Gamers Kick Off Fall Season With Two Wins

Lynbrook, NY - Despite playing without five regulars and at a field that ABA should really consider banning from use, the shorthanded Gamers still found a way to start off their fall season 2-0. It wasn't pretty but they grinded out two victories over the Game Face in typical Gamers fashion, 9-8 and 25-20.

In the first game the Gamers jumped out to an early 6-1 lead but then coughed up 6 runs over the final two innings to allow the Game Face to tie it up at 8. The damage could have been a lot worse but Sp Craig "Maddux" Shames struck out their #5 hitter out with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth to stop their rally cold. The strikeout was one of five in the game for Shames who probably had the best control he's ever had.

He then continued his early season claim to 2b Rob Rathbun's MVP throne by coming through in the bottom of the seventh inning with the game winning single that scored Of Ian "Book Nazi" Zeigler. Zeigler was pinch running for 1b Zac "chin model" Nicholson who reached on a fielder's choice, one of six times he was on base on the day.

The first game also featured homeruns from Zeigler and SS Rob "hot hand in the dice game" Roll as well as three hits a piece for random peep fill in John Schultz and 3b Anthony "oops I drove too far" Vega and two a piece for Of Dave "Deli Boy" Roll and C Peter Hon "Solo".

Speaking of Hon he amazingly made to the game in the third inning despite only be called to play ten minutes before the start of the game. After arriving Hon said, "I was getting ready to watch the Jets game when my beeper went off. I thought I was gonna have to go into the hospital on my day off but then I realized that it was my Gamer's beeper and not the one from the hospital. So I took a shit and drove as fast as I could to the field."

Others though think that Hon's story is unlikely and that he was really hanging out at Green Acres Mall in case he got called upon. Either way it's a good thing that Hon came because he gave the Gamers 10 players and allowed them to better set their outfield defense.

In the second game it didn't really matter how the Game Face set their outfield defense because seemingly everything the Gamers hit fell in as they scored 25 runs, averaging 5 runs an inning. They also banged out four more homeruns as Roll hit two to take the team lead with 3 and Rathbun and Vega added one a piece. Vega should have had 3 more but they all hooked foul including one well over 300 feet that hit lynbrook high school.

Roll, Rathbun, Vega, and Zeigler are now in a four horse race for both the team HR lead and MVP honors with Roll off to the early lead in both races.

Speaking of awards Vega staked an early claim for funniest on field moment after tripping over third base while back pedaling to get a cut off throw. Rathbun has the early lead in most ridicilious home run getting his on a single that skipped past the center fielder. And Peter Hon had one of the funniest lines saying, "I know it's a homerun but I don't want this asshole to pass me" as he sprinted around the bases in front of Roll. Hon might receive some competition though from Zeigler who shouted out, "check the score of the Gamers and Gameface" as everyone was using their cell phones in between innings to get NFL scores.

All in all, the Gamers get off to a great start with two big wins. Their new lineup, created on a suggestion by Dave Roll, spread out their power hitters and worked to perfection as everyone on the team had at least four hits leading to five innings where they scored at least five runs. The lineup featured Rob Roll (3 homeruns, 7 rbis) hitting leadoff and manager Billy Bezouska (five hits) hitting cleanup and definitely will be used again.

Speaking of Dave Roll he was probably the defensive player of the game recording somewhere between 15 and 25 putouts. 2b Rob Rathbun also made a sick play in the first game, diving and landing on second base for what should have been an out, but the umpire blew the call.

Next week the Gamers hope to be at full strength when they continue their drive to the post season against the 0-2 Toasted Heads who lost twice to the defending champion Cobras.