By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan

July was a month for fireworks.

First, there were Riverfront Rendezvous fireworks; then came fireworks from Final Score as their coed softball team bombed away against Papa Joe’s in Tuesday action at Moore Barn Memorial.

When the smoke had cleared, Jim Billings’ squad of sluggers had launched five home runs out of the park in a 19-1 rout of Papa’s.

“Geez, it seemed like they were using the Cheese Pleasers sign for target practice, and they hit a couple over the Isherwood Family Farms sign in left, too.” said Emily Dampier from the stands. “Softballs were just flying out of the park.”

Cory Blake led the Final Score attack with a pair of booming home runs, while Dalton Wriedt, Codi Klismith, and winning pitcher Bobby Sullivan also went deep. Four of the five round-trippers were three-run blasts.

The onslaught started when Blake knocked the first pitch of the game outta the park. Final Score led 1-0 after one. Papa Joe’s (0-10) only scored once, and their run came on Jeremy Studinski’s solo homer in the fourth. The losers were held to seven hits.

In the top of the third, Sullivan was safe on an error, Megan Shulfer singled, and they both waltzed home when Wriedt “left the yard”. The winners tacked on 10 more runs in their big fourth inning. Codi Klismith singled twice, Cody Tokarski, Kristin DeVogel, and Megan Shulfer each singled, Sullivan doubled, Morgan Oppor (tunity) tripled, and Blake belted a three-run dinger to left. That outburst put the score at 11-1 in favor of Final Score which is now 6-4 on the year.

For icing on the cake, the Final Score poured in eight more runs in the top of the fifth. The rally included Cody Tokarski’s fourth hit of the game, singles by Wriedt, Morgan, and Blake, and three-run blasts by Sullivan and Klismith.

Umpire Jesse Higgins said, “That was an awesome display of power by the Score, and Morgan Oppor’s triple just missed going over the fence.”

Blake and Megan Shulfer were awarded broasted chicken dinners from RD’s Diner LLC, , and Tokarski earned one as well. Asia Herr and Lisa Brooks also captured the chicken certificates, but Jake Kluck of Papa’s went chicken-less. (Get it? Kluck? Chicken?)

PAPA JOE’S BATTING STATS: Jake Kluck: single; Jeremy Studinski: single, solo homer; Lisa Brooks: single; Asia Herr: single; Hiroko Koashi: single; Laura Mattek: single. Ashley Radmer made some fine plays at third and Hiroko caught a foul popup at catcher. FINAL SCORE BATTING STATS: Cory Blake: Solo homer in first, three-run homer in fourth, single, three runs; Morgan Oppor: two singles, triple, just missed hitting one outta the park; Bobby Sullivan: single, double, three-run homer in fifth; Megan Shulfer: two singles, three runs; Dalton Wriedt: three-run homer in third; two singles; Codi Klismith: three singles, three-run homer in fifth; Cody Tokarski: four singles (eight for eight on the year); Kristin DeVogel: single, double, two runs. TIME OF GAME: 57 minutes.

The second game was a little closer as Joe’s Bar (8-2) defeated Central Door Solutions (6-4), 10-4. After CDS stranded Abby Rottier and Adam Lee in the top of the first, Joe’s went ahead 4-0 with four runs in the bottom of the first.

The key hits for Sean Stroik’s squad were singles by Dani Brezinski and Travis Kempf and doubles off the bats of Ryan Gleesing and Casey Bielen. The Solutions finally got a run in the fourth when Garrett Karnowski walked, advanced to second on Dalton Wriedt’s single, and scored on a single by Kyle Brooks.

Joe’s added one run in the fourth when Mark Larson tripled and scored on Gleesing’s sac fly. Larson was playing in his first game at Doug’s this year.

Central Door Solutions put three runs up on the board in the top of the fifth. The big raps were singles by Robby Armatoski, Abby Rottier, Adam Lee, and Sue Gruba’s triple. Sue won a broasted chicken dinner from RD’s Diner. Bailey Hinderman also won one for her great play at first base. Larson and Courtney Nelson both scored for Joe’s Bar in the sixth.

The game featured an outstanding defensive display by Courtney Nelson in left field. She made eight catches out there.

“Courtney is gold out there in left,” player Casey Bielen remarked. “She never misses.”

In unrelated news, Kenny Opiola of Skipp’s tried to bet a fish fry from Final Score that OJ gets out on parole this week, but he found no takers. And fan Katie Pflager also won a chicken dinner for catching a foul ball.

CDS BATTING STATS: Abby Rottier: three singles, run; Adam Lee: two singles, run; Garrett Karnowski: walk, run; Sue Gruba: triple; Dalton Wriedt (on loan from Final Score): two singles; Taylor Brooks: good play at the plate; Kyle Brooks: single, double; Katie Kahrs: walk; Robby Armatoski: single, run. JOE’S BAR BATTING STATS: Ryan Gleesing: two singles, double, run; Courtney Nelson: walk, single, two runs, could play outfield for Brewers; Casey Bielen: double, triple, run; Dani Brezinski: two singles, walk, three runs; Travis Kempf: two singles, double, run; Rob King: DNP; Bailey Hinderman: plays great first base; Casey Kedrowski: single, two sac flies; won chicken dinner; Beke Blue: turned double play at second; Mark Larson: triple, single, two runs. Chelsea Stenzel: robbed of hit in the second by Kyle Brooks. Time of Game: 54 minutes.

LEAGUE STANDINGS: Joe’s Bar: 8-2; Final Score: 6-4; Central Door Solutions: 6-4; Papa Joe’s: 0-10.