Gas Holes defeat Bushwackers for chance at rec title

Finals showdown set with Mountain Spirits Likkers

Last week the Likkers and Bushwackers battled for nine innings before the Likkers emerged with the 8-7 win to advance to the recreational league finals.

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The loss dropped the Bushwackers to the loser’s bracket and forced them to battle with the Gas Holes on Tuesday, August 19 for a spot in the recreational league finals.
Unfortunately for the Bushwackers, as they waited to play in the 6:30 p.m. game, the Gas Holes were busy warming up for the game with a crushing 25-3 win over the Rasta Hairnets.
The Gas Holes carried their momentum into the game against the Bushwackers, backed by their raucous fan base.
After a quiet first two innings, the Gas Holes opened up a seven-run lead on hits from the men and RBIs by the women.
Gas Holes player Alex Mattes-Ritz singled and John Hopper hobbled to second on a drive to centerfield. Keitha Kostyk drove the two men home with a single to shallow left centerfield.
Amy Williams tapped a two-RBI single to continue the women’s liberation movement at the plate. Kate Schmidt added another women’s power run on a single down the third base line, and Mattes-Ritz returned to the plate to cap the rally with an RBI base hit.
Bushwackers Rob Wright doubled and scored on a base hit by Hailee Stanley to get a run on the board, but the Gas Holes returned to the plate in the top of the fourth inning to score two more runs in classic Gas Hole fashion.
As the Bushwackers turned a play at first base, two Gas Hole runners snuck home to give them a 9-1 lead.
Rick Barnard stroked a solo inside-the-park home run for one more Bushwackers score, but Gas Holes shortstop Tyler “The Albatross” Williams pulled in a grounder up the middle with his massive wingspan while dragging his foot across second base for the force out to end the inning.
Mattes-Ritz stretched a single into a two-run inside-the-park home run as the Bushwackers defense struggled to hold the ball in the top of the fifth inning.
The Bushwackers defense reclaimed their composure despite the battle cries from the Gas Holes bench to turn three key outs.
Bushwackers pitcher Tucker Roberts charged on a power bunt to fire to first base for the first out. Clif Dimon scooped up a base hit to left field and fired home to deny another Gas Holes run from sneaking home, and Stevie Kremer backpedaled for a grab in right field to hold the Gas Holes offense to two runs.
The Bushwackers defense continued to hold off the Gas Holes’ assault in the top of the sixth inning and came back to the plate to score two more runs on hits by Barnard and Sean Bennett, cutting the Gas Holes’ lead to seven runs.
But the women stepped up once more on offense for the Gas Holes as Meghan Dougherty drove in two more runs with a double and the Gas Holes closed the game, giving up just one more run for a 13-5 win.
The Gas Holes return to the recreational league finals for the second year in a row and will defend their title against the Mountain Spirits Likkers on Thursday, August 21 at 5 p.m. at Gothic Field.