Mercy Victory Versus 10-4 George Doesn’t Divide the Good Feelings All Around

On Thursday July 9, CMDR took on 10-4 George at Onatru Farm Park. Last year's champs had the upper hand in the standings, and the home team didn’t take long to mark their territory. Taking a 3-0 first inning lead, the second place team still didn’t let a scoreless second slow their train.

CMDR scored four more in the third and went onto a 12-0 mercy rule victory.

The visitors did populate the bases at the outset, though. Rebecca Del Greco led off with a single to left, and a pitch later, Karen D’Alessio followed with an opposite field bloop to right. Unfortunately, a pair of infield flies, and a pop to center ended the threat.

Out to the circle went Erin Bamback, and she didn’t wince when Dawn Ianiri came right at her. The pitcher snared the projectile on the bounce and recorded the first out.

Lauren Whitten followed with a lot less velocity. Good for an infield hit anyway, CMDR was off, and the knee brace Laura Statuti limped in on was no impediment for the third baseman.  “My team needed me,” she said, and her line drive down third scored Whitten.

Wendy O’Donnell did the same to put runners on the corners, and that left Theresa Pepe to go with her bread and butter. “It’s just natural,” she said of her opposite field swing. 

In came run number two on the single, and Doreen Schmidt readied her bat, while full knowing she’s lost a step after such a long career. “I make it work,” she said, and a bloop single to left definitely sufficed.

So did Donna Thomas’ dirty work at first. She dug out Ianiri’s low throw, and with the lead off runner gone, Schmidt was able to retire the side in the second.

CMDR went quietly in the bottom of the second, and other than an infield hit by Bamback, so did 10-4. Onto the bottom of the third, an error at short began the CMDR rally.

O’Connell’s ground ball to short drew a high throw, and with one out, Pepe looked for her pitch.  “If they pitch me inside I don’t swing,” she said.

Of course, if there’s a second time, she has no choice. “Sometimes I go to center,” said Pepe, and that’s where her line drive single went.

Schmidt then reached on a throwing error at third, but after Del Greco got the force at third, it appeared the damage would be limited.   Unfortunately for 10-4, a throwing error by Bamback kept the inning alive, and Ianiri’s single made it 7-0.

Schmidt’s defense and experience helped keep it there. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’m used to getting balls down the middle. So you have to be quick,” said the pitcher, and she was for the second out of the inning.

Taking their pitcher’s cue and getting out of the inning, CMDR added three more in the bottom of the fourth and only three more outs were needed.  Two more back to Schmidt did the trick, and with the GHC in first, the team’s sites are set on a redo. “We just beat them,” said Pepe, and that’s the goal when the playoffs arrive.

But despite the defeat, the day was not a total loss for 10-4 - especially when the team can run on the good humor of their first baseman. “We have so much positivity in our lives that sometimes we have to let other teams win,” Christine Hennings was all tongue and cheek.

She has good reason to laugh. After having her knee replaced, Hennings can’t complain about any day she gets to be out there. The after party never hurts her demeanor either. “We have some beverages and chips and hangout until the bugs start to bite,” Hennings clarified.

On the team for over 40 years, Nancy Haggerty takes stock too. “I never plan to quit,” she said. “I can’t imagine not playing.”

D’Alessio would be a little at a loss in the event. “I’ve known Nancy for thirty years. “We’re like sisters,” said the left fielder.

The family feel extends to Del Greco, and in all likelihood, so too does the overall sentiment on both sides of the diamond. “You’re outside, you're with your friends. We have a great time,” the shortstop concluded.

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