The team looks on as Brad stands on first.  (Wolan)

With a pre-game starting line-up surely to net the Avengers a win, a slew of no-shows and late arrivals mangles the GD-A scoring machine. Furthermore, some bad calls by an umpire that was chummy with the other team contributed to the situation. Topped with a poor managerial substitution the third inning the Avengers let another victory slip through their fingers as they fell to JQS 16 to 6.

With a few players unable to play the avengers recruited Jen’s husband. Brad played high school baseball and AWOL hopes to use him the outfield.

Dave and Molloy were no-shows to game 11, while Jim M. and Dean were late arrivals.

The starting pitcher for the Avengers was Rick Palma. After giving up three runs in the first inning the Avengers reclaimed one run on a sac fly by Jason. Rick continued with some solid pitching, giving up no runs in the second inning. In the third inning AWOL and Rick swapped positions in hopes to shuffle the pitching game around, and to make Rochelle do about 500 squats. However, due to Rick’s inexperience he committed two errors as the Avengers gave up six runs. We blame AWOL for this, as he put Rick in the outfield with no prior training. Thanks Coach.

Jason after making his bases-loaded clearing double in the fifth.  (Wolan)

To lead off the third inning Rick made a hit into right field and proceeded to advance to second. The umpire called Rick out on a close call at second even though Rick was safe. Regardless, the Avengers scratched together another run on a Vinny Velez single scoring Jennifer.

Rick retuned to the mound and gave up three runs in the fourth and fifth innings and one run in the sixth. A questionable play occurred in which a JQS base runner was called safe at first even though Dean, Andy and a few JQS team-members thought he was out. AWOL comments that the throw to first was at least a half step ahead of the runner.

The Avengers respond with four runs in the fifth inning. A bases-loaded clearing double by Jason highlighted this inning.

AWOL took over on the mound in the seventh inning giving up zero runs in one inning of relief. The Avengers were unable to capitalize on this situation as they ended the game with the bases loaded scoring zero runs. In all the Avengers fell to JQS in a heartbreaking 16 to 6 loss.

Andy Wolan is a reporter for MLSB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Softball or its clubs.

Rochelle Schworm is a ghost writer for MLSB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Softball, its clubs or AWOL.