Jay eyes the throw to home as Rick directs traffic at home. Rick, Kim and Bill C. all score on a Kevin double. (Wolan)

Game 5 featured a match-up between the Pittsfield Vets and Ryan’s Landscaping. The Vets are winless this season while R.L. coming off their first win of the season last Thursday. A-WOL, who “moonlighted” with Ryan’s Landscaping for their last two games, will try and use his familiarity of their offensive to the Vet’s advantage.

Much like Game 4, the line-up for game 5 featured a slew of new faces. This included Kim who made her first appearance this season, along with a slew of new players that Bill Chapman has recently recruited.

A-WOL had been expecting a pitching dual for this game’s match-up, and so perhaps were the fans. Game 5 was well attended as the entire “Mill Town Tavern” team from the previous game stuck around watch a majority of this game from the Vet’s bleachers.

Taking the mound for the Vets was their pitching ace Rick Palma. For Ryan’s, their pitching ace Brian, who pitched 7 innings and gave up only 6 runs in R.L.’s previous game, could not make the game. Making the start was first Jennifer from the “Swingers” teams who happened to be around from their previous game, followed by Kristine (?) of Ryan’s Landscaping.

Game 5 started out very competitive. Ryan’s Landscaping took advantage of a Vets infield who were playing together for the first time all season and took an early 1-3 lead after the first inning. The Vets battled back to take a 5-4 lead after 2 while the Vet’s fielding unit quickly improved under acting team captain Bill B. at 3B. After 3 innings, the game was tied 6 all in what becoming a very close game.

While the two teams were playing great defensively, it was becoming clear that the R.L pitcher was having trouble finding the strike zone: her pitching was consistent with a fast ball softball pitcher than a slow-pitch pitcher. The Vets took advantage and broke the stalemate in the fourth by scoring 4 unanswered runs. This included 2-run HR by Jessie.

Then the game was broken wide open in the fifth as the Vets rallied for an unprecedented 16 runs. 9 runs had crossed the plate and 11 batters had batted before the first out was even recorded. In the end, the Vets strung together 15 hits, (5 2B and 1 HR), 2 walks and a SAC to account for 16 runs.

The bottom of the 5th was highlighted by a throw-out at third base. A hitter on Ryan’s Landscaping hit the ball into left field. While rounding second and trying to advance to third, Bill C. threw the ball in to Bill B. for the tag-out at third. This play robbed the batter of a triple. Not to be outdone, Jenn of R.L. made a terrific diving catch in left field to rob Bill C. of a hit. (Sixth inning.)

In the end, the score was just too much in the Vets favor as the Vets won their first game of the season against Ryan’s Landscaping 27-9.

Andy Wolan is a reporter for MLSB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Softball or its clubs.