IOF Softball Recovers from Opening Day Shellacking, Defeat Psychology 22-16
Following an opening round exit from the 2021 Graduate Softball League playoffs, the IOF squad faced an off-season of self reflection. Questions swirled about how the team would respond to the disappointing 2021 campaign. Would Manager Kristen Sora keep her job? Would the team’s perpetual attendance problems ever be resolved? Would top players such as all-star Anna McLaskey even return?
On Wednesday evening those questions were put to rest. The team formerly known as the Krillers, now re-branded as the “Keanu Reefs” put together a comprehensive performance and soundly defeated the vaunted ‘Psychotics’. On a rare sunny afternoon the ‘Reefs showed they can hang tight with league’s best and an off-season of doubt gave way to a summer of possibility.
Editor’s note: the season actually began one week ago, but a dismal 32-4 opening day loss was so devastating this reporter must have blocked it out of his memory…
The new and improved IOF team fielded an enlarged lineup with many new players. “I’m not surprised with the turnout, we had a strong recruiting effort” commented skipper Kristen Sora, no doubt referring to the single department wide email she sent out.
The new players quickly made an impact. In the top of the first, quick hits from “Irrepressible” Iria Garcia Lorenzo and “Marvellous’ Maggie Slein got the ‘Reefs moving. Iria scored the first run of the day, driven home by a RBI single from “Egregious’ Elliot Roocroft, an atmospheric scientist who hits like a marine scientist. Four more runs followed and the IOF offense was clicking.
“The Psychotics beat IOF in the playoffs last year, so the goal was to throw the DSM at them and make them pay,” said Ben “Bath and Beyond” O’Connor, who had two home runs on the day.
It took the IOF team some time to find their footing in the field. The Psychotics put up 7 runs in the bottom of the first as fielding blunders gave the opposing hitters extra opportunities. Eventually the defense was steadied by solid glove work from Ben “that was easy’ Staples and standout rookie Lekha Tlho.
The teams traded runs throughout the game, with the IOF offense assisted by strong base-running. “I like to take a Lagrangian approach to base-running,” first base coach Becca Beutel stated, “And I always tell players to run through first base like the deep estuarine flow runs through Juan de Fuca Strait.”
Things turned the IOF’s way in the second half of the game, when fine defensive plays in the outfield by Sterling “Tappan” Vanderzee and all-star Anna McLaskey helped hold Psychology to few runs. Late in the game, “Veritable” Vero Bourgault got on base and “Dangerous” Dana Price smacked a hit with the bases loaded, adding critical insurance runs to the IOF’s tenuous lead. “People say the only good things that come from the AERL 2nd floor are coffee and donuts”, Dana added after the game, “well, they can now add talented softball players to the list.”
The game ended in the bottom of the 6th inning with a ground-out to Jacob Lerner at first base. Good guys 22, bad guys 16.
The game was the first played under the IOF’s new safety procedures. All players were required to fill out two redundant risk assessments, provide a DNA sample, and supply their doctor’s home address to the IOF Safety Committee. “A lot of players were saying this was unnecessary,” said safety committee member Jacob Lerner, “but that’s why our committee’s motto is ‘we know what’s best for you’.”
With the ‘Reefs riding high on a big victory, they move to 1-1 for the season. They will aim to maintain their momentum as they face Pharmacology’s ‘Druggers and Sluggers’ next Wednesday at 5:30PM.
Tags: IOF students, softball