On a hot and sunny morning, the Autumn Press Lightning Bolts hosted the Jane Hammond Events Chocolate Chip Bunnies. During the first inning, Bunny Millicent Sampson-Eves hit a spectacular infield grounder and the crowd cheered. Bases were loaded when lefty Bolt Rory Bayer-Nadel hit a hard line-drive to center, and Bunny Anna Reed thrilled the crowd with a forced out at third. This standoff was repeated in the second inning. In the final moments of the game, Bolt Kate Henderson slammed a line drive to right field, and Bunny Anisa Armistead-Brown decided the game with a final out.

On the other diamond, the San Marco Chocolate Chip Bunnies hosted the Andronico’s Lightning Bolts. Bunny Delaney Whitaker started things off by hitting a grounder for a single. Lightning Bolt Marisa Gonzales-Bush hit a pop fly for a single and Lorentina Quintana drove one down the middle for an RBI single. Bunny Jack Beatty demonstrated some expert field sense by forcing an out at 2nd.

After a slow start, Jellybeans played strong offense and defense: Cara Chinn and Bonnie Coulman blasted doubles in the 3d inning. Tayah Blanck gunned down a runner from centerfield. Sydney Handler-Vosen twice outed runners at first base. Julia Sparer caught a foul tip in the 1st inning, and Graham Griffin threw out a runner from shortstop to Sydnie Hersch who fell in a heap on third, but still tagged. For the Thunderstorms, Alison Radkey had the defensive play of the game. Alison caught a hard line drive off a Jellybean bat, and stepped on first to complete an unassisted double play. Julia Greensfelder hit the ball well, and Maeve Gallagher sped around the bases for a run after leading off the third inning with a single. Maria Barkhurst had two hard hits into the outfield, driving in three runs. Hope Fa-Kaji fielded a hot smash at shortstop and made a perfect throw to Amelia Galbraith for the out at second. Amelia also recorded an unassisted out at second, as did Hannah Murray at third.

Despite strong pitching from Ibble Wibble Wackies star pitcher, Malorie, Strategic Economics found their bats and scored on extra base hits by Nia, Angel & Carlin. A line-drive triple by Carlin set the crowd on fire. Then a late-inning Wacky rally brought the game to a virtual tie. A sudden double by Maddy changed Julie into a speeding jet of air, rounding the bases. We looked to third base, and, in a cloud of dust, she was safe at third with a perfect slide.

The Arkin Tilt Killer Ants and the Adobe Systems Armadillos battled it out to a 4-4 draw on Saturday, April 28. Killer Ant Anna Barcellos provided Hannah Herman with an R.B.I. to start off the scoring action. Annie Ward then hit a triple sending Madeleine Pauker home. The Armadillos were held scoreless during the first inning before Rosa Rossi-Goldthorpe kicked off a rally of four runs in the second. Armadillo pitcher Emily Wert struck out one player in the 3rd inning, and Molly Wampler and Ming Horn both bagged nice catches. Sunanda Gaskins scored one last run in the third to bring the Killer Ants even before the game was called for time.

Force pitcher Camille Dyhr retired three straight in the first. Pirates pitcher Sasha Kramer followed by striking out three. Mariana Campos-Seligman and Cassidy Villeneuve opened the scoring for the Pirates on RBI's by Cristina McCue and Sarah Herman. The Force returned the favor, with Izzy Lubin-Brown scoring, and Erica Shellem singling and scoring when Jillian Jenkins bounced one over the pitcher's head. In the third, Lubin-Brown struck out two, then Shelby Ferran at second fielded threw to Eliza Stuber at first for out three. Lubin-Brown tacked on another three strikeouts in the fourth. Force batter Dyhr ripped a double into center, scoring on a wild pitch. Jillian Jenkins and Monica Wiemels followed by bunting safely. Lubin-Brown came back in the fifth with two strikeouts, and Claire Shellem closed the inning with a putout to first. In the fifth, Lubin-Brown singled and scored, and Ferran crushed a single to left. Force pitcher Dyhr returned in the sixth, getting another strikeout. Pirate Meg McCabe closed the gap to one run in the sixth by alertly scoring from third after a dropped third strike, but that was the final Pirate tally. Force catcher Wiemels astutely grabbed a popup behind the plate, then grabbed a dropped strike three and relayed to Erica Shellem for the final out. Pirate pitchers Sasha Kramer and Maria Price-Hanson showed good control throughout, combining for ten strikeouts and only one walk.

The Alameda girls were explosive at the plate. Megan McGrath knocked a fly ball to deep center field for a double and an RBI. Regina Kim and Tiara McCoy batted well all day. Megan Averitt contained the Chill from the mound. The Chill played solid defense, with nice infield work by Jennie Olson, Katy Robinson and Morgan Rose retiring runners. Niki Sinclair had a huge hit to deep right for a triple, and scored two of the Chill’s three runs. Jenna Guffy survived a pickle in the sixth, sending home the only other Chill runner.