by EBB Coach Ken Thibado
For the first time in history The Eagle Bay BombERNs took the field on Tuesday, June 2 as the newest team in the Adirondack Women’s Softball League. The clouds hung dark and heavy as the Tavern-sponsored expansion team dug into the batter’s box and settled in for a season of summer fun.
I want to fill your heads with visions of Larry Burger Liners driving in runners like the skies opening up and pouring ERNed runs all over The Black Mountain Bears…but alas, the fine lasses of North Creek closed the first couple of innings up with such a flurry of homeruns that the chilly skies appeared littered with neon yellow.
The ultimate score will be contested for the rest of time. The loss ranges from 17-7 to 14-8. (Let’s remember: this is a beer league.) However the battle was epic.
The BombERNs responded to the power onslaught of The Bears with measured hits and timely base running, and kept pace after the early Bear Blitzkrieg.
Karen “The Crusher” Hoskins knocked two near-homers to put her team in contention, but it was Brittany Sheldrick who owns history’s first BombERN bomb.
An entire tale can be written about the superb play…and early exit of Alexis Bennett. Snowcone catches turned to ice packs after a Bear-belted liner caught the nimble middle infielder on the ankle.
Her replacement, “Homer Happy” Sheldrick, then followed up Alexis with even more stunning fielding. In the meantime, out in the outfield, Wendy Conely and Crusher Hoskins solidified the defense against the air assault of the Bears, making splendid catches.
Making the move from catcher to first base, Captain Sam Luce collected putout after putout, as the BombERN squad settled into a confident stride. But the Bears never looked back, even as the BombERNs shut down their offense.
As the game neared its ending, there was hope for an underdog air raid by the Tavernistas, but the Bears flashed their leather as well. The game went from crooked numbers to zeroes, and that stasis introduced the Gallant Gals of The Bay to their first loss.
Tricia Lindsay, Robin Murdock and Sarah Shanahan showed impressive play in the field as well during the hard-fought loss.
The bomb bay doors are open however, and next Tuesday, on home turf, the BombERNs look to squish The Black Widows at Inlet’s Fern Park at 6:30 p.m.
If these Dames of the Diamond pick up where they left off, you won’t want to miss it!