FOA 'frustrated' by Miller's Builders
BY JOSH GALVIN INDEPENDENT WRITER
Flawless defense and a seventh inning rally carried Don Miller's Builders over Future of America in last Friday's Rec League Softball game of the week in Tom Nevers. The two teams battled for much of the game deadlocked at 2 before Don Miller's Builders rallied for four runs in the top half of the seventh to secure a 6-2 victory. With the win, Don Miller's remains among the league's top teams with a 7-1 record while Future of America falls to .500 at 3-3.

MICHAEL GALVIN/The Independent Future of America third baseman Emily Butterworth goes for the put out during last Friday's game.

"It was a good game, but our lack of offense was frustrating because I think we showed we are a legitimate team going toe to toe with a team like Don Miller's," said Future of America captain Ben Butterworth after the loss. "We can't win a slow pitch softball game scoring only two runs."

Future of America drew first blood, scoring their only two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Max Hobson-Dupont flashed his speed opening the game with an infield single before jumping two bases on a Butterworth single with one out, putting runners at the corners. Emily Strauss then singled home Hobson-Dupont and moved Butterworth to third. A Josh Galvin sacrifice fly plating Butterworth rounded out the scoring for Future of America.

Don Miller's Builders remained quiet through the first two innings before putting up their own two spot in the top of the third. Adam Simpson and Chris Hayes started the inning with back-to-back triples, Simpson scoring on Hayes' triple. Hayes was almost stranded at third as the three batters that followed made consecutive outs, but Don Miller pitcher Travis O'Neil helped out his own cause with a one out sacrifice fly to left field that knotted up the game.

In the fifth inning Future of America threatened to take the lead but a base running debacle snuffed out all hopes of a big rally. Kevin Berry and Hobson-Dupont hit back to back singles with one out and the meat of the Future of America order ahead. After a heads up play by Don Miller's captain Andy Moyer to get lead runner Berry at third on a fielder's choice Butterworth came up with two outs and Hobson-Dupont on third. A single to left field looked to bring home Hobson-Dupont but the speed that helped him in the first inning killed him in the fifth. A wide turn around third base and slick, damp grass saw Hobson-Dupont lose his footing and take a nasty spill before frantically crawling safely back to the bag. The next batter grounded out to the pitcher ending the rally and Future of America was retired in order in the next two innings.

"That fifth inning was really a killer for us," said Hobson- Dupont after the game. "It seemed like we were building some aggressive momentum on the base paths and in the field but that play kind of took the wind out of our sails. It's a lot like the seasons really, sometimes it's warm and sunny sometimes it's cold and rainy; today it rained on us."

It was in the top of the seventh that the Don Miller's bats finally came alive to ensure victory. Moyer completed his 3-3 day at the plate with a double to left center to spark the four run output. David Gray drove in Moyer with a hard hit ball that deflected off the Future of

America pitcher. Hayes then hit his second triple of the game to complete a solid 3-4, two RBI performance. Theresa Lavigne then hit a hot shot down the third base line bringing home Hayes for the third run of the inning. Lavigne moved to second on an O'Neil single and scored on a two out single by John Mayo rounding out the scoring and securing the 6-2 win.

After the game Moyer was all praises about his team's stellar defense. "This is the second really close game we've played and won. Our defense hasn't been hit up for a lot of runs yet and besides just good fielding it is a good job pitching by Travis (O'Neil) to locate his pitches to

induce outs." I