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On a cold and cloudy day with rain threatening, Re-Entry completed their undefeated season with a resounding 26--1 victory in the Championship game over the previously undefeated Team Jopo. With Team Jopo playing with a reduced roster consisting of five men and two women, Re-Entry took full advantage of the three-person outfield and no catcher. Nevertheless, Re-Entry brought their A-game, and it is unlikely that the final result would have been much different against a full Team Jopo squad.

In the top of the first inning, the opening Jopo batter hit a ground ball to Clara at second who fielded it cleanly and threw the runner out at first. The second batter sent a ground ball to Howie at shortstop resulting in the second out of the inning. Eddie could not quite corral a line drive to center field, but Jopo left a baserunner stranded at second when Yahoo fielded a ground ball at third base and threw a strike to first for the third out of the inning.

In the bottom of the first inning, Re-Entry plated five runs. Three of the five runs scored on a two-run homerun by Andrew (the Re-entry homerun king) and a solo shot by Yahoo. In fact, Yahoo had to hit his homerun twice. The first time (a lined shot down the left field line) was called back due to a low pitch. With the left fielder moving toward the line, Yahoo sent the next pitch to left-center field way beyond the outfielders to claim his homerun.

In the top of the second inning, after two quick outs, Jopo put a runner on first base with a single. The next batter hit a sinking line drive to short. Howie attempted to short hop the ball, but the ball squirted under his glove, and suddenly Jopo was threatening with runners on first and second. But the next Jopo batter sent a fly ball to the outfield that was easily caught and Re-Entry maintained its 5--0 advantage.

In the bottom of the second inning, Re-Entry put the game away with a ten run inning. Indeed, only one Re-Entry batter made an out by the time Laurie came up to bat with runners on first and second. Laurie then sent a lined shot out to center field that got past the fielder. Laurie hustled around the bases, and crossed home plate with what she thought was a three run homerun. Unfortunately, her run was the eleventh run of the inning. With the ten run rule invoked, her homerun was downgraded to a triple. Nevertheless, Laurie was our offensive star of the game leading the team with four RBIs.

In the top of the third inning, Jopo's leadoff right-handed batter hit a drive to the deepest part of the ball park in right-center field, way past our outfielders for an easy inside-the-park homerun. It would be the only run that Jopo would score this day. With Re-Entry leading 15--1, the game was no longer in doubt. Re-Entry did not let up, scoring eleven more runs over the next three innings. Among the highlights was a two run homerun by Jessica in the bottom of the third inning, her first round tripper of the season. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Re-Entry scored five more runs, of which the first was the most eventful. With Howie at first, Brian doubled to right-center field. Howie blew past third base, ignoring the third base coach, on his way home. The throw home was a little high, and Howie managed to get his foot on the plate (standing up) before the first baseman who was covering home plate could apply the tag. Howie signaled safe as he crossed the plate and the umpires confirmed the call. Re-Entry tacked on its last three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning aided by a single by Vanessa that traveled all of ten feet but still managed to drive in a run.

The Re-Entry defense was nearly perfect, with only two minor miscues during the game. However, it is difficult to select one particular defensive play as a web gem, as the Re-Entry fielders made all of the routine plays. But, since we need to select one play, the web gem goes to Brian for tracking down a line drive shot to left field, which ended the fourth inning. On the other side, kudos to the Jopo shortstop who made a number of terrific plays. The most spectacular came on a hot ground ball off the bat of Turner in the bottom of the third inning. The Jopo shortstop dove for the ball hit to his right, snagged the grounder and threw from his knees a strike to first base. The first baseman juggled the throw and Omar was just able to beat it out for the single.

