Barracudas 8, Challengers 15

In Game 2, the Challengers received another tremendous outing from their starter - this time Azuma - and also received plenty of support from their offense as well. As in Game 1, the 'Cudas jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a HBP and two passed balls. As in Game 1, that lead did not last. With one out in the bottom of the second, consecutive hit batters gave the Challengers runners on first and second. After a ground-out by Gordon moved the runners into scoring position, Adderly Sarmiento became the third HBP in the inning, which loaded the bases. Kovac followed with a booming double to left, driving in all three runners and putting the Challengers up 3-1. The lead would only grow from there: Juan led off the bottom of the third with a triple, and scored on a single by Falcone (let me just make a comment here: Renzo is a very talented hitter, don't get me wrong. But the aforementioned single came on one of the ugliest swings I've ever seen - off of one foot, lunging...didn't matter. I'm so bitter).

In the fourth, the Challengers blew the doors off, sending 15 men to the plate and scoring 9 times. By the time the dust had settled, a close 4-1 contest had become a 13-1 laugher. The 'Cudas did manage to put up 7 runs over the next two innings, but as in Game 1, it was too little, too late, and the Challengers coasted to a 15-8 victory. By the end of the game, the only thing that was in doubt was whether the gale-force winds that had suddenly descended on the field, would manage to blow all of the dirt off of the infield (the answer was no).

All in all, it was an impressive performance for the Challengers, in particular the starting pitching. As mentioned before in this space, if Christen can emerge as a legitimate second option behind Lehmann, NLB could really be in a position to make some noise this season. Strong starting pitching, solid fielding, impressive hitting...something's brewing.

by Alex Gordon