished a two-run home run to deep center field.  WSJ quickly retied the game with two of their own in the top of the fifth, and the Bullets see-sawed back into the lead in their half-inning, on three successive one-out singles by 3B Adam Staffaroni (1-2, R), Lauren and 2B/0F Brian Cunningham (1-2, RBI).

A three-run sixth, however, gave WSJ a two-run edge.  It might’ve been worse if not for Vince Letterio’s diving, sno-cone catch in center field.  The bottom of the sixth (Bullets) and top of the seventh (Journal) passed scorelessly, and the Bullets went to their last licks facing a two-run deficit.

After a pop-out, RF Brian Walters (1-2, R) floated a ball just beyond the shortstop’s reach for a base hit, and Lauren worked a walk to put the tying run on first base.  Jerry Cerza pushed one to the right side, grounding out to the first baseman, but moving both runners into scoring position.  That put the entire game on the shoulders of C/RF Allison Dugas.  Working a 2-2 count, down to her last strike, Allison tapped a flare about two feet in front of home plate, and the Journal catcher, attempting to pluck it from the air, touched the ball in fair territory but couldn’t get more than a sliver of leather on the ball.  With Allison hustling down the first base line and the throwing lane partially blocked, the throw went wide and into right field. Brian, who nearly ran into the catcher prior to the errant throw, scored and Lauren, never breaking stride, crossed the plate with the tying run moments later.  Allison’s big hit gave her a 1-1 day, with 2 RBI and a walk.

The Bullets held the line in the eighth, with Joel Press inducing a routine ground ball to short with two runners on base to squelch the threat.  C Katie Kubert (1-2) got the ball rolling for the Bullets in their half, lining a single to center field.  Neil Hiremath’s fielder’s choice erased Katie, and Mike Lorah lined out hard to right field for the second out.  Andrew Arnold, whose earlier home run bomb forced the Journal outfielders to play as deeply as possible, hit a pitch off the end of his bat, sending it arcing into left center field.  The shortstop ran out.  The left and right center fielders ran in.  And Neil did his best Enos Slaughter impression.  In the end, the ball dropped into the Bermuda Triangle out of any WSJ player’s reach, and Neil scored easily to clinch the victory.

With the win, the Bullets’ record stands at 8-1, including a 4-1 mark in the New York Media Softball League.  The Bullets play their next game at 5:30pm on Thursday, June 24, against Abrams books on Field #2 in Central Park’s North Meadow.  Come on out to see the thrills.

Game Notes:

As always, every game against Wall St. Journal is a fun one, and the Bullets always extend their gratitude to the opposition for a blast of a game.  Their left fielder also made a nice diving catch, and they came up with their share of big clutch hits to keep that lead changing as often as it did.

Amid the defensive lapses, we must credit Vince’s diving catch, Lauren’s steady shortstop (including two head’s up tags to nail runners stretching for second) and Adam Staffaroni, who snared four line drives at the hot corner.

Otherwise overlooked in this write-up, OF Pat Brosseau singled as part of a 1-2 day, as did CNap, second baseman Christine Napolitano, who also made a nice play on a pop-up into short center field.  Despite hitless turns at the plate, credit to first baseman Laura Demoreuille for her rock-steady defense and pitcher Larry Ganem for his unflappable ability to limit the damage done by the opposing offense.

Since I know y’all can’t live without your weekly softball update, the Bullets were rained out Thursday evening, trailing Scholastic 3-0  in the second inning when the downpour became too intense to drive all but the most hardcore player (that would be Schlagman, who will never get the mud stains out of that shirt) from the field.

The team returns to action next Thursday, on their home field, North Meadow #2 in Central Park, against Wall St. Journal.  The Bullets toppled the 2009 New York Media Softball League champions 15-11 back on May 8th.  Come check out the action if you’re in the neighborhood.

At 7-0, the DC Bullets are off to one of their best starts ever, but they faced one of their biggest challenges of the 2010 season Thursday afternoon against perennial powerhouse, the High Times Bonghitters.  In the end, High Times rode one strong inning to a 12-7 victory, handing the Bullets their first loss of the year.

Larry Ganem and the Bullet defense forced the Bonghitters to put up zeroes in five of seven innings, but in the second, everything fell in.  Line drives, flares, see-eye grounders – High Times hit ‘em where the Bullets weren’t, producing a ten-run frame.  It was easily the worst inning the Bullets have allowed in some time.

Meanwhile, facing one of the best pitchers in the New York Media Softball League, the Bullet hitters struggled to string together extended innings against the mix of speeds offered by the Bonghitters’ ace righty.

In the first, trying to jump out for an early lead, third baseman Mike Lorah lined a single to right center, and shortstop/co-captain Adam Schlagman (1-4) followed suit, setting up first and third with one out.  LF Andrew Arnold hit one on the screws, but lined it directly to the opposing shortstop, and a fielder’s choice squelched the scoring threat.  In the second, responding to the Bonghitters’ ten run outburst, the comic book makers managed only first baseman Brian Cunningham’s (1-3, double) one-out double to left center.  The Bullets retired in order in the third, including hitting into a double play.

