HMA/RAMSA Narrowly Defeats PCF/HH

Forgive The Black and Red Report for the lack of an update last week, but players and management were still grinding their teeth over the first loss of the season. Despite the fact that the game didn't end in victory for Pei Cobb Freed/Hart Howerton, the matchup did live up to all the hype that both teams produced the week before.

It proved to be a very evenly-matched game, in both strengths and weaknesses. Both teams stranded some runners, both committed a few errors, and both showed character by not losing composure.

PCF/HH opened the game with a 1-0 lead and had runners in scoring position with one out, but Holzman Moss/Robert A.M. Stern pitcher David Solomon worked his way out of trouble, eliciting a pop out and strike out to limit the damage. His team came back in the bottom of the first with 2 runs, and another in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead.

Mike Copeland (2-for-4) and Eron Ashley (4-for-4) scored on a sac fly by Mark Maljanian (2-for-3) and a base hit by Juan Monahan (1-for-4) to knot the game in the top of the third. But HMA/RAMSA bounced right back with 3 more runs in the bottom of the inning to grab a 6-3 lead.

Determination was the story for The Black and Red in the heart of this game, as they continued to chip away at the Orange Crush, tacking on 1 run in the fourth and holding HMA/RAMSA in the bottom of the inning. Maljanian and Ashley scored in the top of the fifth to once again tie the game, this time at 6-6. But as was the case earlier in the game, PCF/HH stranded two more base runners and missed the chance to take their second lead of the game.

A clear opportunity for victory wouldn't come again, as HMA/RAMSA once again responded to the threats by PCF/HH by adding 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-6 lead. A scoreless sixth paved the way for a final comeback attempt and, with one out, Ashley reached base for his fourth time of the game. But with Maljanian running for him and Monahan at the plate, HMA/RAMSA turned a game-ending double play to seal our fate.

PCF/HH has the opportunity to start a new winning streak tonight, as they face another tough opponent in FXFowle during a rare prime time matchup. Game time is 7 p.m. on Central Park's Great Lawn, Field 3.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Mother Nature has shown some mercy on our opponents, sparing them a shower of extra-base hits by showering them with rain instead. The last two games on the Pei Cobb Freed/Hart Howerton schedule have been rained out and there's a 40 percent threat of additional rain for our game against one of the S.L.A.M. league's hottest teams, Holzman Moss/Robert A. M. Stern Architects, on Monday.

Even if the rain stops on Monday, a chance of cancellation will occur if the Central Park fields have not have sufficient time to drain from the weekend before. If the game is played, it will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Great Lawn, Field 3.

PCF/HH has held a perfect 3-0 record thus far in the season, outscoring their opponents 31-16 in those games. HMA/RAMSA's record is equally impressive at 5-1. They have dominated their opponents, outscoring them 66-17.

If played, Monday's game will certainly be one to see.

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Also, if you have time, check out the tongue-in-cheek, WWF-style call out we gave to HMA/RAMSA on the S.L.A.M. Blog. I came up with the idea early Thursday and it was that much more fitting, a few hours later, when David Solomon quoted Rick Flair in his team's game recap.