It's Raining Wins for TPG Architecture

After playing our first four games without a single rain-out, Mother Nature struck back, and three consecutive rain-outs later, team TPG found ourselves playing for the first time in five weeks last Thursday against RRA. Out of practice and missing several key players, all we could do was hope that the lengthy time off would not derail what had been one of the most promising starts in team history. In a tight battle that was much closer than the final score, TPG brushed off the rust and came away with an 11-5 victory. Game ball went to TPG LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni, whose 2-run HR (team - and potentially league - leading 5th HR on the season) blast in the first inning set the tone and gave us a lead that would never be relinquished.

Halfway through the season, and TPG was a perfect 5-0, scoring an other-worldly 80 runs, an average of 16 per game. The next highest scoring team in the league was KPF, and they are averaging just over 10 runs scored per game. Would the second half of our season see a continuing of this success?  On Tuesday, TPG took the field against PEA looking to be the first team in the league to clinch a winning record in 2013.

The rumor mill had reached us early, and there was talk of a new PEA pitcher who had "no hit stuff". Yes, this is a softball league and not MLB. TPG lost the coin flip and as the visiting team led off the game. For the first time all season, the powerhouse lineup that is running away with the runs scored title in 2013 failed to score in the first inning, as the new PEA pitcher gave up only a walk. But TPG would not fold that easily. Missing reigning league MVP Tommy "Guns" Anderson for the second game in a row, last year's female league MVP Lynee "The Cannon" Hastings had to step up her game as our new 3B.  And step up her game she did, in stunning fashion.  Playing a perfect 3B with diving stops and cannon throws to first, even the umpire had to shout out "Tommy Who?" as our team's depth did not miss a beat without our star.  PEA was held hitless in a 1-2-3 first inning, and the score was 0-0 after one.

Did anyone really think the team that has been averaging 16 runs a game would be held scoreless for long?  In the top of the second inning, with a runner on first, 3B Lynee "The Cannon" Hastings hit a monster 2B far over the LF's head, driving in TPG's first run of the game.  A rally ensued, and before you knew it, TPG put up 7 runs, and had a lead they would never give up.  Leading 8-2 in the fourth,. SS Tony "The Muscle" Franzese roped an RBI 3B en route to a 3 run inning.  But Tony wasn't done, and two innings later he blasted a solo HR during a four run rally.  Final score was 16-7, and TPG matched our season average of 16 runs per game.  With 96 total runs on the season, we have now scored more in six games than all but one team did for the entire 11 game season last year.  And at 6-0, TPG will end the 2013 season with a winning record.

Game balls go to Lynee Hastings and Tony Franzese.