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Next Game

The next game will be the first round of the playoffs. Watch this space for further announcements.

The final game of the regular season was against the Scrubs, with first place in Division VII on the line. Once again, Re-Entry had a depleted lineup, missing key players from both the men's and women's lineups. The Scrubs jumped out to a three run lead in the top of the first inning, and with one out with runners on first and second base, they were threatening to score more runs. The next Scrubs batter hit a fly ball to Andy in left center field. After Andy caught the ball, the runner on second took off (after tagging up) to try to take the extra base. But a perfect strike from Andy to Turner at third base gunned down the Scrubs runner, thereby completing the inning ending double play. With that web gem, the Scrubs rally was snuffed out.

In the bottom of the first inning, Re-Entry batters took a workmanlike approach, spraying line drive singles to all parts of the diamond. Without a major extra base hit, Re-Entry batted around and by the time the third out was made, nine runs had crossed the plate. After holding The Scrubs scoreless in the top of the second, the Re-Entry batting assault continued, although not until there were two outs. Once again, a steady diet of line drive singles produced additional runs until Turner's two run home run finally broke the singles streak. Holly was notably consistent, with numerous line drive singles over the head of the third baseman to keep the Re-Entry rallies going. At the end of two innings, Re-Entry held a commanding 16--3 lead, and indeed had scored enough runs to earn the eventual victory.

But, Re-Entry still had to hold off a persistent Scrubs offense. After scoring another run and threatening to score more with runners on the corners, the Scrubs batter hit a fly ball to medium right center field. The fly ball found Andy yet again, and he threw accurately to Howie at the cutoff position, who then turned and fired home (on the fly) to cut down the Scrubs runner trying to score from third. Alexa skillfully applied the tag (for the second time in the last two games) to complete another inning ending double play--a second web gem for the highlight reel. That makes two oufield assists for Andy in today's game and three consecutive games with tag plays by Re-Entry at home to end an inning.

The Scrubs kept pecking away and closed the gap to 16--7 at the end of the top of the fourth inning. Re-Entry responded in the bottom of the 4th inning with Turner's second two-run home run of the game, and the lead was back to double digits. With Rob's early departure, Re-Entry was now playing with four men and five women in the field. Nevertheless, the Re-Entry defense remained strong, holding the Scrubs scoreless in the top of the 5th inning. In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Andy opened the frame with a long solo home run. Two batters later, Andy was back on the mound and Eddie was the batter, trying to extend a perfect day at the plate. But a wicked line drive hit Andy flush on the left side of his chest, and Andy went down. Members from both teams and the umpires quickly attended to Andy at the mound, worried about a potentially serious injury. After a few minutes, Andy stood up and walked off the mound to the cheers of the crowd. After the game, the Re-Entry management would only reveal that Andy suffered an "upper body injury", and we will have to wait to see whether the time off in the schedule before playoffs begin is sufficient to heal the injury.

Andy withdrew from the lineup (as it was too painful to swing the bat), although he volunteered to play catcher (thinking that the injury is only a bad bruise). Meanwhile, in the top of the sixth inning, Howie opened the scoring with a solo home run to deep right field (and was one double shy of a second consecutive cycle going 4 for 5), and Eddie attempting to one-up his advisor cracked a two run home run to complete an outstanding 5 for 6 day at the plate. Leading by 14 runs going into the 7th inning, the Scrubs to their credit kept up the pressure aided by a few Re-Entry miscues in the field and a couple of seeing-eye infield base hits. Andy (shaking off his injury) valiantly made a critical play fielding a dribbler in front of the plate and with a perfect throw to first base recorded the second out of the inning. Meanwhile, the Scrubs did not quit and closed the gap to seven runs, but they could get no closer. A fly ball to Eddie in left center field for the third out clinched first place for Re-Entry in Division VII and a sixth straight undefeated regular season.

In other action around the league, the Big Bangers were victors by forfeit over Sigma Poop, thereby clinching second place and a wild card berth in the playoffs. Finally, the Manatees were victorious with a 13--12 squeaker over Barry Zito MVP.