East Meadow, NY - In a long awaited rematch from last fall's championship game the Gamers (5-1) and Cobras (5-1) split in a heated doubleheader that had a playoff game feel to it. The Cobras easily won the first game 18-1 as the undermanned Gamers, already playing without six regulars, had to play with only 9 fielders. But in typical Gamers fashion, they battled back and won a nail bitter in the second game 14-9.
Suffice to say the first game will not be going in the Gamer's time capsule. Basically, playing with three outfielders is like playing with one arm tied behind your back and it showed as the aggressive Cobras took advantage of the hole in rcf. Add a comedy of errors on top of that and the Gamers were in an early hole that they never recovered from. They would have been shut out if it wasn't for a single by Rob Rathbun and double by Dave Kheel that manufactured a run.
The second game though was an entirely different story. Sparked by the additions of Anthony "what happens in Vega stays in" Vega and Vinny Chin "music" the Gamers were able to pick up the win. Defensively, random peeps Joey "Gorgs" and Kale Buckley pitched in as did regulars Brian Malfettone and Dave Roll to help the cause.
It didn't look like it was going to work out for the Gamers early on as they fell behind 6-2 after three innings. But they showed a lot of heart to battle back, chipping away at the lead with 3 runs in the fourth and another 3 in the fifth to pull within one. Still trailing by one heading into the top of the 7th inning they rallied for six runs tying the game on a double by Schultz and then taking the lead for good on a clutch double from reigning MVP Rathbun that scored two more runs. The Gamers then held on in the bottom of the inning to secure the win behind the pitching of Kheel.
Their win wouldn't have been possible though if not for the exploits of SS Rob Roll who made two game saving catches, one an over the shoulder grab that saved two runs and the other a diving stop and flip from his back to Rathbun that killed another rally. He also went 2 for 4 with a homerun to lead the Gamers offensive attack.
Joining Roll in the hit parade were John Schultz (3 for 4), Rathbun (3 for 4, with another hr), Chin (4 for 4, with a hr), and Vega (2 for 4, with a 2 run triple in the first inning to set the tone). Kheel also added a Gamers style homerun on a triple that he kept running on, avoiding the tag at the plate with a great hook slide, just getting his finger tips in at the last second.
The Gamers will look to continue their impressive play next week when they collide with the division's other power house team, the Corner Pub.
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