The Comeback (Not So Much) Kids Walk Off a Thriller, 31-30 Dark Green Over Orange

There is but one one thing to do when your defense is busy giving the other team extra out after extra out after extra out. Dark Green spotted Orange an 18-6 lead, and ultimately gave up 23 runs in the first five innings. And despite the "Glass half full" Manager, there is no quit in this year's Green team - they stay positive. In a feat rarely matched (if ever in Creaker lore) in all baseball or softball, we nullified that 18-6 lead with twelve runs on zero outs in the bottom of the fourth. That's right - we batted around all twelve players, and since it ended on back to back home runs by Bill Jeha (3-run) and Shel Perham (solo), everyone batted and everyone scored.

So in fact the only thing to do when you are so generous on defense is score relentlessly and often. Orange wouldn't go away - they answered our twelve with a five spot in the fifth, and they repeated that in the eighth, taking a 30-28 lead into the ninth. But we held them scoreless in the open inning, and when our half started with two walks, Green's confidence soared. Three straight clutch singles, by Robert Douza, Leo Kay, and John Banker sealed the deal, and Green walked off happily.

There were no real heroes on defense - how could there be in this kind of game - although I have to say the first baseman dug out a couple of throws and caught a couple of popups in the sun.

But let's talk about the offense! Kay, Banker, Jeff Olsen, Jeha, Perham, and Douza all hit the opposing fields' dirt on one side or the other and made the round trips  - Banker's, Jeha's and Douza's were three run shots. A veritable explosion of power!

And that's not all. Kay (five runs) and Banker slashed five hits each, and Olsen and Superman Howard Davis were 4-4. Jeha (triple besides the HR) and Douza led the way with five RBIs, and Banker was right behind with four. Pat the Bat Oday hit a bases loaded single for three RBIs - if he weren't injured who knows how far he could have run! Everyone had a hit and got on twice or more and scored a run, at least.

Dark Green is on a serious roll - four in a row - we have come a long way since losing 17-2 in Week 4. Watch out!