by Coach Ken Thibado
The Eagle Bay BombERNs of Inlet hosted their first-ever home game on Tuesday, June 9looking to ERN their first victory in history.
The emerald chessboard, that Mitch Lee and the Town of Inlet have provided for the Tavern- sponsored softball team, is a beautiful example of precisely cut sod and inlaid sand.
The revitalization of The Fern Park (‘ern Park) diamond is a glittering vision.
The entire BombERN team is flattered by the efforts of Mitch’s crew, and proudly took to the sparkling beauty as Mitch Lee, himself, added the final touch of fresh foul lines… in the pouring rain.
The 8-1 soggy loss proved yet again that this team has tremendous heart.
North Creek’s Black Widows spun a defensive web that trapped our Babes of The Blue Line, and nearly shut them out.
A late-inning, two-out rally showed spark that not even the rain could deny, as the BombERNs pushed a run across the plate on the bat of Amanda Hoepfl.
However, it’s not the timely hitting by Muddy Amanda Hoepfl that made her the team’s MVP on this dreary day.
Instead, a catcher was born, as Amanda took her first voyage as the team’s backstop in the soupiest of conditions.
Her delightful chirping, and bright smile brought a ray of sunshine to the team’s spirits. (It should be noted that Muddy Amanda’s pre-game warmup was leaf blowing puddles from the base paths, adding to her MVP qualities.)
Colleen “K” Brigham continued her consecutive inning pitching streak, until a knee injury knocked her off the mound and scratched her mighty bat from the lineup.
It could be said that the BombERNs limped into Tuesday’s deluge, already hampered by nagging injuries.
The fallen pitcher was replaced by rookie call up Erin Eggleston, as the BombERNs rearranged themselves on the fly and marched onward under their own power.
While the skies provided rain, The Black Widows’ bats thundered as The Barking Spider’s pride shot around the bases like lightning.
Hit after hit, the Widows showered upon The BombERNs until the final frame.
Each inning found our damp dames needing to make spectacular plays to escape into the bottom half; only to have the clockwork defense of the Black Widows send them into the next empty handed.
Brittany “The Natural” Sheldrick’s line drives were stifled, while Crusher Hoskins’ hampered wheels frustrated.
Tricia “Linedrive” Lindsay suffered at the threads of the defense woven to snare rocket shots like her’s and Captain Sam Luce.
Offensive highlights were few; notable hits that touched down for the BombERNs by “Leg ‘Em Out” Linda Raymond, Alyssa “The Scoop” Kearns, and Jodi “Flash” Bolton were washed away.
The left side of the BombERNs’ defensive continued to be impressive, with more sparkling play from shortstop Alexis Bennett despite the rain-soaked conditions.
Excellent outfield play from Wendy “Basket Catch” Conely and third basedame Sheldrick helped to ease the girls ultimate demise.
Second basedame, Robin Murdoch patrolled the middle of the field in perfect tandem with Bennett, as Captain Sam continued her stellar play at first.
Appreciation must be paid to The Black Widows, not only for their excellent play, but also for being such good sports about the ridiculous conditions that the weather and the game made out of Inlet’s softball landscape (Back to work Mitch!…sorry.)
Come see the skies clear next Tuesday, as The BombERNs look to rain down runs in Long Lake!