April 30

Coach
April 30, 1997

The INS Softball Wizards returned to their winning ways last night with an impressive 19-9 come from behind victory over a hard hitting BMC team in what looked like a rematch of the "Fog Bowl" played by the Philadelphia Eagles and the great Chicago Bear team of the late 80s. Shortstop Will Cox had previously stated that this game would begin his own personal assault on opposing teams after INS' embarrassing loss two weeks ago to the Bodymen. Turns out Cox was prophetic as he opened the game with a routine line shot single and took second as the BMC center fielder "lollygagged" his throw into second base. INS eventually got a couple of runs in the first and it looked as though this game may be a wipeout. Not so fast....The BMC leadoff hitter hit Ted Vawter's third pitch over the center field fence for a home run. Vawter tried to sneak an offspeed pitch over the heart of the plate and their power hitter drilled it. BMC continued to blister the ball for the first few innings running the stubborn Wizard outfielders to the fence several times. INS hung tough and eventually took an 8-5 lead in the third only to have BMC rally to go up 9-8 in the bottom of the fourth. This, the top of the 5th, is where the Wizards made maybe their most aggressive statement of the season. INS put together an imcomparable 11 run inning that lasted the better part of 20 minutes. (For those fans out there who haven't yet attended a game there is a 70 minute limit on all games. i.e. the more runs scored the less innings will be played). As BMC stood helplessly and watch the INS baserunner merry-go-round shift into high gear precious time was ticking off the clock. At one point INS strung together 4 straight doubles that left their beleagured opponent scratching their heads. The score after the dust had settled was 19-9 INS. The bottom of the fifth was evidence of BMC's lack of fight as Vawter collected himself and shut down the BMC team without a run enroute to his 2nd victory of the season. This left the score at 19-9 after 5 which constitutes a victory for the INS team by way of the 10 run rule. BMC players were humble in their post game handshaking as the INS team had clearly weathered every punch BMC threw and still had the intestinal fortitude necessary to put their opponent away early. Game Highlights: Will Cox: 4-4 t the plate with 2 runs scored and one slightly boneheaded baserunning blunder. Heath McClure: 1-3 scoring 2 runs, delivering 1 sacrifice and 2 RBI and taking a chest cavity bruising throw for the team early in the game on a play at 3rd base. Brian Ellison: 1-2 with 2 walks, 3 runs scored and 3 RBI and nearly causing a violent diving collision with Gary D in left field. Jonathan Leifheit: 3-4, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI as well as a stellar play in the hole at 2nd to get the lead runner. Gary DiFazio: 3-4, 3runs scored and 2 RBI and a survivor the near collision in left field. Ritch Williams: 1-4, 1 run and 2 RBI, all while losing 17 lbs tracking down opponent hits on the treadmill known otherwise as right-center-field. Mike Hess: 2-3 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI surviving what could have easily been a rear labotomy throw at the back of his grape at second base (because he doesn't listened to his 1st base coach!). Ken Cooksey: 2-3 with 1 run and 2 RBI while catching for Vawter, calling a dazzling array of offspeed pitches from the flame throwing right hander. Ted Vawter: 1-3 with 1 run (pitchers aren't supposed to be able to hit so give him a break) and an early bid for this years "Sigh" Young award. Next week's game is Tuesday at 6:30 PM at Hobgood Park in Woodstock.