Team Re-Entry Softball Box Scores for Fall 2007

The first game of the season vs. Accept No Subs provided an opportunity for all the members of Re-Entry to show what they could do. Both Adrian and Megan played really well. Mike was injured and did not play but had some great at bats. Cameron was the MVP of the game. Rob and Ash played as usual and did some good hitting. Amanda was very impressive at second base and did a fabulous job of keeping the ball in front of her; her batting was also quite effective. Dom made some great catches in the outfield and also played well at 2nd base. David's play was outstanding in both the infield and outfield, and his hitting was strong and complemented well Cameron's at-bats. After some warm-up time Emily got on track with some solid singles. Howie provided the good karma from Chicago. Technically, the game was a victory by forfeit (as our opponents did not have enough players), although it was recorded by the league as a 9--6 victory.

Despite a shortage of women players, the Re-Entry team cruised to a two-hit shutout of Fly Ball to Left. Final score was 34--0 (with the game being called after six innings of play due to time). Two ten-run innings started the onslaught, with the mercy rule being called after the tenth run was scored. After that, the team concentrated on preserving the no-hitter, which was finally broken with one out in the fourth inning. Meagan established a Re-Entry team single game record with ten consecutive hits before finally being retired in the final inning of play.

The Re-Entry team took over first place in Division I coed softball with a 20--11 victory over the previously undefeated Hannah & the G-Strings. Despite a shaky defensive first inning (after two quick outs), in which Re-Entry faced a five run deficit, a five run outburst in the bottom half of the first inning tied the score. After that, it was almost all Re-Entry---timely hitting and solid defense helped to build a 20--8 lead. Although Hannah & the G-Strings still had some life left in their last at-bats, the Re-Entry lead was too formidable. A spectacular catch by David in left center field with two outs and the bases loaded ended the game.

Despite Emily's first loss of the season in Rock--Paper-Scissors, Re-Entry took advantage of batting first and quickly jumped to a 11--1 lead after 3 1/2 innings. But no lead is safe and Re-Entry had to weather an attempted comeback of the Team in the late innings. Despite a dropoff in the Re-Entry hitting prowess from previous games, Re-Entry still managed to produce runs in a most creative fashion. Three runs scored on sacrifice flies (two of those runs scoring from second base!!). Both Dom and Michael provided two crucial two-out base hits, each responsible for driving in four runs, with Howie adding another two RBIs with a two-out single to complete the scoring. That was enough to produce the margin of victory. Nevertheless, Re-Entry had to survive one last rally by the Team. The game ended with the bases loaded, as the last out (a force-out and second base) clinched the final victory.

In the final tune-up before the start of the playoffs, Re-Entry played an exhibition game on November 28 vs. Hannah and the G-Strings. With full squads showing up for each team, the game was fairly even at the start, with each team scoring ten runs in the first two innings. The Re-Entry bats shook of the rust and continued scoring in each inning, while shutting down Hannah and the G-strings with goose-eggs for the next two innings. With the help of two double plays and timely hits that included six clean home-runs (including an impressive drive over the left fielder's head by our manager, Emily), Re-Entry kept up its winning ways with an 18--14 victory (approximate score) before the last ground ball out (barely seen as the final rays of light were quickly disappearing), which concluded the contest.

The game against the Big Bangers started off as a low-scoring affair, with the score tied at 3--3 after 2 1/2 innings. Finally, in the bottom of the 3rd inning, the Re-Entry bats came alive. A six run 3rd inning began to put the game out of reach. A superb defensive showing by the Re-Entry gloves kept the opponents to four runs total (with no multi-run innings). Eleven runs in the final two innings completed the rout, and paves the way for a Re-Entry appearance in the semi-finals.

Every season, there is one game that truly tests the character of a championship team. The semi-final playoff game vs. Manhammer IV proved to be the defining game of the season. Our opponents played with a roster of seven players (two less than a full team). Nevertheless, their valiant efforts were impressive, and an exciting (nail-biting) four run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning tied the game and forced extra innings. Meanwhile, after a six run barrage in the first inning, the Re-Entry bats went cold, resulting in only two runs in the next six inning. Strong team defensive play (highlighted by Michael's saving snag of an off-target throw to complete an inning ending double play in the sixth inning) helped to maintain a shrinking Re-Entry lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, we were haunted by a failed attempt to stretch a triple into a home-run, as more conservative base-running would have eventually ensured a one-run victory. Instead, Re-Entry faced elimination, with the winning run on base for Manhammer IV in the bottom of the 7th inning. Luckily, we escaped with the third out. In the top of the 8th inning, a clutch two run triple by Howie followed by a key RBI single by Amanda provided the needed cushion. Stunning defensive play in left-field by David all game proved to be the ultimate difference. In particular, David's on-the-money throw to Adrian to cut down that runner at third in the seventh inning was a critical game-saver. David ended the final Manhammer IV threat in the bottom of the 8th inning with a running catch that clinched the game and sent Re-Entry into the championship finals.

In contrast to the low-scoring semi-finals, the Re-Entry Bats were on fire for the championship game. Re-Entry scored in every inning, and kept the pressure on, while the Re-Entry defense kept IRULEU! scoreless for the last six innings. In the battle between the only two undefeated intramural softball teams, Re-Entry made it look easy and coasted to a 16--2 victory. Perhaps the shocking loss in the final inning of last year's fall classic provided extra motivation, although today's outcome never seemed in doubt. David's acrobatic game-ending catch for the second consecutive playoff game put the final exclamation point on the fall season. Congratulations to Re-Entry for an undefeated season and our first championship since Fall 2004.

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Link to the Fall 2007 Re-Entry Coed Softball team web page