Gas Holes rally through loser’s bracket to finals

Three-peat?

The Gas Holes dodged two bullets in the past week pulling out a one-run win over the Rastas and a 10-8 win over KBUT before crushing the Likkers 20-9 in the loser’s bracket final to reach the rec league finals for the third year in a row.
It was standing room only at Gothic Field for the classic showdown between these two adversaries with the Likkers fans and the Gas Holes friends and family filling the stands.
The Likkers 2-1 lead after one inning lasted all of about 10 minutes when the Gas Holes unleashed their classic Gas Holes offensive fury, scoring 10 runs in the top of the second inning.
John Hopper opened the rally with a RBI double, Gayle Barto crushed a two RBI double, Adam Westlake slapped a RBI triple and Keitha Kostyk roped a RBI single.
Stephany Ford and Kate Schmidt continued the pounding with base hit RBIs and Jim Harlan capped it with a base hit RBI as the 10-run rule was enforced closing the top of the second inning with the Gas Holes ahead 11-2.
But it wasn’t just their offense that did the damage as the Gas Holes defense came up strong as well. Barto had the highlight of the game in the bottom of the second inning charging in on a line drive to shallow center to make a reaching grab holding the Likkers scoreless.
Erratic defense by the Likkers gave up several more Gas Holes runs and by the top of the sixth inning they were sitting on a 20-2 lead.
Jason Fries looked to inspire a miracle Likkers comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning with a lead off inside-the-park-home run. Jesse Ebner and Dave Ebner added two more Likkers runs but the effort proved futile.
The Likkers returned in the bottom of the seventh inning to score four more runs as Gavin Solberger cracked a triple to deep left and scored. Kelly Rasmussen popped a RBI single to shallow left and Lissy Anderson connected for a two RBI double but the lifeline was cut and the Likkers were sent packing.
The win sends the Gas Holes to the finals for a third time and forces Gertie Tunkey, Gas Holes fan and the mother of team General Manager and vociferous supporter Eric Tunkey, to rearrange her plans the night of the finals.
“Mom’s got a dinner date at 6:30,” said Eric.
“No, we’re changing it,” replied Gertie.