Rez Stops Immanuel Machine

Immanuel had been shredding through the league, winning eight straight games in impressive fashion. Until Resurrection Life showed up that is. Rez used its uncomparable defense to slow the Immanuel bats and take the 10-7 victory.

The offense showed signs that it could be getting back into a groove, smoking several balls throughout the game. Although the team managed just 17 hits, it hit at least another half dozen right on the nose. Jamy Antoine led the offensive charge smacking out three hits including double while scoring one run and driving home two. He also had an assist in right field en route to Player of the Game honors.

It didn't start well for the offense as Andy Briggs, Jason Merritt, and Austin Colby started the game with conecutive flyouts to right-center. Immanuel then came out and scored one in the bottom half to go ahead 1-0 after one inning.

In the top of the second, Rez pushed six runs across to take the lead for good. Eric Johnson walked to start things and moved to third on Jordan Schumack's infield single and throwing error by the pitcher. With runners at second and third, Jamy lined his first single of the game to left to score Eric. Lee Valle followed with a single to score Jordan. A deep Jeff Johnson flyout moved Jamy to third base with one out. Adam Hey then scorched one at the shortstop who made a nice play to get a forceout at second. Jamy scored on the grounder for the third run of the inning. Andy singled and Jason lined a single to load the bases for Austin. Austin came through lining one to left-center scoring two. Eric followed suit, plating Jason with a shot to left. The inning was cut short as the shortstop made a very nice play on Jordan's line drive.

The infield defense made quick work of Immanuel in the bottom of the second and Rez took a 6-1 lead into the third. Jamy doubled to start the inning but the offense couldn't get anything else going. Two more hard-hit balls went for nothing as Immanuel played good defense.

Immanuel stranded two runners in the bottom of the third and the Warriors added one more run to their lead in the fourth. Jason singled and after Austin was robbed of a sure triple, Eric walked to advance Jason. Jordan flew out and Jamy singled to score Jason. Immanuel went scoreless again in the bottom of the fourth.

Rez took the wind out of Immanuel's sails in the top of the fifth, pushing three runs across and taking a commanding 10-1 lead with two innings left. Jeff singled to start the inning, but tweaked his quad in the process. Adam hit another laser beam but right at the shortstop for the first out. Andy lofted a deep fly ball to center for out number two. The Warriors then ran off four straight hits with two outs to score three. Jason singled and Austin lined one to left-center that scooted to the wall, scoring Jeff and Jason. Eric singled to plate Austin and Jordan drove one to deep left for a double but Eric was cut down at home for the final out.

Trailing 10-1, Immanuel scored one run in the bottom of the fifth. Immanuel knocked out three hits and had two runners on as its four hitter drove one to the track in right, but Jamy was there to snag it and end the threat.

Rez didn't score in the top of the sixth and Immanuel added one in the bottom of the sixth, but it would have been more if not for Jamy gunning a runner down at second base for the first out.

Rez looked to add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh but was unable to, stranding a lone single from Austin.

The bottom of the seventh got interesting as Immanuel plated four runs and had the winning run at the plate before a forceout ended the game. The leadoff hitter tripled and scored on a single to make it 10-4. The three hitter lined one down the leftfield line but Jason made a fine catch for the first out. A lot of pressure was then relieved as the big four hitter popped out to Jeff for the second out. The following three hitters hit bleeders into the outfield to score one more and load the bases. A walk forced home another run to make it 10-6. One more single cut the lead to three for the Warriors, but Lee handled a grounder and tossed to Eric at second to end the game, 10-7 Rez.

The big victory pushes Rez back into fourth place at 8-5. Immanuel, who tied its next game, fell into third place at 9-4-1. Life is now in second place with a very solid 11-3 record. Next week, Rez can eliminate EPAG from 2nd place contention as the two teams meet at 5:50 on field #4.