A game for the ages.

The last few years have been lean ones for our softball team. Two years ago we only won five games and last year we topped that by one. This year we are off to a great start due to a combination of good defense and timely hitting.

Tonight's game was really exciting. We started slow and couldn't seem to do anything right. After a scoreless first inning, we got on the board first by plating two runs. We couldn't hold Missionary Alliance though. They came back hitting the ball all over the field. When they hit it at us, we threw it away. When they were on the bases they ran with energy and enthusiasm. They scored eight runs and had us on the ropes.

We came back with three runs and were feeling good with the score 8 - 5 going into the bottom of the third. Alliance picked up where they left off in the previous inning and scored seven more runs to take a commanding 15 -5 lead. They threatened to put the game away early.

Feeling the heat we jumped back into the game with five runs of our own courtesy of a couple of walks, three doubles by Mike Young, Sean Wilding and Daryl Alves and sacrifice flies by Chris Vaillancourt and Steve Moon.

In the bottom of the forth inning Alliance scored three more runs and came close to breaking things open. Only a miscue by their third coach saved us. The coach got called for player interference on a play at third ending the inning. We traded zeros in the fifth but the pressure was on for they could have won it by scoring two more runs.

With new life in the sixth we began a record setting rally. Chris Vaillancourt started things off with a double. Daryl Alves singled moving Chris to third. Steve Moon walked to load the bases with no outs. Mike Staron singled and drove in two runs. He went to second on the throw and Steve went to third. Chip Chaffee followed with a three run homer to centerfield to bring us to within three runs. The score was now 18-15 and we still hadn't made our first out.

Eric Poore and Mark Staron hit back to back doubles to score another run. Mike Young ripped a single to drive in Mark and we were down by one. Ken Kreger walked and Dan Dutrumble singled to bring Mike home with the tieing run.

The next two batters lined out sharply to third and short and it appeared the rally was over. With the top of the order coming to bat and men on the corners, Daryl Alves tripled and drove in two more runs for the first lead since the second inning. Steve Moon singled to drive in Daryl and Mike Staron walked to set the table for Chip again. He double to drive in his fifth run of he night. Eric Poore followed with a double of his own to bring in two more runners. Mark Staron and Mike Young followed with back to back RBI singles to complete the scoring.

When the dust settled we had scored sixteen runs and had turned the tables completely. Alliance went down quietly in their last two at bats and we moved our record to 8 -3. It was a game for the ages. No one could remember a bigger inning in our 23 year history. It was a reminder of how far we had come and what a "never give up" attitude can do for a team.

Cal