Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan -- As the second week of the 2009 Intramural Summer Softball Season swung into action at the main softball field here, the Delinquents found themselves on the business end of a 9-0 blowout by Strictly Business at Monday’s game.
The Delinquents’ loss to Strictly Business leaves them with a 0-3 record and lots of needed improvement.
On the other end, Strictly Business improved its season record to 1-1 and on the right path to a successful season.
Although this game ended early due to the mercy rule, it was still a nail-biter.
Coach Bobby Shank said, “We practiced a little harder and did better than normal, we didn’t lose as bad this time.”
The Delinquents may not have scored or gotten many hits, but they did make lots of contact with the ball which kept Strictly Business on its toes.
Strictly Business came into the game off a 23-20 loss to the Shamrocks last week and needed a big win to stay in the playoff hunt.
Before the game, Strictly Business coach Christopher Rhodes said, “After last week’s loss, we worked on fly balls and focused on base hits instead of going for the wall the whole time.”
Strictly Business’ new-found strategy appeared to pay off, allowing only one hit and extending its lead nearly every inning.
The Delinquents went three and out in the top of the first, but Strictly Business managed to score one run off a double by Joseph Galvan which brought Colin Aspenson in for a 1-0 lead.
“They had a really good pitcher. It was most of their defense,” said Shank.
The second inning looked much like the first for the Delinquents, going out with no runs and only one man on base.
Strictly Business went on a hitting spree and ended the inning with three additional runs and a 4-0 lead.
It was clear that the Delinquents were not playing as well as they could have, ending the third inning again with no runs and going three and out.
The Delinquents held Strictly Business to no runs in the third, but in the fourth, they gave up another three and had their backs to the wall going into the fifth down by five.
Coach Shank led off the fifth with a double and waited for someone to bring him home.
Next up was right center fielder Jonathan Ragin with a single of his own.
With two runners on base and second baseman Jenny Cartagena up, it looked as if the Delinquents were making a comeback; however, it was not so. Cartagena grounded out to second which left Ragin caught in the middle and thrown out at first.
Center fielder Kevin Flynn’s pop fly ended any hopes for the Delinquents comeback and retired the Delinquents to the bench.
Going into the bottom of the sixth it was still 5-0 with only one inning to go, but it seemed that Strictly Business wanted to end it there.
Strictly Business went on yet another hitting spree to score another three runs. With the fourth heading in to home, the umpire called the game.
“This is the first of many Ws,” Coach Rhodes said after the game.
Strictly Business takes on El Unit today at 8 p.m. at the main softball field.
First baseman Jason Keaty said, “A storm is coming and it’s called Strictly Business. Watch out El Unit.”