Blowout City

Defense Sparkles in Blowout Victory
BY SPARKY CHALMERS
“Bombers.” It’s emblazoned across the front of every B&E jersey. And nobody would argue that this team doesn't have the most Pearson league firepower—but no Bomber would tell you that Championships aren't built around defense.
B&E flashed leather in every nook and cranny of Woodcliff Lake Park Monday night and earned an 18-2 victory over HSS.
Jason Calcano led off the game with a home run but HSS managed to get through the rest of “Publishers Row,” allowing only one run. A feat that had yet to be accomplished...and confidence was sky high.
“It’s no secret that the big bats at the top of the order account for a lot of runs and awe-inspiring power,” right-fielder Elisabeth Scarpa said. “Leaving the top of the first-inning with only one run was surprising. And I got engaged last weekend.”
Surprised at the quick inning? Maybe. Ready to lock down the HSS offense? Yes.
B&E (3-1) worked a 1-2-3 inning sparked by a wonderful stab by Kim Lovato that kept HSS star Craig Campanell off the bases. The play at second, in particular, set the defensive tone for the rest of the game and earned Lovato the first “Platinum Boombox MVP Necklace” (Big thanks to our friends at Tiffany and Co. who were nice enough to donate the award)
“I just figured that no indie bands were playing in the area,” Lovato said. “And none of my friends were born in the month of July. And I already saw Toy Story 3. So I might as well show up and play softball.”
Good for the Bombers that all those stars aligned because the spark in the first was contagious and soon everyone was following the example. Per the usual, Jason Calcano played a fantastic shortstop (from now on, until further notification, just assume that Calcano played well at short). James Heine played the best third-base of his career and summoned his inner Brett Favre gunning (and I use this phrase loosely) down batters hustling to first.
The outfield also sparkled as Eric Svendsen and Michael Barbara chased down balls that lesser players would have let drop in for extra base hits.
“It’s very easy to pitch when everyone around you is playing well,” B&E Ace and reigning Cy Young award winner who has miraculously not yielded a walk this season Ian Gold said. “The other team has to be deflated, must seem like we have 14 people in the field.”
While the defense was shining, the offense kicked itself into gear. The Woodcliff Lake field features a much deeper wall than Park Ridge—and the Bomber offense showed its ability to adapt. Hitters that are used to teeing up balls into the left field forest were lining ropes into the field and digging out doubles. Baserunning became a premium and two-out RBIs added up until the HSS team was staring at an insurmountable deficit.
“The other team was souped that we only put one run up in the first but I had little doubt that we would reach our usual totals,” outfielder Mack Patterson said. “We’ve got some of the best hitters in the league and we always find someone to step up.”
Patterson stepped up at the back of the lineup and hit line drives through the infield for solid hits. The third year veteran drove in runners and set the table for “Publishers Row.”
B&E and USCG Meet For First Place
The Bombers are back in action tonight for the second game of a three-game set. They play host to familiar rivals USCG—the only team to defeat the Bombers this year. A win for B&E would move them into first place by way of runs scored. A large crowd is expected, so if you don’t come, you will be singled out for hating Pearson and your coworkers.