KBUT 90.3ers take down the Gray Hares 10-1 Tuesday night

KBUT’s Soul Train runs down those Wascally Wabbits

After a scoreless first inning in which both teams seemed to be looking for their respective mojos, top-ranked KBUT came back in the second inning with theirs solidly intact. The Gray Hares did not seem to be able to locate theirs, losing to KBUT 10-1 in rec league play Tuesday evening.
Coming into the bottom of the second inning with no score on the board, top-ranked KBUT was hungry for some runs. They didn’t have to wait too long to feast as co-captain Kelly Jensen drove two runs in on a hit to center field to get the 90.3ers on the board. They would post two more runs in the second inning on the 1-for-4 next-to-last ranked Gray Hares before heading to the outfield at the top of the third.
The rabbit hunting continued with KBUT in the outfield as the 90.3ers made three quick outs with Carson West snagging a pop-fly in left field, followed by co-captain Jensen scooping up a grounder and rifling it to current King of Soul Mark Ewing at first for a second out. Liz Ewing accounted for the third out. KBUT’s rally continued, starting with the King of Soul himself, who made a quick hit base hit. Alison Gipple swatted a grounder to the shortstop. What seemed like an easy out for the Hares with a quick flick to second was overthrown, allowing Ewing to second base. The Gray Hares’ pitcher struck out the next batter, making it seem as if the tide were turning for the Hares. This did not prove true as Liz Ewing fired a right field shot that brought husband Mark home. With runners on first and second Rob Wissing knocked the ball into deep center to load the bases for Lindsay Records to add an RBI to her record for the season. With bases still loaded and two outs, perennial powerhouse pitcher Rich Driscoll came to the plate with a far-away look in his eye. Seconds later that’s just where he sent the ball, to deep center field, bringing home Liz Ewing and Wissing for the final two runs of the inning. Some good fielding by the Hares proved they still had some spring in their legs as their center fielder got under a fly by Kelly Jensen for the third out.
Faced with new KBUT pitcher Grant McFarren, Kay Gentry swatted a single, advancing her way to third on the next batter after a fielding error. She was quickly brought home from third on an RBI to put the Hares on the board in the top of the fourth. Don Haver almost brought an end to McFarren’s pitching career as he fired a line drive at the 90.3er. McFarren, catlike, reacted in time to bounce the ball off the heel of his gloved hand. He quickly scooped up the ball with his throwing hand and made the out at third. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Hares were in position to score but the KBUT mojo was rising as Kelly Jensen scooped up an easy grounder down the third base line and flicked the ball to second for the final out. With a good lead on the Hares, KBUT came out hard in the bottom of the fourth, with Mark Ewing driving Amelie Kastning home on a fly ball to the center field fence. Despite his monster hit, Ewing was thrown out at home plate after being urged on by an overexcited third base coach. The Hares were visibly encouraged by their successful play, quickly catching two pop-flys, proving that youth doesn’t always trump experience.
By the fifth inning, time was running out for the Gray Hares as the score stood at 9-1. Dave Blumenthal poked the ball to deep center for a single and later slid into third on a hit by Don Haver. With runners at first and third, Kay Gentry stepped up to the plate. She’d been hitting well all night and her at-bat in the fifth proved no exception as she railed a grounder towards short-stop Jensen. Unfazed by the hit, Jensen scooped up the ball and flicked it to second base for the first out. The second baseman then threw the ball to first for a quick, clean double play. During the bottom of the fifth, KBUT went looking for runs but came up empty, thanks in large part to revitalized fielding by the Hares, especially Dave Blumenthal playing left field, who ran down everything near him.
If the Hares seemed to find their defensive play late in the game, KBUT did the same. In the top of the sixth, with runners on first and second, the Hares drove a fast one down the third base line. Alison Dipple bobbled the catch but immediately recovered the ball, tagging third before firing a shot off to second for the double play.
KBUT came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth with a solid eight-run lead. After hitting one to Dave Blumenthal’s Venus Flytrap of a glove for the first out, Mark Ewing used his Soul Power to knock out a triple, with Alison Dipple bringing him home with an RBI for the only run of the inning. Blumenthal was responsible for the final out of the inning as he snagged a fly by Carson West to end the sixth.
Heading into the seventh, the Hares really needed a big rally to catch back up to the 90.3ers, who now had a nine-run lead. After a couple of solid hits got shut down by KBUT’s defense, the Hares strong left fielder Dave Blumenthal stepped up the plate, gapping a hit between first and second and drawing first baseman Mark Ewing away from the bag. Pitcher McFarren reacted quickly, sprinting over to cover first base in time to receive the throw from Ewing, nailing down the third out of the inning and locking the game up at 10-1.
First-ranked KBUT will next play the fifth-ranked Bombers Thursday at 5 p.m. at Pitsker Field. The sixth-ranked Gray Hares will also face the Bombers on Thursday, July 7 at Gothic Field.