After Lorah grounded out and Schlagman popped up, Andrew Arnold (1-3, R, RBI, HR) finally gave the team a kick start in the fourth.  On the first pitch, Andrew pulled one of the longest foul balls seen in the NYMSL.  And then to show he’s not a dead pull hitter, he went to right field and hit it just as well.  The solo homer got the team on the scoreboard, and DH LP Vollano, playing with a bruised shoulder, and SCF “Doc” Lauren Fries (2-3) kept the inning alive with base hits, but the Bonghitters prevented further scoring.

2B-1B Joel Press (1-1, R) singled to open the fifth and went to third on RF Brian Walters’ (1-1) seeing-eye grounder back through the box.  Larry Ganem (0-0, 1 RBI, SF), pitching shutout ball after his second inning troubles, scored Joel with a sac fly to center, but again the team couldn’t build on the momentum and settled for a single run.

LP (2-3, R, RBI, HR) launched a two-out blast to deep center field in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 10-3, but High Times managed to tack on two more runs in the top of the seventh to take a 12-3 lead into the final half-inning.

One-out singles by catcher/co-captain Sal Cipriano (1-2) and CF Vince Letterio (1-1, R, BB) gave the Bullets life.  After Christine “CNap” Napolitano’s (0-2, R) fielder’s choice erased Sal, centerfielder Neil Hiremath (1-3, R, RBI, BB) drove a base hit into center, scoring Vince.  Ending a string of frustrating at-bats against the Bonghitter ace, Mike Lorah (2-4, R, 3 RBI, HR) got hold of a pitch and drove it just beyond the High Times’ centerfielder’s reach to clear the bases.  But Schlagman followed with a hard hit fly ball that carried directly to the left fielder for the final out.

With their first loss of the year, the Bullets drop to 7-1 overall, and 3-1 in the New York Media Softball League.  They return to action next Thursday, 5:30pm, North Meadow Field #2 in Central Park, against the Scholastic Red Dogs.

Game Notes:

Defensive standouts notices to Brian Cunningham and Joel Press for digging out those low throws at first base (and to the High Times’ first baseman, who made a similar scoop on the back end of a double play), and to Neil Hiremath and Andrew Arnold for turning the two farthest-hit balls of the afternoon into outs with smart positioning and a whole lotta speed.

This reminder to stay behind the dugout fence on the third base line whenever Vince is batting.  Nobody wants to see you get hurt, Andrew.

The DC Bullets softball team ran their mark to an impressive 7-0 with a lopsided win over the Daily Beast on Thursday at Riverside Park.  Playing in a gloomy drizzle, complemented by occasional lightning bursts across the evening sky, the two softball squads bucked the elements and fit in their entire seven inning game.

Let’s pick things up in the third inning this time: After staking themselves to an early lead in the first inning (more on that later), Bullets and Daily Beast exchanged zeroes in the second.  LF Jay “Mickey Mantle” Kogan (4-5, 4 R, 3 RBI, double, homer) hammered a one-out double to the base of the right field wall, and the natural righty did it hitting left-handed which really just makes the rest of us feel bad that we can’t hit the ball as well from our good sides.  Adam Staffaroni (3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI), the third baseman, scored Jay with an opposite field single to right.  The Bagman, 2B Sal Cipriano (2-4, RBI, double), doubled down the left field line, and Staff trotted home on P Joel Press’s RBI groundout.  Pressman finished 1-2, with 1 R and 2 RBI.

In the top of the fourth, the Daily Beast – most of their players barely made it to the field by game time and didn’t have time to warm up – started to find their game legs, breaking through for a run against Joel and the Bullet defense.  The Bullets got back four, on singles by the left side of the infield, Mike Lorah (4-5, 4 R, 1 RBI, double) and Adam Schlagman (4-5, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 doubles), an RBI double by outfielder Andrew Arnold (4-5, 4 R, 4 RBI, double, triple, homer), SCF Lauren Fries’ sac fly (part of a 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI day for the Doc), and Jay Kogan’s – still hitting lefty – two-run bomb down the right field line.

The Daily Beast got a little swagger back with a four-run fifth, and maintained the momentum with a scoreless bottom half from the Bullets.  In the sixth, the Beast went down quietly, and the Bullets tacked on two more – with Schlagman and Arnold scoring once more each.  The Daily Beast scored once more in the top of the seventh, but the final batter lined sharply to Schlagman at short to end the game.

Final score: Bullets 25, Daily Beast 6.  That first inning I said I’d get back to?  Perhaps it was because the Daily Beast players arrived just barely in time and didn’t get to warm up.  Though to give the Bullets credit, the Beast played solid D and the Bullets just kept hitting “where they weren’t.”  In the first, the Bullets batted around.  Twice.  The eleventh and final hitter in the Bullet line-up made the second and third outs (to be fair, with more than eleven players, two Bullets alternated at-bats in the number eleven slot, so two different players made those outs).  Nine of the eleven spots in the order (including two other rotating spots) reached base safely twice during the inning.

Arnold and DH LP Vollano (2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, homer) had back-to-back home runs, the second game in a row in which they’ve accomplished that feat.  RF Pat Brosseau (1-2, R, double), Lorah and Schlagman had consecutive doubles at one point, which was followed by Arnold’s triple.  There were simply too many hits to recount here.  In the end, the Bullets tallied seventeen runs on nineteen hits.  Ignoring the first frame, the Bullets squeaked by 8-6.

