Chefs Upend Punchless Hammers 11-6

LeBREQUE FIELD, HN- Like Whitey Bulger the McInnis Carpentry softball offense has gone into hiding... and no one has the answer to where it went or if it's ever coming back.

For the second straight game the Hammers failed to reach double digits in runs scored. Friday night against their arch rival the Chefs, they couldn't string together hits to mount any kind of a threat.

Things looked good early as the Bill Wysocky doubled in Greg Harper for a 1-0 lead. After an RBI hit by John Gray, Tom Fratolillo followed with a two run shot to center field for the 4-0 lead.

The lead held until the bottom of the third. The Chefs, who capitalized on six Hammers errors, scored six to take a 9-4 lead. The black and orange plated two in the fith inning to cut the lead to 11-6 with hits by Gray (3-4, 2 RBI) and Fratolillo (2-4, 2 RBI).

In the sixth, with two on and no outs the Hammers appeared ready for a big inning. The rally was cut down when Chefs thirdbaseman Fred Regan turned a double play. The double play was the second of the game and fifth the Hammers have hit into during their recent 1-3 stretch.

"We just arent getting any breaks," said GM/OF Fratolillo "As a team we are struggling a bit... guys are putting good swings on the ball at times. We've seen a lot of hot shots directly at infielders or liners to the outfield that just dont get down. I'm not worried though, this is a great lineup that has produced for years... we will get through it."

With the loss the Hammers have dropped two straight regular season games for the first time in team history. Things don't get any easier as they face undefeated powerhouse and six time defending champion Flanagans on Monday night.

Notes:

The Hammers fielded a depleted lineup against the Chefs, missing regulars Scott Logan, Mike Aupperlee, Mark Free and Chris Smith.... Mike Berry has hit safely in his last three games.... John Gray is hitting .545 (6-11) over the last three games.... Mike Cedrone went on a packy run during the 2nd inning... Steve McInnis made his second start at 3B... The Half Door players remaining from the early game brawled each other during the 4th inning of the M.C./Chefs game.... Neal Plant is hitting .602 for M.C. affilliate True Wheels.