Playoffs Begin! – 7/20 vs. CLEAR

Matt on second base following a "mere double" - what a game! Hit for the cycle with 2 homers, including two grand slams

Monday saw the opening of the Summer League playoffs, & the Underhanded Compliments entered the tourney as the number one seed. As such, we drew a match up with CLEAR, the team we’d defeated 16-4 in the first week, & also a team that failed to win all season, ending 0-6.

Once again, we had a smaller line-up, with only 11 players at the game. Following a top of the first in which CLEAR was unable to score a runner from third with one out, we started off the bottom of the first with a bang. Gustav legged out a double & Lauren singled to drive him in. Matt (who had a huge game—more on that later), followed with a single, then Mark hit a 3-run homer to put us up 4-0. Following two outs, Triffid singled, & Steven sent her home with a triple; Emily H then hit an infield single, & Cameron followed with a base hit to score Steven, & we were up 6-0 after 1 inning.

Another great game by Lauren, who seems locked in: 4 for 5 with 4 runs scored!

In the second inning CLEAR went down one-two-three, & we came up in the bottom of the second back to the top of the order. Gustav led off with a double, & with one out Matt hit a booming triple to drive Gustav in; Mark followed with a run-scoring double, Nicole hit an rbi groundout, & yours truly hit an rbi single. Triffid also singled, & Steven followed with a 3-run home run—seven runs, & we had a 13-0 lead.

Steven also hit for the cycle! 5 for 5 with 7 rbis, & a solid game at shortstop

Although CLEAR came up with a one out triple, they failed to score in the top of the third, & we were back in business. Lauren led off with a single, Matt doubled, & Mark came through with a 2-run single. After two outs were recorded, Triffid homered—a great blast to center—to put up two more runs. Steven hit a double, which was significant in that this left him a single short of the cycle, but was left stranded at second.

Nicole also had 2 hits & was probably robbed of a third by a questionable call.

CLEAR did score a handful of runs in the fourth to make the score 17-4, but we were able to answer. Cameron singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, then with one out Gustav & Lauren singled. Matt came up with the bases loaded & needing a home run for the cycle. Right on cue, Matt hit a towering home run to left. Mark received a walk, then Nicole & yours truly followed with singles, the latter driving in a run. After the second out, Steven hit a two-run single to also complete his cycle, & we were up 24-4.

Cameron went 5 for 5 & kept the batting order moving!

CLEAR did rally for three more runs in the top of the fifth, but we came up with our biggest inning in the bottom of the inning. Cameron again led off with a single, & with one out Gustav & Lauren again singled. Having already hit for the cycle, Matt must have figured there was only one thing to do: hit a 3-run homer, which in fact he did. Mark doubled, Nicole singled, & yours truly came up with an rbi base hit. Triffid smacked a two-un double, Steven doubled to send Triffid home, & with two outs, Cameron singled to score the ninth run of the inning—the maximum allowed in Underdog leagues.

Mark also continued his great season, going 4 for 4 plus a walk: homer, 2 doubles, single & 6 rbis

By now it was nearing 9:00 p.m. & the light was fading. We had a 33-7 lead, & the game was called for light, time, & lopsided score. Triffid was named player of the game for both her hitting & pitching, & Matt was awarded player of the day for his unreal performance.

Emily H chipped in with two hits despite playing with an injury - a real gamer!

Next Wednesday we’ll face some stiffer competition: the Performance Enhancers, who played us as close as any team in the Summer League, & who destroyed PC Load Letters in the early Monday game by a score of 36-13.


NEXT WEEK: SEMIFINALS GAME!