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Team looks on as A-WOL updates the batting line-up. (Efimov)

With their opponent (University Office Park) an obvious no-show in Game 8, the Verdasys Softball team decided to make use of the gathering and do little hitting and fielding practice. It was soon realized that the team practicing on adjacent Cusick softball field, namely “LifePlans, Inc.” also had an opponent that was a no-show. (Benchmark Assisted Living) Both teams agreed to make use of the unusual situation by having an exhibition game against each other.

Since this was an exhibition game, many of the accounts from the game were not logged. In fact, the opposing team’s score was not captured, so an official score is not available. Batting stats were recorded but may not be complete due to players randomly reordering the batting line-up. Furthermore, stats collected in this game do not account against the season records.

Below are the highlights for the game:

With A-WOL fielding at second base, a grounder is hit towards his direction. However, A-WOL is unable to get a glove on the ball. Instead, the ball strikes his foot and bounces into the right field. Eno, who was playing right field, fields the ball. With the runner attempting to stretch hit into a double, Eno tosses the ball to Gregorio covering second and applies the tag in time for the 4-9-6 out. Eno is credited with an outfield assist, while A-WOL is credited with an “assist” in quotes.

Third inning with no outs and Misha on first, Ron steps-up and hits a pop-up into shallow left field. As Misha runs to second on the play, the ball is caught. At this point, Misha must retreat back to first to avoid the force out. As he makes his retreat, the ball is thrown to first. But as luck would have it, the ball it thrown wide to the left and into the fence. This allows Misha to arrive back at first safely. But now with the ball at the fence and first baseman stuck in an over-reaching stance, the team pegs Misha on to second, who does so safely.

O'Connor takes a smoking break after rounding second. (Efimov)

Click here to watch Misha in action.

Fourth inning, with two down and Ivan the Terrible on first, Muldoon steps to the plate and connects for a double into a gap in right field. The hit is good enough to score Ivan, who does the “Kvasov Twist” as he steps on home plate.

Fifth inning, Mike steps to the plate with cigarette in mouth and connects for a single. Mid-swing, O’Connor somehow manages to lose the bat into the opposing team’s dugout. Next up is Grimard who clearly hits an extra base hit. However, O’Connor, after rounding second, stops on second for a smoking break. The next batter is Ivan who hits a grounder to third. O’Connor does not even budge, yielding an uncontested out at third. This in turn gives the third baseman plenty of time to get Ivan out at first for the double play to end the inning.

Down many runs, Verdasys would rally in the sixth. Here is the play by play:

• A-WOL leads things off with a triple.
• Stella hits an RBI single scoring A-WOL.
• Muldoon hits an RBI triple scoring Stella.
• Marc makes an out of some kind. One out.
• Usha connects for an RBI infield hit. Muldoon scores.
• Ajeet hits a single. Usha to second, Ajeet on first.
• Misha hits into a fielder’s choice. Ajeet out on second. Usha on third, Misha on first. Two outs.
• Lijun hits a single. Base loaded.
• Elliott hits a 2-RBI single. Usha and Misha scores. Lijun on second. Elliott on first.
• Ryan hits a 3-RBI ITP HR. Lijun, Elliott and Ryan score. Bases cleared.
• Ivan connects for a single.
• Don connects for a double. Ivan to third, Don to second.
• A-WOL hits a gapper into center field, good enough for a 2-RBI double. Ivan and Don score. A-WOL on second.
• Usha hits an RBI infield single. A-WOL scores amongst the commotion. Usha on first.
• Marc hits a single. Usha to second, Marc on first.
• Misha makes the final out to end the game.

In all the team scored 11 runs off of 13 hits (2-2B, 2-3B, HR). The inning was so long, the opposing team nick-named it “The Never-Ending Inning.”

On hand for the Bison County Post-Game Show was Don Muldoon and A-WOL. The topic tonight was not softball but football... Patriots football. While watching parts of the Patriot’s pre-season game, both agreed that Brady looked sharp and that Julian Edelman looked like a clone of Wes Welker.

Coach Wolan did not make a statement because there was no game. He did mention to reporters before the show that he felt he could have used the opportunity to practice some fielding drills with the rookies on the team.

3 for 4 (2B, 3B) with two runs scored and 2 RBIs. 1 for 6 fielding at second. (4-6 force-out.) Looked “uncomfortable” overall on Cusick Field. Gets an “assist” for having a ground ball bounce off foot and dribble into right field. Eno tossed ball to second and got runner out trying for extra bases. 2-2 fielding center field. Nearly had shoe-string running catch. First game A-WOL has played under a rainbow since playing for "Ryan's Landscaping" in their forth game of their 2006 season.