Capitalizing on a jet-lagged O’Malley and his wild pitches, Andre Rodriguez, Tristan Schwartzmen and Efran Montilla helped the Teachers score 9 runs in the top of the 2nd, culminated with a home run by Teachers 3rd basemen Joe Siedel.

Helping the Teacher’s cause was new pitcher Jason Perez, who silenced the Hillians’ bats for quite a few innings (and struck out Home Run monster Dubin swinging).

What seemed like a re-educated Teachers offensive effort was eventually matched by Spike Hill when they tied it up 12-12 going into the 7th inning. Then Spike Hill got all “Spike Hill” and ran up the score. O’Malley redeemed himself with his trademark “oppo special” homer, Dubin added 2 additional homers and Leo and newbie John “Jonathan M” Metzl also contributed to the onslaught. But really, we all know Mo and Kris sponsored this 15-run offensive bailout.

The Hillian defense then proceeded to completely shut down the Teachers’ efforts, with double plays turned by Chris Irish and Mo and a myriad of diving catches and classy scoops in the outfield.

The teachers tried to close the gap, but over aggressive base running was their undoing and resulted in the final out.

(Spike Hill 27 / Turkey’s Teacher’s 12)

With a skeleton crew of 9, Reel2Reel was very unsure as to how the morning would shake out. Our 3-man outfield was immediately shaken to the core when newbie Logger Noel hit a home run in his first at bat. The Loggers continued to give us a scare in the 2nd inning when they tacked on 5 runs…but the Reelers got their shit together and answered right back with 7 runs in the 3rd.

Then…controversy ERUPTED on field 2.

Decker, inflicted with brain trauma after trying to catch an infield fly with his face, stumbled upon the minimum line-up rule:

A team must use a minimum line-up of 10 players. 2 of those 10 players MUST be women. If they can only bat 9, the 10th slot is an automatic out, if they can only bat 8, the 9th and 10th slots are automatic outs.

Since we were already short-handed, the Loggers were about to ignore the rule when resident agitator Sgt. Andre started mouthing off that “rules are rules- you have to do it”. It was decided the new rule would stand, but it would cost the Loggers dearly.

The clouds parted, and God himself single handedly stranded the Loggers on the bases every inning whilst he whispered, “Karma, bitches”.

Okay, maybe a Reel2Reel-centric rapture didn’t actually happen, but “5-5” Pervil sure as hell did. He manned RF with the speed and agility of a baby gazelle, prompting the Loggers to dub him “the Ocean” for how much ground he covered.

Also “happening” for the Reelers was Tyler Holzer, werking-like-the rent-was-due on the mound and going 4-5 with a homer.

Even on-base phenom, Jen X and power lefties Al and Tony couldn’t save their team from the deforestation.

But as morning turned to afternoon, the Loggers morphed back to the good sports we know and love, and joined Reel2Reel at the Gibson for the post-match beers. (awwwwwwww)

Epilogue: Our original hypothesis that someone had hacked in to the WSL website was debunked. The rule was just poorly written.

Field #1: AT United vs. Crown Vic 86ers (Stryker)

So such drama in WSL!  3 Kings & R Bar both rolled up their collective sleeves for a fight on Sunday.  This battle of the bombers did not disappoint.  The lead changed hands 8 times and the intensity remained high right to the last out. 2012 WSL HR Champ, Bobby Knapp, erased an early 1 run deficit with a 3-run, oppo homer (essentially a 5-iron, with a wicked slice that had me completely dumbfounded).After 3 more lead changes, the Kings held a slim, 1-run advantage through 4 innings.

After 2 more lead changes, the score was 11-9 Kings with R Bar up in the bottom of the 8th. Wouldn’t you know it, up comes Bubbs to drop a 3-run bomb and reclaim the lead with his 4th hit of the day. The 9th inning really deserves it’s own paragraph, so here goes. 3Ks got a hit and a walk to start off the inning, then Chris Valerio took back the lead on a 2 RBI single. Jose “Gunna” Martinez then added to it with his 2nd homer of the day, followed by a Billy triple and a Francesca homer down the left field line to round out the scoring for the Kings.

No lead was safe in this game and R Bar was certainly not phased by the 5 run advantage held by 3Ks. D-Lo showed off the pop with a solo bomb to left to put the Bums on the board. Before you could blink, the bases were loaded with 1 out and the top of the R Bar lineup was staring down a comeback. 3Ks ace reliever, Gunna, turned a wild double play to end the game and left the heart of the R Bar lineup standing in the on-deck circle. Never a dull moment!

Brooklyn Bowl won yet another low scoring game, besting Pete’s 9-3, in a game defined as much by the Bowlers infield defense as it was by Pete’s inability to hit a slow moving softball.

Sometimes the gods are cruel. If you pair up a shorthanded Gibson squad with the hottest bats in the WSL, Good Co, you’ll get what appears to be a Boise State football score. Wally told us that pretty much everyone went 6 for 6 and hit a homer en route to scoring “a fuckton of runs.”  He also added that he “made a nifty catch in foul territory over the mound and into the crowd.  NBD.” The pink ladies led the offensive charge, with KT going deep and Stacy racking up 6 hits on the day.  Rob, Dom, Drew and Cesar also homered in the win.  The Cobra Co Dojo showed NO MERCY on the Gibs!  Sweep the leg Wally! Adrian from the Gibson noted that not only did Greg hit another homer, but that on the plus side, “nobody got hurt.”  Although the defense was somewhat rare, Jose and Greg made the highlight reel with a couple of nice leaping plays.  Don’t sweat it Gibbys, the hot Pinks are steamrolling everybody lately.  Time to lick your wounds and regroup for next week against the Loggers.

A few Clemericans and I decided to stop by Duane Reade on our way to the park from our pre-game beers at Clems.  We found out they unfortunately do not sell canes.  Man, it would have looked great lined up with the Betty’s bats!