Meg Lee shines on defense for Airport; Matt Barden, Brady Spees lead Swats at the plate

By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan

“I thought the highlight was the gal sweeping the bases,” said Swat’s outfielder Jake Roy. “She ran out there every inning and did a great job.”

Jake was talking about Emily Dampier, the first official base sweeper ever out at Doug’s Sports Pub. Emily ran out on the field every half-inning and swept off the bases during both games of the doubleheader.

“Emily was awesome,” said Shoe Crew shortstop Jared Shilka.

Once again, Airport Bar (9-0) turned in a terrific defensive effort as the Park Ridgers shut down the Shoe Crew (2-7), 16-2. The Crew only had six hits for the game. Meg Lee was spectacular at second base for Airport. She robbed Tammy King of a
hit in the third inning and took away hits by Andy Horst and Melissa Dombrowski in the fifth.

“Meg was like a vacuum out there,” Airport’s first-baseman Kyle Krieger said. “She sucked up everything they hit.”

Airport scored two runs in the first on hits by Adam Lee, Meg Lee and Sue Gruba. They added two more in the next inning on singles by Josh Swan, Kim Schmitz, pinch-hitter Chelsea Stenzel and Adam Lee’s double.

The undefeated Airporters put the game away with six runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth. Adam Lee, Sue Gruba, winning pitcher James Marthaler, Stephanie Jackson and Kyle Krieger each had two hits during the big rallies.

“We were missing Kyle Norwood and Jenni Brandt, but it probably didn’t matter,” The Shoe Crew’s Andy Horst said. “Airport really came out swinging.”

Indeed, they did. The winners banged out 22 hits.

Andy Horst scored both of the Crew’s two runs.

Prior to the game, all the players from both teams stood at attention as Doug’s honored America with the playing of the national anthem.

“I thought that was really neat,” Airport’s Tyler Mader noted.

AIRPORT BAR STATS: Chelsea Stenzel: two singles; Adam Lee: two doubles, single, triple; Meg Lee: single, walk, spectacular at second; Tyler Mader: double, sac fly; Sue Gruba: three singles, double (just like Ricky Gruba used to do); James Marthaler: triple, single; Stephanie Jackson: three singles; Josh Swan: three singles; Kim Schmitz: single, walk; Kyle Krieger: triple, double.
NOTE: Chelsea Stenzel pinch-ran and scored for Abby Rottier in the first inning.

SHOE CREW STATS: Andy Horst: double, two runs scored; Melissa Dombrowski: walk; Joe Kinsella: single, double; Erin Laffe: walk, single; Jared Shilka: single; Spencer Bell: single; Kara Polley: two walks.

Time of Game: 52 minutes.

The second game was pretty much over at the end of the first inning. The visiting Team BAMF took a brief 3-0 lead in the top of the first on singles by Jake Bailey, Corey Blake, and Chris Ashland while Lakyn Lloyd walked and Brad Ashland belted a triple. And then the proverbial roof fell in.

Sloppy Swats came up with nine big runs in the bottom of the first. Darn near everyone in the lineup for the Swats had a hit. Tracy Mixa, Matt Barden, Jen Eggleston, and Nate Pezewski all had singles while Jake Roy doubled twice. Rachel Graves, Pat Scheele and Brady Spees also smacked doubles and Nicole Spees had an RBI walk.

Everything the Swats hit seemed to find a gap. The 16 hits for Jake Roy, Pat Scheele, Matt Barden, Brady Spees, and Nate Pezewski included six doubles, three triples and a solo homer by Spees.

“Every time I looked up, they had someone on second and third,” BAMF’s pitcher Jake Bailey said. “That Swats’ team has a bunch of tough hitters.”

Official base sweeper Emily Dampier, when not sweeping, kept the crowd entertained by playing songs from “Grease” on the boombox. Chelsea Stenzel was dancing to “The Twist”, and fan Lacey Flaherty caught ball in stands.

SLOPPY SWATS STATS: Jake Roy: two doubles, single; Rachel Graves: double, single; Pat Scheele (winning pitcher): double, triple, single; Tracy Mixa: single; Matt Barden: single, two doubles, triple; Jen Eggleston: single; Brady Spees: double, single, homer; Nicole Spees: walk, single, two RBIs; Nate Pezewski: two singles, triple.

TEAM BAMF STATS: Jake Bailey: single, run; Erin Laffe: walk; Brad Ashland: triple, two singles, RBI; Corey Blake: single, double; Lakyn Lloyd: walk; Chris Ashland: two singles; Morgan Edwardson: single.

Time of Game: 52 minutes.

*Heard between innings: Volunteer umpire Jesse Higgins: “Knock knock”. Swats’ catcher Kelly Barden: “Who’s there?”
Higgins: “Kirsch.” Kelly: “Kirsch who?” Higgins: “Bless you. Did you sneeze?”

###

LEAGUE STANDINGS: Airport Bar: 9-0. Sloppy Swats: 5-4. Kim’s Barrel Inn (4-4) (KBI had the bye). Team BAMF: 2-7. Shoe Crew: 2-7.

NEXT WEEK’S SCHEDULE: Monday, August 1: 5:45: Shoe Crew vs Team BAMF. 6:45: Kim’s Barrel Inn vs Airport Bar. Bye: Sloppy Swats.