Gotham City: Hounds Demolish Solid Chemicals

It was another glorious Saturday in New York as the Hounds took the field in Central Park. We were looking to put on a stronger showing than we did on Opening Day, and the team showed up to the field early and ready to handle business. In the opposing dugout was Solid Chemicals, a team with a name more befitting a detergent factory than a softball team. Let's give them credit for being a classy team, even if they might not have been fully prepared for the Hounds onslaught.

In Game 1, Margaret took the mound making her first appearance of the season. She showed right away why she is such a big difference-maker on our ballclub. A 1-2-3 first inning was a sign of things to come. Meanwhile, our offense put 3 quick runs on the board in the 1st, Mr. Clutch Iain hitting a 2-RBI triple. That was all we would really need as Margaret was masterful throughout the game. The defense behind her was stellar. Iain was in full dream-shatterer mode, making nifty play after nifty play at short. The defensive highlight of the game though has to go to Jason T. who gunned out one of Solid Chemicals' guys at 2nd base after a clean base hit to center. If you don't hustle against the Hounds, you're dead.

We added runs in each inning, and as the game wore on we got more and more relaxed. Pat hit another tape-measure home run, Jason T. chased Margaret around the bases after a home run of his own, and Iain hit a 2-run homer to take his RBI total for the game up to 4. Those 2 runs took us past the mercy-rule threshold and ended the game in the top of the 5th. Final Score: Hounds 12, Solid Chemicals 0.

For Game 2, Margaret once again got the ball and she continued to throw strikes and let the defense do the work. We were up to the task, although Solid Chemicals were able to string together some clean hits and finally get on the board. On offense, the star of the show was Pat, who hit another long home run and had 5 RBIs in the game. Some other standouts were Cindy(2-3, RBI, 2 RS), Karim(3-3, 2 RBI, RS), and MIke(2-2, SAC, 2 RBI, RS). We put 4 runs on the board in the bottom of the 5th, and the Captain(rocking the Yankee-Doodle-Dandy socks) stepped up to the plate knowing a base hit would score 2 and end the game on mercy rule. He proceeded to stroke a base hit between the shortstop and third baseman, Game Over. Final Score: Hounds 13, Solid Chemicals 2.

We put in a very solid effort in this one, team. However, I would caution that not all of our opponents will be cupcakes like Solid Chemicals. I know our team is destined for the playoffs, in my mind the regular season will be about refining our game so that when "October" rolls around we will be a finely tuned machine.