One inning rally leads Rent-A-Gades over the Wildbunch

Wildman keeps it real
at third

Tony Wildman and his Wildbunch have reached “fixture” status in the local slow pitch softball scene. And for that, I, as a local sports reporter, am thankful, because Wildman and his Bunch are always good for something. Whether it’s a come-from-behind upset win, an argument with the umpire over a call or a colorful bench scene, the Wildbunch always entertains.

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Monday night at Pitsker Field, the Wildbunch hit their stride on one and a half of the three aforementioned qualities.
For one, the bench was sharing a plastic jug of fruit-infused “hitting juice,” ingredients unknown. Also, they did manage a comeback, albeit brief, but did not win, eventually losing to the Rent-A-Gades 13-4.
The Rent-A-Gades spent their first few seasons roaming around the middle of the competitive league standings. And while they were often void of the classic local slow pitch softball all star, they made up for it with a well-rounded team effort that would provide just enough punch to win the games they should and occasionally even the ones they shouldn’t.
This year, some off-season acquisitions added slow pitch standouts Josh Schumacher, his fiancée Andrea Schultz, Jeff Banford and Jeff “Jefe” Snyder to the Rent-A-Gades roster. It’s a move that could push them above .500.
The Rent-A-Gades struck first as Ben Somrak led off with a single and scored on a single by Schumacher. Schumacher wheeled home from first on a single to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Wildbuncher Gerard “Gerardia” Greaves responded in the bottom of the first leading off with a triple and scoring on an opposite field single by Kung Fu Joe Walowski.
Somrak added another run to the Rent-A-Gades lead with his second single of the game and the Rent-A-Gades defense clamped down to retire the Wildbunch side in the bottom of the second.
Wildman led a defensive effort by the Wildbunch in the top of the third inning charging on a ground ball to third base to gun out Schumacher at first as they held the Rent-A-Gades scoreless.
The Wildbunch offense responded as singles from Dani Crist, Greaves and Christina Kelly loaded the bases for Trenton Naef. Naef stepped in to crack a two RBI single, tying the game 3-3 heading into the fourth inning.
Naef would contribute on defense as well in the top of the fourth, catching a fly ball in left and firing home to get the runner, tagging up to score for an inning ending double play.
But that would be all she wrote, or just about all I’ll write, as the Rent-A-Gades found their bats in the top of the fifth inning, scoring six runs on four base hits and a host of Wildbunch fielding miscues.
Wildman stopped the bleeding, snagging a line drive down the third base line for the third out and robbing Schumacher of a base hit for the second time that night, but the damage was done as the Wildbunch were down 9-3.
Schumacher put the finishing touches on the Rent-A-Gades’ win with a two RBI triple in the top of the seventh inning to ice the cake of the 13-4 win.