The victory pushes the Bullets to 7-0 overall, and 3-0 in the New York Media Softball League.  Their next game, a NYMSL tilt, is this coming Thursday at 5:30 against High Times magazine on Field #2 in Central Park’s North Meadow.

Game Notes:

If you read Andrew’s box score correctly, yes, he hit for the cycle.  He even hit for the cycle in reverse sequence, homering and tripling in the first, doubling (after a fielder’s choice in the second) in the fourth, and finally singling in the sixth.

Neil Hiremath complemented his 2-3, 1 R game with an outfield assist, with Schlagman relaying Neil’s throw to the plate to cut down what would’ve been the Daily Beast’s first run of the game.

LP left the game after the second inning with a bruised shoulder.  Softball remains a dangerous, dangerous activity.  The Bullets hope to have him back for Thursday’s game.

There’s a science to squarely hitting a moving round ball with a round bat.  Thursday afternoon, during a 20-8 drubbing of Scientific American, the DC Bullets softball team looked very knowledgeable in their field.  The team pounded out eleven extra base hits, including four home runs, five doubles and two triples.

After a scoreless first for Scientific American, the Bullets went right to work.  Neil Hiremath (2-3, 2 R, RBI), centerfielder and basepath terror, and third baseman Mike Lorah singled to open the bottom of the first.  Co-captain and shortstop Adam Schlagman followed with a double to score Neil.  (A double?  Really?  That’s how we scored that?)  LF Andrew Arnold and LP Vollano, the Bullet’s slugging DH, followed with back-to-back home runs.  Learning from their mistakes, the SA outfielders played Andrew and LP significantly more deeply afterwards, holding Andrew to a 1-3 day, with a three-run jack.  LP finished 1-2 with his solo tater.

Scientific American showed a glimmer of hope for the game when they retired the Bullets in order in the second, having retired five consecutive hitters at that time.  However the Bullet defense continued to hold the line, behind strong pitching from CNap, Christine Napolitano (0-2) and Jeff Boison (2-2, 2 R, RBI).  CNap pitched the first, second and fifth innings, and Jeff handled the third, fourth and sixth frames.

After holding the opposition scoreless through three innings, the Bullets busted out again in the last of the third.  The right field tandem of Brian Walters (2-2, 2 R) and Allison Dugas (2-2, R, 2 RBI) sandwiched singles around a groundout, tacking on a quick run.  Jeff Boison added a single, and C Katie Kubert’s (1-2, 2 R, RBI) fielder’s choice erased Allison.  Neil Hiremath singled again, chasing Jeff home, and Lorah singled to load the bases.  With two away and two runs home, Adam Schlagman put an exclamation point on the inning, driving a pitch on the outside corner of the plate down the right field line.  With nobody guarding the line, Adam cleared the bases easily.  The grand slam highlighted a massive 3-3 day that included 2 R, 5 RBI, two doubles and a home run.

Channeling some of their 2008 memories, the Bullet defense stumbled in a big way in the Scientific American fourth, however.  The first six SA hitters reached base, with a few assists being given by flummoxed Bullet leather, and before the comic book makers could put out the fire, SA tallied six runs.  Looking to rebound from their rocky defensive effort, the Bullets nearly came up empty in their portion of the fourth.  After the first two batters were retired, CF Pat Brosseau (2-2, R, triple) slammed a ball into the right field gap for a triple, and 1B Brian Cunningham (2-2, RBI, double) ripped a double to left center to bring Pat home.  At the end of four, the Bullets had Scientific America doubled up, 12-6.

In the fifth, after two additional Scientific American runs, the Bullets busted the game open.  Sal Cipriano (1-2, R, double), co-captain and second baseman, doubled, and 3B Nel Yomtov (1-2, R, RBI, triple) followed with a triple to the right center field gap.  After an RBI groundout cleared the bases, consecutive singles by Brian W., 1B Jerry Cerza (1-2, R), Allison D., Jeff and Katie scored three more runs.  A pop up produced the inning’s second out, but then Mike Lorah capped his 3-3 afternoon and the game’s scoring with a three-run homer to deep center field, giving him 3 R and 3 RBI to go with his long ball.

The 6-0 Bullets look to improve on their 2-0 record in the New York Media Softball League next Thursday, at 7pm in Riverside Park, when they face The Daily Beast.  Local fans are encouraged to enjoy some softball on the Hudson.

Game Notes:

After a scoreless sixth for Scientific American, the Bullets added on another run, courtesy of singles by LP, Brian C., and CF Vince Letterio (1-2), but time on the field permit expired before Scientific America could bat in the top of the seventh.  By time expiry/rainout rules, the game effectively ended after the SA half of the sixth, leaving the final score 20-8.

Scientific American scored twice on heads up, aggressive base running, scoring from third on an infield fly and later going from second to home on a groundout.  The next Bullet defender with a mental lapse like either of those two will buy a round for the whole team after the game.

Defensive standout notice for second baseman Allison Klein (0-2, RBI), snaring a hard line drive and making a bare-handed catch on a force play at second base with a runner barreling down on her.  And a tough luck tip o’ the cap to the Doc, Lauren Fries, who showed some shortstop chops in the last inning, but at the plate ended up with nothing to show for three of the hardest hit balls of the afternoon.

