Tools beat CAP with walk off win - 14-13

"They have interns and look a lot better in warm-ups. And they have about 30 people this time." - Heath Hall E-Mail 6:25

"Get here as soon as you can. We are in BIG trouble." - E-Mail - Mike Needham 6:27

These E-Mails evidence the fact that CAP showed up with a short stop who was invited to spring training for the Boston Red Sox and they were killing the ball in BP.

The second match up between The Hertage Tools and The Center for American Progress was one for the ages.

Izzy Ortega capped off a perfect night at the plate with a 2-out walk-off single as YOUR Tools defeated the Center for American Progress 14-13. Long-time observers of Heritage softball place last night’s win among the most thrilling in years.

It did not look good for YOUR Tools as the game started. The Left Fielders had brought 40 players – 25 of whom were summer interns – and quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead. As YOUR Tools came to the plate in the first, the CAP third baseman lept high into the air to snare a scorched line drive off leadoff hitter Mike Needham’s bat sending even more chills down the spines of YOUR Tools who thought, for the first time in years, that a team might be on the field that could challenge their dynasty.

But Jim Lawruk, Ortega, Heath Hall, Derek Hunter, and Alex Adrianson all singled in the first to plate three and bring the Tools back within 2.

YOUR Tools got the game to within one in the 3rd inning as their women caught on fire with Heath Hogue and Margaret Daly each doubling while Stacie Smith hit a sac fly.

By this point, the CAP cheering section was trying to intimidate Your TOOLS by doing what liberals do best: chanting meaningless slogans. Their interns belted out renditions of Center for American Progress favorites, such as “we don’t want your Git-mo, we just want to hit-mo.”

YOUR Tools’ cheering section – Adam Salmon – responded by lighting a cigarette.

But YOUR Tools bats had an answer in the next inning -- knotting the game at 11 in a 4th inning highlighted by an Ortega home run and Adrianson RBI double.

Both teams’ defenses buckled down for the 5th and 6th innings with only 3 combined runs scoring in those frames. YOUR Tools’ defense was paced by Hunter, who snared a number of comebackers at pitcher; Hogue, who flew around the outfield tracking down flyballs; Adrianson, who made a few solid plays on liners at third; and Needham, who set a world record for high jump by a Jew to haul in a line drive.

And so, YOUR Tools entered the final frame down 13-12 with the bottom of the order at the plate. But YOUR Tools refused to surrender knowing they must carry on the struggle until, in G-d’s good time, with all their power and might, they would step forth to rescue their dynasty.

Daly led off the bottom of the 7th with a double and was quickly plated by Brian Darling who broke a hitless day at the plate with a single. Sarah Smith then moved BD to second with a single, turning over the lineup to the top. With nobody out, Needham launched a moonshot down the left field line – flirting with joining Carlton Fisk and Robin Ventura in the annals of historic walkoff shots. Alas, the ball hooked foul and your humble correspondent popped the next ball up weekly to the shortstop. Salt. Jim Lawruk then ground into a fielder’s choice to set the stage for Ortega’s dramatic game winner as Brian Darling hustled from third to score.

Ortega was a perfect 5-5 on the day. Derek Hunter and Alex Adrianson both went 3-for-4. YOUR Tools are now 6-1 on the season.

The Three Stars of the game were:

3. Margaret Daly with a double to lead off the bottom of the 7th to put the game tying run at second base. Daly crushed 2 doubles on the day.

2. Jim Lawruk who came out of retirement to make an excellent, and painful looking, diving catch to save runs in the 5th inning. Lawruk dusted off the cleats to go 3-5 with 4 runs scored.

1. IZZY ORTEGA - Game winning walk off single and a towering HR to right field in the 4th inning. Izzy was perfect at the plate and even smiled moments before hitting the game winning ball into right field. Coach BD attempted to carry Izzy of the field, but gave up when he realized that Paychecks and Donuts have added a few pounds to Izzy since opening day.

Honorable mention to Alex Adrianson for his 2 doubles -- 4 RBIs and everybody that showed up. Needham, Hall, Hunter, Hogue, Wiley, Nick, and the Smiths kicked ass. GREAT WIN!!!