At the end of five innings, the umpires ruled that the sixth inning would be the last one on account of darkness. Having scored 26 runs already, Re-Entry had prolonged the game to the point that there was not enough light for the full seven innings. The first Jopo batter doubled and advanced to third base on a ground out. Taylor almost threw him out with a strong throw to Yahoo at third base after recording the out at first. Yahoo could not quite control the throw and it dribbled away into foul territory. Yahoo then dove and managed to keep the ball from crossing into the out-of-bounds area (thus preventing the runner on third to score on an overthrow). With one out, a pop up to Howie at short did not allow the Jopo runner on third to score. The last out was a ground ball to Clara at second base, providing some symmetry to the proceedings as she fielded ground balls to second which resulted in both the first and last outs of the game. Clara threw to Taylor at first base, and the Re-Entry victory was officially in the books.

Amazingly, the rain held off during the entire game. Once the game was done, it was time to hand out the Championship T-shirts and pose for the winning team's photo. Finally, the rain began to fall as darkness descended and the final snaps were taken. The complete Championship game log follows. With this win, Re-Entry completed its second straight undefeated season and claimed its second straight title.

Championship game log

First inning

Eddie doubles to right field.
Taylor grounds out, shortstop to first baseman.
Andrew homers on a line drive to right center field. Eddie scores. Andrew scores.
Alexa singles to right field.
Dave doubles to right field. Alex to third. On the overthrow, Alexa scores and Dave advances to third.
Laurie out on a sacrifice fly to right field. Dave scores.
Yahoo homers on a line drive to deep left center field. Yahoo scores.
Carena grounds out, shortstop to first baseman.

Second inning

Omar homers on a fly ball to deep left field. Omar scores.
Jessica grounds out, shortstop to first baseman.
Turner doubles to right-center field.
Clara singles on a dribbler in front of the plate. Turner to third base.
Howie triples to right-center field. Turner scores. Clara scores.
Vanessa singles to center field. Howie scores.
Brian homers to deep right field. Vanessa scores. Brian scores.
Taylor doubles to right field.
Eddie homers on a fly to deep center field. Taylor scores. Eddie scores.
Alexa singles to right field.
Andrew singles to left field. Alexa to second.
Laurie triples to center field. Alexa scores. Andrew scores.
Ten-run rule is invoked. Laurie's homerun is downgraded to a triple.

Third inning

Fourth inning

Fifth inning

Sixth inning

Earlier in the day, the Big Bangers triumphed over Pamela Chu in a close 9--7 contest of wild card teams to qualify for the semi-finals and another chance at ending the Re-Entry dominance dating back to the fall of 2007. However, the talented Re-Entry squad proved too much to handle, as Re-Entry cruised to a 19--8 victory, extending their record over the Big Bangers to 9 victories and no defeats.

In the top of the first inning, the Re-Entry defense asserted itself by making three putouts on three pitches. In the bottom of the first inning, Dave led off the game with a line drive homerun to center field. With one out in the inning, Yahoo smoke a line drive past the third baseman (where else?) for a double and subsequently scored on an RBI single by Turner. Re-entry extended their lead in the bottom of the second inning. Eddie led off the inning with a homerun to deep right-center field. Clara followed with a single and was driven home thanks to Omar's two-run homerun to deep center field. With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded, Isaac produced a two-run double and the score after two innings stood at 7--0.

The Big Bangers managed to push across one run in the top of the third inning. The inning saw two Re-Entry web gems on defense. On a hard hit ball just to the right of second base, Clara reached for ball making a very nice backhand grab, and then FROM HER KNEES threw a strike to first base. The batter barely beat the throw to the bag for an infield single. Later in the inning, with one run across and the Big Bangers threatening to add to that total, Turner caught a line drive at third base, and with a strong throw to first base, he caught the baserunner off the bag to complete the inning ending double play.

The third inning began with a line drive double by Dave down the left field line and a solid line drive by Alexa to put runners on first and third. Yahoo then hit a towering drive to deep left field down the left field line (where else?) which landed inches foul (according to the umpires). A mighty swing on the second pitch of the at-bat led to a foul ball that barely made it out of the batter's box. With one pitch left, Yahoo took no chances and tried to go opposite field. The result was a deep drive to left center field way past the fielders for a three run homerun. Taylor followed that with a line drive double. Instructed to tag up on a fly ball by third base coach Howie, Turner obliged with a deep drive to center field that was caught. Taylor indeed tagged up and was able to make it all the way home giving Turner a well deserved RBI. Clara followed with a single and came home on Eddie's second homerun of the game, a two-run shot to deep center field. Not to be outdone, Omar followed two batters later with his second home run of the contest, a deep drive to left field that went even further than Eddie's blast. Re-Entry was now in total control with a 14--1 lead.