In their second New York Media Softball League game, the DC Bullets played tight defense and strung together a three run-scoring rallies to best public radio’s WNYC 10-4 on Monday evening.  Playing on WNYC’s home field, perhaps the deepest field the Bullets play on all summer, extra base hits came with difficulty, but the bats put together a few sustained station-to-station relays in the first and fourth innings.

Centerfielder Neil Hiremath (1-3) led off the top of the first with a hustling base hit, before he was erased on third baseman Mike Lorah’s (1-4, 2 R) fielder’s choice.  Co-captain and shortstop Adam Schlagman began a perfect day at the plate with a line single to left.  Adam finished 3-3, with a run scored, an RBI, a double and a base on balls.  LF Andrew Arnold (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) drove home Lorah, and LF Jay Kogan (2-4, 2R, RBI) knocked Schlagman home.  2B Christine “CNap” Napolitano’s (1-2, R, RBI) groundout scored Andrew, and LP Vollano, the designated hitter, capped the scoring with a two-out single.  LP had himself a 2-2 with 2 RBI day.

WNYC then halved the Bullet lead with two runs in the bottom of the first.  Despite lead-off hits in the second, third and fourth innings, but Bullets failed to tack on to their lead.  The offensive shortfall appeared problematic when WNYC’s biggest bopper hammered a two-out, two-run double down the left field line in the last of the fourth, tying the score at four all.

However, the resilient Bullets shook off their doldrums in the top of the fifth.  Consecutive singles by Lorah, Schlagman and Arnold put the Bullets back on top, and after Jay’s fielder’s choice erased Adam at third base for the first out, CNap loaded the bases by beating out an infield single. LP drove in Andrew for a second run, and 3B Adam Staffaroni (2-2, 2 RBI, double) doubled home two more runs, adding an exclamation point to the inning.

The 8-4 Bullet lead held into the seventh inning, when the comic book makers launched a two-out rally.  With SCF Joel Press (1-2, R) at first and two away, SCF Brian Cunningham (2-2, R) lined a hit to left and pitcher Larry Ganem (1-2, RBI) flared a single to right, bringing Joel around and across the plate.  Brian Walters (0-1, BB), the right fielder, walked, and RF Allison Dugas capped a 2-2 day with an RBI base hit, scoring Cunningham.

Battling to the end, WNYC put their lead-off hitter on in the seventh, but after a foul pop-out at third, Larry Ganem put an end to the game by spearing a line drive back to the mound and doubling the runner off first.

With the 10-4 win, the DC Bullets move to 2-0 in the NYMSL, and 5-0 overall.  Next the Bullets match up against Scientific American on Thursday at their home field, Field #2 in Central Park’s North Meadow.

Game Notes:

The Bullets likely benefited somewhat from WNYC’s being short a player; the radio squad played a nine-person team, leaving them with only a three-man outfield.

With eighteen players present, only shortstop Adam Schlagman, pitcher Larry Ganem and first baseman beyond peer Laura Demoreuille played every defensive inning.

Due to the large WNYC home field, the Bullets managed only two extra base hits, both doubles: Adam Schlagman’s lead-off gapper in the third, and Adam Staffaroni’s two-run shot that capped the fifth inning scoring.

Mike Lorah struck out looking in the sixth inning. For shame.

Ace pitcher Larry Ganem (1-2, R, double) threw two and two-third perfect innings to start the game (hey, it may not sound like much, but this is slow-pitch softball!) and the Bullet bats continued their torrid early season hitting, setting a new season-high mark in runs during a 17-4 route of The Nation on Thursday evening in Central Park.

After a perfect top of the first by Ganem and the Bullet defense, centerfielder Neil Hiremath (3-3, 3 R) smacked a single into left field and came around to score on third baseman Mike Lorah’s (3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, double, homer) home run to dead center for a quick 2-0 lead.  Call it early amends, as Lorah later threw away a routine grounder with two out in the third to allow the first Nation baserunner of the game, kyboshing Larry Ganem’s perfect game effort.

3B Adam Staffaroni’s (1-2, R) one-out single started the Bullets in the second, but it was an out later when back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles by 1B Sal Cipriano (2-2, R, RBI, double), 2B Nel Yomtov (1-1, R, 2 RBI, double, sac fly) and CF Vince Letterio (2-2, R, 2 RBI, double, homer) produced a three-run frame for the Bullets.

The loss of the Ganem’s perfect game apparently took an emotional toll on the Bullets in the third, as they retired in order during their only scoreless inning of the afternoon.  The Nation produced a single run in the fourth, which only served to reignite the comic book makers’ bats.  Thirteen Bullet hitters came to the plate in the fourth inning, including the first nine who reached base safely.  All nine of those runners crossed the plate, boosting the lead to a healthy 14-1 advantage.

The Nation tacked on single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but the Bullets kept pace with two in the fifth – Letterio’s lead-off home run to left, and RF Brian Walters’ one-out RBI single.  Brian was 1-2, with that RBI – and one in the sixth on three successive singles by Hiremath, Lorah and SS Adam Schlagman (2-3, R, 2 RBI).

