Even with stalwarts Jaclyn, Andy, Joe and Clifton missing from the lineup, the Vipers were able to dig their fangs in deep and hold on to the lead to capture their 10th win of the season, just one away from tying the franchise high. Three games remain in the season and the team is well on their way to finishing with their best record in club history.
Bulldogs, a team the Vipers haven’t seen since their first match of the year back in May, posted some strong hits in the first, but the Viper-D was geared up and shut them down with only two runs scored and another two left on base at inning’s end. Fueled by this strong play on the field, the Vipers put their bats to work and answered right back with five runs of their own by stringing together four back-to-back doubles.
Tight defense on both sides held each team scoreless in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Conan, shocked to learn he was taking 2nd base in the top of the third, ended up fielding the play in all three outs of the 3-up, 3-down inning, including a wicked line-drive, snagged with a one-step and casual flip of the glove. Though devoid of even a hint of a tan or that Puerto Rican lisp, he had the rest of the team wanting to “catch the taste” after they witnessed his short stint in the position. Vipers again kept the Bulldogs from scoring in the fourth, but when it came to their turn at the plate, they put up four runs on strategic hitting in the bottom of the inning to lead the game 9-2 at the midway point.
Bulldogs began to chip away at the Vipers’ lead over the next three innings and by the middle of the 7th inning had reached within three runs. During this stretch, Baby Turk Adam made the highlight reel with the play-of-the-night when he stopped a potential onslaught from the Bulldogs by tear-assing deep out to centrefield to snag a long-ball, backwards, and just in the top of his glove. The play shut-down the Bulldogs as they left two runners stranded at second and third. Once again though, the Vipers got swinging to answer back and earned a couple more runs to lenghthen their lead. It was a good thing too, as the Bulldogs put up three more in the top of the 8th to get within 2 runs. Vipers failed to score after this attack, but with the hiss still in their defense, they shut down the opponent in the 9th to take the 12-10 victory.
Subbing in tonight was yet another former-Viper, P-Nut, who joined his former team for the first time this year. He took up his spot at third base and while a bit rusty, still had the fierce throw to first that was the league’s deadliest in the championship-winning season of ‘07. The big, hot-spot hitter of the past batted a respectable .500 and definitely got the itch to return full-time to the lineup next season. Also in the .500 club this night were Care-Bear, Bullit, Barry Bonds, Rob and Steph, while Amy and Mikey led the pack, each going 3-for-4. Barry, Jess and Mikey were the only players to post multiple RBIs in the game, but with the help of their teammates, it was enough to coil in the win and take the season series two games to none.
Next up, the Vipers meet struggling league newcomers, the Fireballers who have yet to post a win in their freshman season. Vipers will be a bit more relaxed for this match-up, but are still hungry to get that all-important, 11th win of the season. Only two games remain after that, a double-header on Tuesday, Sept 2nd, which should give the Vipers a chance to get in some fine-tuning before the playoff weekend starts just four days later. And Sher is anxious, and hopeful, to see the entire team out for at least one of these games for the first time this season.
