Marlay on 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' despite seventh inning clutch hitting prowess.

By Dave Lee Travis, the Hairy Cornflake.

Marlay 7 - 8 BatPak

Nerves! What nerves? BatPak can thank a string of early innings hits, tight defence in the field and a strength of character in the last inning to hold their lead and take maximum points from a low scoring game that took until the seventh inning to come alive.

On a sunny, warm evening in South Dublin, both teams were greeted by loud guitar riffs and singing from Green Day who had decided to provide free entertainment for the pre-game warm-up from the adjacent field. Players from both teams were [attempting] moving and shaking to the sounds that continued into the second inning.

Again a good turnout of players (14) gave Emma a strong squad to pick from, with Ben Emerson (little toe) and Tom Ryan (lost)? the only noticeable absentees from the regular playing roster. Niall Byrne started on third base and it was good to see Julie Walsh return to the starting line-up following her knee injury.

BatPak started the game in a defiant mood following their first League defeat of the season last week, and the captain gave the team a light 'hairdryer' treatment before the game. The result was a positive one as BatPak immediately had five hits to score two runs in the first inning. This score was repeated in the second and third inning with Marlay offering little resistance with their bats. BatPak's base running was more aggressive, and batters were being selective about the pitches they hit.

Six runs however was a margin that Marlay were very capable of closing in one inning, having scored thirty-eight in the previous week and with players bringing quality and experience of playing in such a tight game. BatPak needed to score more runs, however could only add a further two runs in the game, one in the fifth (what's happened to the magical fourth?) and one in the seventh. Marlay broke their duck in the fourth with Michelle Hayden getting home following a line drive to left-field. Marlay's bullpen was called upon at the top of the sixth inning, the new pitcher bedazzling the Pak batters with a pair of shiny silver trousers, (perhaps borrowed from Green Day), a move which paid off immediately. Elaine Kiely (looking) and Hayley Hennessy (swinging) both struck out, while other BatPak batters struggled to cope with the difference in height and length pitched. Bravo for the change!

Another run from Marlay in the sixth inning left the home team with a six run deficit going into their last at-bat. Form throughout the game suggested that BatPak would wrap up the inning with ease however Marlay had very different ideas. Pak had made 3 substitutions, all fielding in the right side of the field, and Marlay used this to their advantage, aiming hits at the newer players who perhaps weren't yet 'in the zone'. A very close call that saw Marlay catcher Dave Burke escape a tag play on second base following a bullet throw from Carlos Fabien in right-centre, with short-stop Jon Barry admitting that he had dropped the ball.

Marlay added five runs, and with only the one out, the tying run was on second base. A clean, hard hit through the infield took the ball to Dave Pepper in left-field, who, despite being constantly told to throw to cut-off took the decision to go for the direct throw to third. The ball flew high into Peter Mullen's glove and the momentum carried to tag the side of Colum Lavery's head - out! With the tying run now back on first, Adrian Crowe could only ground out to short-stop who lobbed a [quite?] high throw to second base. The game had come alive at the end of the last inning and BatPak had nervously held onto the win.

Marlay will rue not having scored more earlier in the game, while BatPak will thank the runs scored from the first three innings, while not being too happy about only scoring 2 more runs in the remaining four innings. BatPak left on base throughout the game, however praise must go to Anne Kiely (4/4), Drew Hennessy (3/4 with the games only HR) and Peter Mullen (3/4) for some hard, clean hits. Peter, Drew and JB all scored twice. With an error free performance in the field BatPak have plenty of positive to take from this game.

BatPak MVPs;

Male - Peter Mullen
Female - Anne Kiely

Other LLPD Week 7 Results;

Sluggers 7 - 0 Castleknock Bearcats
Oddsox Greens 9 - 2 Dodder Dynamoes
Renegades Red 15 - 13 Blazzers