At 4-0 (1-0 in the New York Media Softball League), the Bullets are off to one of their best starts.  Come see if they can keep the momentum going in their second NYMSL game on Monday, against WNYC in Central Park’s North Meadow, field #10.

Game Notes:

A little credit to the Nation: their left fielder made two terrific running catches atop the left field line, robbing designated hitter LP Vollano (1-2, R, RBI) and SCF Doc Lauren Fries (1-3, R, RBI, double) of extra base hits, and their shortstop drilled a long triple to left field that would’ve been a homer if he hadn’t gone into a home run trot a little early and if LF Andrew Arnold (2-3, R, RBI) didn’t have a cannon for an arm.

The Nation also hit several balls right on the screws, but fortuitous positioning worked in the Bullets’ favor.  Lauren, Staffaroni, Sal and 1B Brian Cunningham (1-2, R, RBI, double) all snared screaming line drives to back Larry Ganem’s pitching.

Jay Kogan picked up a two-run double during the nine-run fourth inning, giving him seven RBI in the last two games.  Jay finished 2-3, and also scored a run.

In 2009, the DC Bullets softball squad posted an overall winning record, but battled to maintain a .500 record in the competitive New York Media Softball League.  Including a first round playoff loss, the Bullets dropped three games to the 2009 NYMSL champions Wall St. Journal.

Well turn the page on 2009, because late Saturday morning, the Bullet squad pounded out 14 runs in the opening three innings and held on, white-knuckled, for a thrilling 15-11 victory over the Journal.

Impressively, the offense put together four, three and seven runs in the first three frames with only four extra base hits.  The small-ball approach saw the team compile fourteen singles (and four doubles).  In the first 3B Mike Lorah (4-5, 3 R, 2 RBI), SS Adam Schlagman (3-4, R, RBI, BB) and CF Andrew Arnold (2-4, 2 R, double, BB) singled to load the bases.  LF Jay Kogan’s sacrifice fly scored one, and RF Pat Brosseau highlighted his 1-5 day with a two-run single.  After a fielder’s choice, DH LP Vollano (2-4, R, RBI) capped the inning with a double to score SCF “Doc” Lauren Fries (1-2, R).  The Journalists scored three in the bottom of the first, keeping the game tight.

In the second, successive singles by P Joel Press (1-2, R), 2B Christine Napolitano (1-2, R), Lorah and Schlagman scored two runs, and Kogan’s two-out RBI double added a third run.  In the middle of every rally, Jay’s 3-4 day included five RBI, a double and a sac fly.

Aided by an unusually shaky Journal defense in the third, the Bullets batted around, tacking on seven more runs and carrying a commanding 14-4 lead into the back half of the game.  Singles by C Katie Kubert (2-2, R), Vollano, 3B Adam Staffaroni (1-3, R, BB) and 1B-2B Nel Yomtov (2-3, R, RBI, BB), and an opposite-field down-the-line double by 1B Jerry Cerza (1-2, 2 RBI, double) opened the inning.  One out later, Lorah singled, and with two down, Arnold doubled and Kogan capped the frame for the second consecutive inning with a two-run single.

Resilient to the end, Wall St. Journal followed their single run in the second with two more in the bottom of the fourth, then tore into a tiring Joel Press for five runs in the sixth inning.  Adam Schlagman prevented further damage in the second with a huge double play, taking it to second himself and throwing on to first. After scoreless turns in the fourth through sixth innings, Jay Kogan drove home one more insurance run in the seventh for the Bullets, chasing home C Allison Dugas (1-2, R, RBI), who’d singled, moved to second on an overthrow, and taken third on a deep outfield fly.

With the blustering wind playing havoc on his pitches and the Journal hitters working deep counts, Joel Press channeled his inner Nolan Ryan and said, “Pitch counts be damned.”  In the last of the seventh, two Wall St. Journal baserunners reached with one away, but Joel secured the final two outs with routine grounders to first and third bases.

Now 1-0 in the NYMSL and 3-0 overall, the DC Bullets play their next game on Thursday at the home field, North Meadow #2 in Central Park against The Nation.

Games Notes:

Special thanks to Sean, Jeff and James for coming out to support the team.  The occasion marked perhaps the only sighting of Sean and Jeff without alcohol in their hands, so the team appreciates their sacrifice.

The swirling wind made game play, particularly pitching, an usual challenge.  The Bullets drew four walks, and the Journal at least as many, a rarity in free-swinging slow-pitch softball.

The DC Bullets matched up against the Paris Review Thursday afternoon in their second game of the season.  A year previous, in the 2009 season opener, the Bullets looked rusty as they came out on the bottom end of a 22-10 shellacking at the hands of the Parisian poets; in 2010, their defense and bats tuned up in a 7-6 season-opening win against Random House, the Bullets put on a stronger and more balanced showing, riding an 8-run first inning to a 13-8 victory.

After the Paris Review scored three quick runs in the top of the first, a repeat of 2009’s match-up seemed possible.  The Bullet bats responded in the bottom half, however, as nine of the first ten hitters reached safely, highlighted by back-to-back triples by left fielder Andrew Arnold (1-2, R, 2 RBI, triple) and right fielder Pat Brosseau (1-2, R, RBI, triple), and capped by RCF Adam Staffaroni’s (2-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, triple, home run) on-a-rope three-run blast down the right field line.  The eight-run outburst topped the Bullets’ entire seven-inning effort from the previous week.

