Bats Put to Sleep as are Warriors' Title Hopes

The Resurrection Life Warriors suffered a heart-breaking 9-6 defeat against Immanuel in a loss that most likely shatters the team's hopes at a league title in 2008. The offense just wasn't there and the defense had its first misstep in weeks at a crucial time.

With second place in the standings on the line, Rez hoped to stop Immanuel's 6-game winning streak and put itself in a position to force Living Word's hand for the league championship. However, the Warrior offense didn't comply managing only 11 hits on the night in dropping to 6-4 on the year.

Batting first, the team went quickly and without much fanfare, stranding and Austin Colby single. Immanuel also went scorelesss leaving a leadoff walk on base as the 5-man infield forced two grounders during the inning.

In the second, Lee Valle started things with the first of his three singles on the night, but was quickly erased on a double play. A lineout ended the inning. The defense continued its stellar play holding Immanuel without a run again to make it 0-0 going into the third inning.

Rez finally got on the board in the third when Adam Hey reached on an error with one out and went to second on substitute Jeff Tenney's single. Andy Briggs singled to load the bases and Jordan followed to drive home the first run. Austin and Eric failed for the second consecutive week to drop the hammer from the third and fourth spots though as an Austin lineout scored just one more run and Eric flew out to end the frame.

Immanuel, fired up from holding the Warriors to just two runs, came out swining and scored three runs on five hits to take a 3-2 lead after three. Immanuel was able to drop three bloopers between second base and right field in the inning before Adam made a sliding grab in foul territory to end the threat.

Down 3-2, Rez stranded a Lee single and a Jeff walk in the next two innings as the defense, led by the 5-man infield, kept Immanuel at bay making it 3-2 going into the sixth.

With Austin and Eric leading off the top of the sixth and trailing by just one, the bats were bound to heat up. That was not the case as the 3-4 hitters went down in order for the 5th time in three games and Lee's third single was for naught.

With the offense sputtering, the defense needed to hold ground and for the first time since the 5-man infield shift, it did not. In the bottom of the sixth, Immanuel bled five hits and used two Rez errors along with one walk to score six runs and take a daunting 9-2 edge heading into the top of the seventh. The defense which was excellent all game just couldn't come up with a big play as several near great plays were just missed and a couple routine plays were mishandled as well.

Facing defeat, the bats came to life in the seventh. Jon Engbrecht, looking to make amends for a defensive miscue, ripped a double to deep left-center to start the inning. After two pop-outs, Jeff laced a single to score Jon and make it 9-3 with two outs. Andy coaxed a walk to put two on for Jordan who nailed a triple to deep left scoring both runners and making it 9-5. Austin and Eric finally came through, drawing a walk and lining a single respectively to make it 9-6 which brought up the perfect 3-3 Lee, representing the tying run. Lee didn't have the magic in this at bat, grounding out to end the game, 9-6 Immanuel.

Jordan captured Player of the Game honors with his 2-4 game including the triple. He drove home three of the team's six runs and made two fine defensive plays on the mound.

Immanuel now sits in second by itself at 8-3, riding a seven-game winning streak. Rez is still in fourth at 6-4. The Warriors have two big games this week, playing cellar-dwellar Wooddale at 5:50 and last year's league champ, Life, at 6:50. Both games are on field 4 and I have heard rumors of fireworks, so be sure to be there.