The Re-Entry defense stymied the Big Bangers in the top of the fourth inning, which ended on the second double play of the game. With a runner on first, Isaac in right center field had to come in a number of steps to snag a sinking fly ball. Once again the runner at first was caught off the bag, and a perfect throw by Isaac to Yahoo playing first base this inning completed the double play. At this point, Re-Entry took the foot off the accelerator. They went down one-two-three in the bottom of the fourth inning, and in the top of the fifth inning a series of defensive miscues and sloppy play in the field extended the inning for the Big Bangers. By the time the third out was made, the Big Bangers had pushed six runs across the plate to close the scoring gap to 14--7. Suddenly, the score was a little too close for comfort. Meanwhile, the sun was setting and it was clear that the game was unlikely to go the full distance. The umpires conferred with the two team managers and agreed to end the game after six innings of play.

To ensure that there would be no drama at the finish, the Re-Entry offense reasserted itself in the bottom of the fifth inning. Isaac led of with a line drive to left center field which skipped past the fielder resulting in a homerun. Alexa followed with a line drive single, Dave doubled to left center field to drive in Alexa, Taylor singled to left center field with Dave easily scoring on the single. Yahoo followed with a single. With runners on first and second, subsequent RBI singles by Clara and Turner extended the Re-Entry lead to 19--7. The Big Bangers could only manage one run in the top of the sixth inning. A nice running catch in short left field over the shoulder via the backhand by shortstop Howie was nullified by "low pitch" call by the umpire. But, the last Big Banger rally was finally snuffed out by ground ball third out, Howie at short to Taylor at first base to seal the victory and punch the ticket for the championship game.

All in all, it was a very strong effort by the Re-Entry squad. Consistent hitting both for power and for average up and down the lineup, and solid defense (excluding that shaky fifth inning) combined to produce a decisive victory and a chance to defend our championship two weeks from today. The complete semi-final game log follows.

Semi-finals game log

First inning

Dave homered to center field. David scored.
Laurie made an out.
Yahoo doubled to left field.
Alexa made an out.
Turner singled. Yahoo scored.
Taylor made an out.

Second inning

Eddie homed to deep right-center field. Eddie scored.
Clara singled.
Omar homered to deep center filed. Clara scored. Omar scored.
Jessica singled.
Howie was out a fly ball to deep right field.
Stephanie singled. Jessica to second.
Brian singled. Jessica to third. Stefanie to second.
Vanessa struck out.
Isaac doubled to right-center field. Jessica scored. Staphanie scored. Brian to third.
Laurie made an out.

Third inning

Dave doubled to left field.
Alexa singled. Dave to third.
Yahoo homered to left-center field. Dave scored. Alexa scored. Yahoo scored.
Taylor doubled.
Turner was out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Taylor scored all the way from second.
Clara singled.
Eddie homered to deep center field. Clara scored. Eddie scored.
Jessica made an out. Omar homered to deep left field. Omar scoared. Stephanie made an out.
Howie was out on a fly ball to ringt-center field.

Fourth inning

Vanessa made an out.
Brian made an out.
Laurie made an out.

Fifth inning

Isaac homered to left-center field. Isaac scored.
Alexa singled.
Dave doubled to left-center field. Alexa scored.
Taylor singled to left-center field. Dave scored.
Yahoo singled. Taylor to second.
Clara singled. Taylor scored. Yahoo to second.
Turner singled. Yahoo scored. Clara to second.
Jessica made an out.
Eddie made an out.
Staphanie made an out.

Sixth inning

Line scores of the Fall 2013 games and commentaries