The Outlaws came out on top in the battle for first place last night at the Mohonasen JV field.
The Cubs jumped out on top in the first inning, when Randy Craft got a one-out single and was advanced to second on a hit-and-run ground out by Ron Lochner.
Craft scored on a two-out single by Mike Girard.
The Cubs blew a big opportunity to expand the lead in the bottom of the third, when Jim Mcquade worked a lead off walk and was followed by a Tom Maney single. Randy Craft then sacraficed the runners to second and third, bringing up Hoyle and Girard. Ed Powell then induced Andy Hoyle to pop out to first and Girard flew out to center.
Meanwhile Phil Gadomski was working magic on the hill for the Cubs while struggling through a pinched nerve in his neck that made his pitching hand go numb. He still was able to keep the Outlaws line-up off balance over the first four innings, giving up just one two-out single and no walks.
In the top of the fifth Steve Lounello jumped on Gadomski's first mistake and doubled to lead off the inning. Jan Friedman dumped a single in front of a charging Jim McQuade, that gave the Outlaws runners on first and second with no one out. Mario Arduini attempted to bunt Lou to third, but the Cubs third baseman mishandled the ball and the bases were loaded with no one out. Jeff Jeanette then delivered the tying and go-ahead runs with a single. Mash induced Ed Powell to ground into a double play and struck out Tom Leonard to limit the damage.
With the Outlaws now leading 2-1, the Cubs loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning after two were out and nobody on. Dave Mitchell then hit a long drive to center, but Steve Lounello was playing him deep (because we were playing the game in the middle of a cow pasture) and was able to make the catch to end the inning.
It all came unglued for the Cubs in the top of the sixth when the Oulaws plated six runs, with the help of three Cubs errors and a walk. That effectively was the end of the game. The Outlaws took sole possesion of first place with a 8 -1 victory over the second place Cubs.

-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 07:49:10 AM