Back To .500, Five-O's trounce MKFD

After a dismal start to their inaugural season, the Five-O's have gotten back to level ground on the heels of a three-game winning streak after demolishing the MKFD Team by a score of 22-4 Thursday night at Strawberry Park, bringing their record to 4-4 in league play.

The Five-O's faced a 2-0 deficit after the top of the first inning which has been something they have gotten accustomed to during the course of the season. The game would be knotted at two after the O's had their turn at the plate with hits by the Ginder brothers who would eventually score both of the runs in the inning. "We are used to playing from behind. It is something that happens every game we play" John Ginder said. "Aint no thang" Roger Ginder added on having to play from behind.

Jenna Govel would start for the Five-O's again and would dominate the MKFD hitters all day. In fact, MKFD would attempt to file a complaint against Govel for the way she was pitching. A few players on the opposing team said that Govel's pitches were illegal and something needed to be done about it. A representative from both sides met on the first baseline after the top of the fourth inning. "This team (MKFD) has beaten us both time we have played them. They never said anything about the pitching then. Now they can't even buy a hit or a run and they have a complaint" John Ginder said after the meeting. "She has pitched the same way every game and nobody said anything about it before" John Govel father of Jenna added.

The Five-O's would respond after the "controversy" in their half of the fourth inning by scoring four runs on seven hits to take a 6-2 lead. "The worst thing to do is make them mad" 19-month old Andrew Ginder (son of first basemen John Ginder) said through a baby translator. The Five-O's had an opportunity to score more runs in the inning but struggled with runners in scoring position.

That wouldn't be the case in the next inning. After another dominate pitching performance by Jenna Govel the Five-O's looked like a team possessed knocking the MKFD starting pitcher out of the game. Mike Barber the reliever for MKFD would take the brunt of a 14-run inning by the Five-O's which marks the most runs scored in one inning in Franchise history. "There was a time when the baserunners could have easily held up at third but didn't" J.J. Mazzone said, "I think we all felt the same way about the complaint by the other team" he added. The Five-O's would bat around in the inning before making the first out and would just come up short for batting around twice. It sounded like a scene in "The Karate Kid", all in attendance could hear the rumbling "No Mercy!, No Mercy!" from the Five-O's bench. When asked what was meant by that there was no comment.

The Five-O's looked like an entirely different team on Thursday night. Solid starting pitching, great fielding, and outstanding hitting. The Five-O's actually had opportunities to turn multiple double plays but just fell short on a few of them. The team looked loose and full of life for the first time since opening day. The offensive onslaught was one for the ages. I really do think this team has turned the corner. Unfortunately we won't be able to see if they can make it four in a row for a couple of weeks due to scheduling conflicts. This isn't the same team that we have seen and read about all season. This is the eighth different lineup in eight games that the Five-O's have had to use. "Rome wasn't built by the Greeks in one day" outfielder Todd Roberts offered when discussing all of the changes. I guess he means it is a work in progress and the sky is the limit. Either that or some of the wind got to him after his violent strikeout swinging in the first inning.

This team is becoming one with each other. After the game several of the players went out for a celebratory drink and some eats at the "Across the Street Pub". If you are a member of the team and are hearing that last remark for the first time and weren't at the pub to celebrate, I was only kidding. Each player went there seperate ways and had to celebrate the win alone or with a loved one.

It sometimes can be an arduous task coming up with the CapitalRegionSports.com player of the game. Alot of thought goes into it unless John Ginder has a few RBI's or a few hits then it is easy to choose. When the team busts out 22 runs the award could be anyones. Believe me I tried to justify just about anyone getting this award but it is impossible to pass this recipient by with the kind of day he had. Going 5-6 with a double, a run scored, and six RBI's, the CapitalRegionSports.com player of the game award goes to J.J. Mazzone. This is his first award of the season and well deserved after the kind of year he was having in the field.

The Five-O's are off for the next couple of weeks due to scheduling conflicts. It will be interesting to see if they can carry this momentum over to their next game after an extended layoff.