DAALTS Use Defense To Win Duel

By Michael Maurino

TAMPA- Winning is never easy for teams that begin 0-6. Such was the case Tuesday night as Drunk Again And Looking To Score won their third consecutive game, defeating C U Next Tuesday 1-0.

In yet another close battle, DAALTS (3-6) used steady defense and an aggressive base running play to take the win. Neither team could produce much offense, as C U (3-6) had runners in scoring position in three innings, including a man on third, but could not score. C U’s best chance at scoring was in the 3rd inning before Ladd Warwick slid to catch a sinking liner behind second base.

“There was a lot of tension out there tonight,” Warwick said. “You had their fans heckling us, our team crowding the field while we were kicking. It was intense.”

The intensity started in the bottom of the 1st when Jen Joyce’s infield single drove in James Falcon for the game’s only run. Kicking a topspin roll hard and low, Joyce sped down the line, getting to first base as the throw from C U’s third baseman came in. When the play was bobbled at first, Falcon sped around third and beat the throw home.

The DAALTS offense was a source of controversy as they chose to keep the ball on the ground against the C U strategy of spinning pitches.

“They were complaining we were using man bunts,” outfielder Bob Marinelli said. “You can’t hit a spinning pitch hard or in the air. If they wanted us to kick more fly balls, they should have rolled [without spin].”

In their last three games, DAALTS has outscored their opponents 9-5, playing in two 1-run games. Winning in Week 10 against Relocators could create a logjam in the middle of the standings leading up to the playoffs.