The ump tells the Walmart bench something while Rochelle and the batter get ready.  (Wolan)

Shorthanded and without with their manager for most of the game, the Avengers hung-on as long as they could, but fell apart in the sixth, falling to Wal-Mart 9-22.

Late to the start of the game was team manager Andy Wolan. Wolan, who was commuting from Springfield, arrived 10 minutes late to the game. After formulating a starting line-up, he then left for most of the game to attend matters at home and to change into his sporting gear. Sadly, this would not be the only disruption to the line-up.

A few GD-A starting players were unable to attend the playoffs. Becky Wandrei had alerted Wolan before hand that she would be unable to play so she could attend to an injury suffered by her husband. Also absent was Ryan Molloy. Molloy had learned the morning of the play-offs that this grandfather had died. We at MLSB.com would like to express out sympathies to him.

Also unable to make the game were Derek and Magda Johnson, Anahid, who at the last minute said she would play but later reversed her decision, and Courtney, an veteran softball infielder with over ten years of experience. Their absence only complicated matters for the tardy manager and for the team.

John Bielski, Jim M. and Raymond “Vinny” Velez were all put on a “on call” list prior to the game. This list exempted these three players from game one of the playoffs. Since the start time of game 2 was dependent on whether the Avengers won game 1, Wolan wanted to keep these players at home until they were need. By doing so, Wolan hoped they would arrive fresh and ready to play as the Avengers tackled their next game in the playoffs. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Bielski was called in due to a smaller than expected roster, Jim M. became injured playing in the men’s league the week before and no one had a phone number which to contact Velez.

Luckily for the Avengers, they were able to convince Jennifer’s husband Brad to play once again for the team.

Starting on the mound for the Avengers with their pitching ace, Pick Palma. The game started out great for the Avengers as they blanked Wal-Mart in the first inning. The Avengers took advantage of the situation by scoring three runs in the first, which was capped by a 2 RBI single by “The Dean”.

Wal-Mart struck back with 5 runs in the second and one in the third to take back the lead, but the Avenger struck back with a run in the second and a pair of runs in the third, to even the score to six runs each. But that would be as close as the Avengers would get as they began to crumble. The Avengers defense gave-up 3 runs in the fourth and fifth innings, while the GD-A scoring machine was kept scoreless in their halves of the inning. Wolan finally reappeared to play in the game in the fifth inning, but left two runners on base after hitting a well hit fly ball to center field only to be caught by the new and improved Wal-Mart defense.

Rick on second with Jenn on first. Rick would score on a Jason double.  (Wolan)

The sixth inning was an inning Palma would rather forget, as the Avenger gave-up 10 runs in the inning. Wolan came-on to relieve Palma with two outs in the inning and remarkably earned an intentional strike-out by the next batter to end the inning. Apparently, the Wal-Mart team was eager to end the game so they could go and play their next game.

The Avenger’s did reclaim some runs in their half of the sixth. Jason, who was 0-2 with a walk up until the sixth inning, mentioned that he would be having a better day at the plate if only Wolan showed-up with his “black magic” bat, a bat favored by the slugging third basemen. Jason apparently knew what he was talking about, for he hit an RBI double in the sixth using Wolan’s bat. In all, the Avengers reclaimed three runs in the inning, but it wasn’t enough, as the Avengers fell to the Wal-Mart by the mercy rule, 9-22.

Despite starting the game without their starting manager and tolerating a pre-game line-up dilemma, the Avengers were able to get their act together and start the game strong. Eventually, however, the Avengers were unable to remain as an effective unit after as they began to crumble in the later innings.

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