In their half of the third , the Paris Review fought back with three more runs, and the Bullet hitters looked stymied when the Review’s relief pitcher came at them with a – how to put it? – peculiar release point.  Singles by RF Allison Dugas (1-2), ace pitcher Larry Ganem (1-1), and leadoff speedster and centerfielder Neil Hiremath (2-2, R) loaded the bases in the second, but the heart of the order popped out twice to squelch the threat, and the Bullets folded in order in the third.

After Larry Ganem held opponents scoreless in the fourth, maintaining an 8-6 lead, the Bullets finally solved the relief ace’s motion with six extra-base hits.  Catcher LP Vollano’s (2-2, 2 R, RBI, triple) lead-off triple and LF Jay Kogan’s (2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, home run) mammoth home run to deep left opened the frame.  Staffaroni added a triple, scoring on a groundout by second sacker Nel Yomtov (1-2, RBI), and a trio of doubles by 2B Christine Napolitano (1-2, R, double), CF Vince Letterio (2-2, R, double) and C Brian Walters (1-2, 2 RBI, double) capped the five-run frenzy.

As the field permit expired at 7pm and another team waited restlessly for the field, the Paris Review mounted a brief two-out, fifth-inning rally, scoring two runs, but the Bullet defense hammered the final nail into the coffin lid. Andrew Arnold, SS Adam Schlagman and Ganem hooked up on a 7-6-1 relay, securing the final out at the plate following a hard single to left.

The 2-0 Bullets have their first New York Media Softball League game of the summer at 11am on Saturday morning (that’s slightly under three hours from now) in Central Park’s North Meadow, Field #7, as they meet the 2009 champion Wall St. Journal.

Game Notes:

2009 team MVP and relentless self-promoter Mike Lorah returned from his honeymoon (which appropriately enough included a stop in the opponent’s namesake city) for his first 2010 tilt, picking up a put-out and three assists at the hot corner and mustering an opposite field single during the first inning deluge.

LP Vollano, maintaining a sterling 1.000 batting average on the early season, removed a huge monkey from his back when he notched his first extra base hit with his triple to deep center field leading off the fourth.

Out for the week with an injured back, co-captain Sal Cipriano is day-to-day, but hopes to return to action next week, and first baseman extraordinaire Laura Demoreuille earns defensive honors for the game, bailing out her infielders with several outstanding stretches.

By The Bagman

After playing a very competitive Inter-squad slugfest (22-18 was the final!) to start their year a couple of weeks back, DC Comics’ softball team took on Random House in their first official game of 2010 last Thursday on their home turf of Central Park’s North Meadow (Field #2 for fans that want to come down to cheer). The Bullet bats looked a tad sleepier than the week prior, though, and started the game with lots of pop-ups and groundouts but managed two runs, one on a solo homer by Captain Adam Schlagman (2-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI).

Coming into the third inning, the score was 2-1, but Random House turned on the juice to score four runs off of pitcher Larry Ganem (1-1, W) in the Bullet defense’s only bad inning. An inning later, though, DC turned their Blackest Night into the Brightest Day putting up a five-spot highlighted by a bases clearing triple by Batman and Robin letterer Pat Brosseau (1-2, R, 3 RBI).

Leading by two, the Bullets turned to Joel Press (0-2, S) for a 3 inning save attempt. The Press-man, who pitched very well overall, gave back one, making the game tight heading into the bottom of the 5th. With one out, though, Hellblazer letterer and new team co-manager Sal Cipriano (1-2, R) fired a single to left. Another single by Adam Staffaroni (2-2, RBI) got him to third, and when Editor Brian Cunningham (0-2, RBI) grounded to third Cipriano made a head’s up run to the plate on the force play to second for what would end up being the winning run!

Random House scored one more in the top of the 7th, but Press shut the door to ensure the Bullets first win of the year! The two teams continued on to play a friendly full nine innings to knock any additional rust off.

This week, the Bullets play two with a Thursday home match-up with the Paris Review, a team DC will be looking to exact some revenge upon from last season, and then on Saturday they face-off against the ‘09 NYMSL champion Wall St. Journal on their home turf. Ganem and Press are scheduled to start the two games respectively.

Bullet Notes: The Bullets have started the season hitting some long balls. Captain Schlagman hit another homer in extra innings, and he was joined by Andrew Arnold in that regard. In the previous week’s inter-squad the letterers smacked a home run each as did the Captain and L.P. Vollano. Can this be a sign of things to come or just some early adrenaline? We’ll start finding out this week!

Sunday afternoon (after, fittingly, a one-day rain delay), the DC Bullets played their final softball games of the 2009 summer. As the fourth and final seed in the New York Media Softball League playoff bracket, not much was expected of the Bullets, and indeed, the first tilt against regular season (and eventual playoff) champion Wall St. Journal didn’t go well for the comic book makers. In the fifth, SS Adam Schlagman (2-4, run, 2 RBI) singled home Mike Lorah (2-3, run); SCF Doug Harrison (2-2, RBI) drove in RF Brian Cunningham (2-4, run) in the sixth, after Brian’s long triple to left; and in the seventh, Schlagman drove 3B Adam Staffaroni (1-2, run) home one batter before CF Andrew Arnold (2-4, run, 3 RBI, HR) crushed a long home run to drive in three more. DC’s six-run total was topped by Wall St. Journal’s eight-run fourth inning alone, as the 18-6 final tally sent the Bullets to the “consolation” game to play the loser of the High Times-BusinessWeek game.

