A Bunch of Mugs and a Pitcher 5, Mutha Futhaz 4

In what can only be described as an absolute kickball thriller, A Bunch of Mugs and a Pitcher (5-1) defeated the Mutha Futhaz's (1-5) by the slimmest of margins, 5-4, clinching their first playoff appearance in recent memory.  According to local media personnel, the game is sure to become an Instant Classic, providing the winners a wealth of sweet everlasting memories and the losers with eternal anguish and heartache.

The upset minded Mutha's burst out of the gates in the top of the first inning, stunning the Mugs on their way to posting four early runs.  The Mugs attempted to counter the attack, but to little avail.  A glimmer of hope was instilled in the bottom of the third when veteran star Dawn Geary reached first on a well executed single down the third base line. However, the Mutha's defense stiffened and Geary was left stranded.  To some, the deficit began to seem insurmountable, but the Mugs remained determined and didn't quit.  Their defense came to life and held their foe scoreless for the remainder of the game.  Several gold hand catches were recorded over the stretch, perhaps none more important than second baseman Meghan Keating's bases loaded put out that ended the Mutha's most substantial post first inning threat.

Once again spurred by their defensive efforts, the Mugs offense awoke in the bottom of the sixth.  Strategist Jen Karcher led off the inning with a carefully placed single and quickly moved to second on a base kick by the next batter.  Pitcher Mike Randolph followed suit with a double, but a unlucky gamble got Karcher gunned down on a close play at the plate.  However, the risk soon paid off as it placed two runners in scoring position, both of which dependable Greg Berdzik easily knocked in at his next at bat, instantly cutting the deficit in half.

After another scoreless inning for the Mutha's, the Mugs came to the plate swinging in the bottom of the seventh.  With ice running through his veins, stalwart Dave Packer led off with a single that teetered down the third base line.  Keating, who for the past week has been fighting off allegations of winning an illegal poker game in which thousands of chips containing no monetary value were rumored to be exchanged, displayed a new found confidence and followed Packer with a single of her own.  For the betterment of the team, sacrificial Sabrina Truesdell moved the runners into position for cool mannered Brian Pemberton's two-run triple that knotted the game at four.  Hero Cathy Strong then stepped in and kicked Pemberton home, successfully capping the comeback rally and snapping victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Mugs exciting brand of kickball will be displayed again next Thursday against Homeland Security.  Game time is set for 7:30 PM on Latrobe's Field 1.