Bombers Advance to Semifinals with 14-10 Victory

BY SPARKY CHALMERS

MONSEY, NY - For the fourth straight year the B&T Bombers will advance to the Final Four. Even with yearly attrition, the squad continues to overcome their opponents, and last night’s 14-10 victory over AE&S was a typical survive and advance performance.

The Bombers jumped on their opponents with a seven-run 2nd inning and limited AE&S in the five innings that followed. The scarlet and grey defense frustrated AE&S who continually attempted to remind each other, “Just chip away, keep chipping away.” In the inclement weather, and the wet conditions, and with Bomber players dressing up as silly mud monsters to protect the lead (Ashlee Bradbury), a comeback became an even tougher climb.

“We’ve had big offensive innings in the playoffs before,” Boombox award recipient and catcher Janine Lucas said. “Psychologically, when we jump out to a big lead, the other team kind of concedes. They’ve seen that script before, at this point, they’ve all seen it.”

Jon Bryant opened the big 2nd inning with a hard hit through the infield and stayed on his feet long enough to come through with the innings first run, opening the flood gates for the Bomber inning. The next six batters would all reach base, and eventually score. The most emphatic hit was a moon-shot from Patrice Jones that Elena Picinic claims landed in her backyard, and unlike the friendly gentlemen that caught Jeter’s 3000th hit, Picinic is not returning the ball.

“I wouldn’t expect her to,” third baseman Brian Mickelson said. “I don’t have anything against Elena, I think she is great, but that’s a monumental homerun hit by a Pearson legend. Ebay is calling.”

While attempting to “chip away” the Bomber offense sputtered and allowed AE&S to get a glimmer of hope. A handful of shaky plays in the field allowed the green team to get as close as 10-8 in the 5th inning. A titanic blast by pitcher Ian Gold in the bottom of the inning didn’t put AE&S on ice, but did change the momentum and put the Bomber defense back on track. Pop fly outs and a rangy play from second basewoman Marta Karell protected a three-run lead.

“I don’t think we took our lead for granted, but we certainly lost a little focus as well as ease at the plate,” Karell said. “For the last inning Patrice and Steve brought us all in, told us to chill out, and reminded us that it was slo-pitch, the ball goes really slow. Just hit it. After that it was all gravy.”

Michael Barbara took the hitting advice to heart and started the inning with a double to right field, and was driven in a batter later by Steve Sartori. B&T would score an additional three insurance runs, an essential skill to practice moving forward in the playoffs.

The win moves the Bombers into the semifinals against USCG. Anyone that is a regular reader of this column knows the history between these two teams, if you are new to this company or planet, here is a brief synopsis. USCG ruined the Bombers perfect 2008 season and won the Championship, and then they proceeded to take the next three games from B&T. A reversal of fortune occurred last year, when B&T smoked Corporate Accounting in the Championship, and swept the 2011 season two-game series, providing USCG with their only losses of the year.

If you like softball, or your co-workers, a short trip to Suffern/Monsey should be in your afternoon plans. And pray for sunshine.