With BusinessWeek’s triumph over the Bonghitters, the Bullets still had to match up against the 2008 NYMSL champions in the consolation game. Having split the regular season series at a game apiece and knowing it would be their final softball game of the summer, both teams were prepared to have some fun and give their best efforts. The Bullets won the coin toss to be the home team.

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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 12^th 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.

The DC Bullets lost a golden opportunity to move up in the New York Media Softball League standings Thursday evening, dropping a 12-8 decision to BusinessWeek in both squad’s semi-final league game.  They’ll square off again Tuesday at 5:30 in Central Park, North Meadow, Field #3, in each team’s final game of the regular season.

Thursday evening, The Bullets jumped out to the early lead, with 3B Mike Lorah (3-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 doubles, walk) driving a two-out double into the right field corner. RF Brian Cunningham’s (2-4, 2 runs, RBI) RBI single drove Lorah in, and Brian alertly took second on the throw home. DH Larry “LP” Vollano (2-2, run, 5 RBI, home run, sac fly) tacked a second run on with a single, scoring Brian. In the bottom of the first, BusinessWeek served immediate notice that they would not go quietly, as their lead-off hitter drilled a long home run to left field. Two more runs plated for BW, but DC escaped the inning when, with one out and runners on first and second, Lorah and 1B Joel Press (0-2) hooked up for a 5-3 double play.

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Continuing to show resilience after Friday’s lopsided defeat at the hands of Wall St. Journal, the DC Bullets once again rebounded Monday evening to secure their second playoff berth in the three-year history of the New York Media Softball League. Monday’s 6-1 triumph over The Daily Beast has the comic-makers in the fourth and final playoff spot, and they’re in striking distance of the three seed.

SS and team captain Adam Schlagman (1-2, run) and 3B Mike Lorah (2-2, 2 runs) got the offense started with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first. An RBI groundout by LF Jay Kogan (1-2, run, RBI) brought Schlagman home, and Lorah crossed the plate after two more base hits by RF Brian Cunningham (2-2, run) and DH Larry LP Vollano (2-2, double, run, 4 RBI).

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By Sal “The Bagman” Cipriano

After losing to arch nemesis Marvel, DC was determined to turn it around this week. Not only for pride, but for survival. On Thursday, the Bullets did just that as they won one of their more well-rounded games this year, beating NYMSL opponent WNYC to stay in the playoff hunt. The very next day a different kind of challenge presented itself: the good-natured gang of Archie Comics!

Last year, DC walloped a depleted Riverdale team (their only run produced by a lent Bullet!). This year, though, it was DC that put out the depleted team as the game fell on a “Summer Friday” leaving the Bullets with only 4 faithful players: Captain Adam Schlagman, Andrew “Armadilla” Arnold, Neil “Hotfoot” Hiremath, and Sal “Bagman” Cipriano . To make up the difference, the Captain brought down his two roommates, Cipriano brought in teammates from another league, Hiremath coaxed his girlfriend into catching, and Archie lent us two players, returning the favor from last year.

The Archie team, with added players and new team jerseys, looked like a mean bunch this year, causing some worry on the Bullet bench. Archie came out swinging, too, and after a couple of minor gaffs on the Bullets part, pushed across their first run. The DC and friends team was not deterred, however, and sent ten of its twelve players to the plate in the bottom of the inning, scoring six runs in the process! The next two innings saw an additional 11 runs cross the plate sealing the Riverdale gang’s fate for good. Kudos to them, though, for keeping the spirit and fight till the end, as they scored 12 runs to make their case as an improved team! When all was said and done the traditional comic book slugfest ended in a solid 22-12 win for the Bullets.

The teams shared laughs, stories, and beers afterwards showing all that comic book rivalries can be left in the funny books and on the field. Special thanks to our ringers: Miguella Mark-Carew, Ian Parfrey, Bill Vernick, Havelock Hewes, Stanley Fong, Danny Minchala, Suzannah Rowntree, and Danny No.2 for their contributions.

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by Joel Press

With only weeks to go in the 2009 NY Media Softball League season, the DC Bullets have a lot of rained out games to make up. But none loomed larger than this past Thursday’s must-win game against WNYC Radio. With memories of their 11 inning loss to Manhattan’s NPR affiliate back in June still fresh in their minds, the Bullets took the field under a rare cloud free Thursday, seeking redemption (and a .500 record in league play).

