Meatsticks hand Eldo first loss of the season

MEAT…STICKS! MEAT…STICKS!

Well, it had to happen at some point—it always does. No team can maintain a perfect record for an entire season of softball. The grind of the base path, the diving grabs, the stretching singles for error-assisted inside the park home runs (ITPHR) can wear even the strongest man or woman down.
And the mental focus necessary to perform at an elite level two nights a week for seven straight weeks is just simply unattainable. At some point, everyone is looking to take you down, and that kind of pressure eventually becomes unbearable.
While the Eldo appeared on pace for a perfect season with a record of 8-0, garnering the nickname, 8 and EldO, the pressure was noticeable when they faced the Meatsticks at Tommy V Field Tuesday night.
Truth be told, the Meatsticks are just the team for the job. They’ve got talent that, while erratic, is capable of anything they collectively put their minds to. Granted, that collective consciousness is sometimes compromised by a variety of things. But when they’re on, they’re on, and Tuesday night, they were on.
The Eldo took an early 5-3 lead paced by strong hitting from their women and when the Meatsticks looked to rally, they killed themselves as base running confusion led to a 1-3-1-6 double play.
Will Browne and Jess Johnson combined for two RBI base hits to put the Eldo on top 7-5 but the Meatsticks’ power hitters erased the deficit with two swings.
Drew Stichter crushed a solo shot over the right field fence and after Elise Wages singled, Chris Cuy cleared the bags with a two-run ITPHR and an 8-7 Meatsticks lead.
A couple of scoreless innings later, the Eldo retook the lead briefly before the wear and tear of an undefeated season took its toll on them mentally.
Just as the Eldo defense was struggling, the Meatsticks’ bats turned hot. Stephen Graham tied the game 9-9 with a RBI double and Mike Lewis cracked a two RBI triple for an 11-9 Meatsticks lead. A couple walks, some defensive miscues, a sac fly RBI by Courtney Bock and a RBI double from Reeves Hewlett later and the Meatsticks were on top 16-9 with the Eldo down and seemingly out.
The Eldo gave notice though that they were 8-0 for a reason in the bottom of the sixth inning with a nine-run rally to pull back into the lead.
Matt Laut led off stretching a routine single up the middle for a solo ITPHR. Four batters later, Sean Crossen stepped up to drive a three-run ITPHR to left field. Mo Oliver roped a single to left and Brian McLain pushed two more Eldoites home with a bloop single to right. Browne capped the rally with an error-assisted two RBI double and the Eldo were on top 18-16 heading into the seventh inning.
But the Meatsticks seized on the Eldo’s struggles in the field to battle back. Andy Calligan slapped a double up the middle and scored on a base hit by Graham. Lewis put the Meatsticks on top 19-18 with a double to center and further errors, defensive confusion and a RBI single from Joe Wright led to a 21-18 Meatsticks lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The first three Eldo hitters came up empty as the Meatsticks retired the side to hand the Eldo their first loss of the season and, perhaps, spurn the Meatsticks onto a late season charge for the rec league title.
Or not. It all depends on their collective consciousness and avoidance of bouts of unconsciousness.