Bandits 0, Challengers 11

If Game 1 was defined by erratic pitching, Game 2 was defined by Azuma's efficiency. In his first starting appearance as a pitcher, Yusuke mowed down the Bandit hitters, inducing numerous pop-ups and easy ground balls. Azuma led the way at the plate as well, finishing 4-4 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBIs, and 4 steals.

With their starting pitcher making quick work of the opposition, the Challengers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first, as a fielding error by the Jona shortstop allowed both runs to score.

The C's broke the game open in the second inning, taking advantage of wildness by the Bandit's starting pitcher. Kaempfer led off with a walk, and, following two straight wild pitches, was on third with no one out. An RBI ground-out by Christen made it 3-0, and the offense was just getting started. After a single and a steal by Azuma, Alex Gordon followed with a walk, to put runners on first and second. In what proved to be a pivotal at-bat, Renzo Falcone, in what proved to be a pivotal moment in the game, popped out to the catcher but nonetheless managed to turn it into a productive out: In order to make the play, the Jona catcher had to lay out for the ball, and took quite a long time to get back to his feet. Azuma alertly tagged and went to third, with Gordon moving to second. With two-outs, Nepomuceno singled to score both Azuma and Gordon, making it 5-0 Challengers. After two stolen bases and a walk, Lehmann stroked a 2-RBI single, scoring Nepomuceno and Bernet, and giving the C's a 7-0 lead.

As Yusuke continued to breeze through the Bandit's batting order, the Challengers finally put the game to rest in the bottom of the 6th: After Ryan Koley was HBP leading off, Kaempfer reached on an error, which put runners on the corners with no outs. Christen then drew a walk, which loaded the bases. That brought Azuma to the plate, who continued his scorching hot streak at the plate with a bases-clearing double, taking third on a fielder's choice (I know it sounds like I'm trying to get Yusuke to lend me money or something with these gushing descriptions, but I'm telling you the dude is a machine at the plate right now). Gordon followed with a Sac Fly to center, with Azuma scoring the Challengers' 11th run of the game.

Actually, Azuma could technically have been given like 1/2 an RBI for that Sac Fly: While standing in the on-deck circle, we had the following exchange:

Me: Hey Yusuke.
Him: What?
Me: Come here...you've been on fire hitting. I'm going to rub my bat on your jersey so that some of your power will rub off.
Him: Ok.

What a good-natured guy. And while I'll admit that rubbing a bat against another teammate's jersey is definitely bizarre...I mean it worked, right? Whatever it takes to win, man...

by Alex Gordon