Behind the pitching of Larry “Tim Wakefield’s got nuthin’ on me” Ganem, the Bullets shut down WNYC’s offense in the top of the first. Then in the bottom of the first, the Bullets struck. Getting things started with a leadoff single was coach Adam “I work on Summer Fridays” Schlagman (4 for 4, 3 Runs, 2 RBI) followed by third baseman Mike “I’m off to Cooperstown, someone else do the writeup” Lorah (2 for 4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI). The Bullets drew first blood on a sac fly by outfielder Pat “The Bat” Brosseau (2 for 3, 1 Run, 3 RBI), and second blood (if there is such a thing) on a triple by outfielder Brian “I ain’t lyin’” Cunningham (2 for 3, 1 Run, 3 RBI), giving them an early 3-run cushion to work with.

Ganem and the Bullets would hold WNYC scoreless in their half of the second inning, after which DC struck again, scoring 4 more runs in the bottom of the second behind, all with two outs, behind RBI singles by Schlagman, Lorah, outfielder Jay “Make ‘em pay” Kogan (3 for 4, 1 Run, 1 RBI), and Brosseau, giving the Bullets a comfortable 7 run lead.

WNYC was able to push across one run in the top of the third, but it would prove to be their only run scored in the game, as Ganem and the Bullets would shut down WNYC’s offense with stellar, if not always graceful, defensive plays.

The Bullets managed another 5 runs in the game, scoring 2 in the bottom of the fifth and another 3 in the bottom of the sixth, to notch a 12-1 victory and bring their record to 9-6 (3-3 in NYMSL play). With only 4 league games remaining (2 in each of the next 2 weeks), the Bullets have a tentative grasp on 4th place and the league’s final playoff spot. Next up are some tough customers in Business Week (4-3 in NYMSL play) on Thursday and Wall Street Journal (5-1 in NYMSL play) on Friday.

Game Notes:

by Michael C Lorah

A big hand for Joel Press, stepping in to do the game recap this week, fans!  Anything defamatory in the above can be addressed to the DC Legal department, care of Joel.

As I understand it, the Bullets nailed down another win on Friday evening, topping Archie Comics, and running their mark to 10-6 (yet still 3-3 in NYMSL play).  I was, as Joel stated, touring the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown that day and missed the game, so I have no idea the score or if anybody’s going to hand me a recap of it.  I’ll post it if I get it.

Thursday afternoon, teams representing both DC Comics and Marvel Comics assembled in Central Park to settle things the way things are meant to be settled: on the softball field. Although both team play in separate leagues and the game didn’t count toward anybody’s playoff hopes, you’d find few in either dugout who regarded the contest as less than the most important game of the summer.

Despite their lead-off hitter being gunned down by DC’s legal eagles, LF Jay Kogan and 2B Joel Press, trying to stretch a single into more, the Marvel squad put together a string of hits and pushed two runs across in the first. DC responded with some small ball in the bottom of the frame, with 3B Mike Lorah (2-2, 2 runs, RBI) beating out an infield single, going first-to-third on SCF Doug Harrison’s (1-2) flare into short right center, and coming home on Kogan’s (1-1, run, RBI) sacrifice fly to left.

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Thursday afternoon, the DC Bullets matched up against Air America in a non-league softball game. Though the DC squad’s bats again struggled to push runs across the plate, outstanding glove work continues to keep the team in games.

After a lead-off single by Air America in the first, SS Adam Schlagman cut off a grounder that seemed headed into center field. The Captain stepped on second and threw through to first base where Nel Yomtov (2-3) squeezed the throw to complete the twin-killing. Air America’s three-hitter then scorched a rocket toward right field, but CNap, Christine Napolitano (2-3), made a spectacular short-hop pick and got the out at first. With two amazing defensive plays, the Bullets looked to capitalize on the momentum and take an early lead.

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The Bullets matched up against a squad from Magnetic Theatre on Saturday afternoon in Central Park. There were plenty of laughs and a lot of stat padding, though not much in the way of competitive game play. By the second inning, the Bullets add a five-runs-per-inning limit to their half of each frame, and three times in six turns at bat, the run-cap ended the inning before Magnetic Theatre could obtain that elusive third out. In the fourth and fifth innings, the Bullets made a combined two outs, but the theatre crew did finally turn the Bullets away scoreless in the top of the seventh.

Among the (many) offensive highlights:

SS Adam Schlagman posted a 5-5 game, with two homers, five runs scored and five RBI.

P Mike Lorah was 4-5, three runs scored, one RBI.

3B-LF Nel Yomtov drove in three and scored twice, while collecting three hits in his five plate appearances.

LF-3B Andrew Arnold homered to start his 4-5 day, as he collected two runs scored and three RBI.

RF-2B Sal Cipriano accumulated three hits in five appearances, including a double, a run scored and 2 RBI.

The afternoon’s most dramatic moment came when the comedic crew from Magnetic Theatre faced a two-out situation with runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh inning. One out from a rare slow-pitch softball shutout, the Theatre squad cheered rowdily when a flare into center field dropped for a two-run double, scoring their first (and only) runs of the day.

With the 23-2 win, the Bullets record is 7-5 (2-3 in New York Media League action).

Game Notes:

Given their trouble finding players for Saturday’s game, the Bullets would like to extend a hearty thanks to “Friends of DC” Ryan and James for their contributions, and to Jen, Chrissy and Rafael of the Magnetic Theatre for coming over to play with the opposition for the afternoon.

The Bullets New York Media Softball League schedule resumes 5:30pm Thursday afternoon at Central Park’s North Meadow, Field #2.