Louise & Jerry’s took on McSwiggans Pub in the second installment of the season series.  After winning the first matchup 8-6, Louise & Jerry’s was looking for the season sweep of their longtime rival. It would be tough while playing shorthanded, but they are the reigning champs and best team in the league for a reason.

            Louise and Jerry’s came out of the gate swinging, scoring 6 runs in the first two innings while holding their opponent to just 1 run.  The big blows came off the bats of Jude Bracken and Anthony Muccioli.  Bracken smacked a 2-run homer in the first, and Muccioli followed up with a 3-run shot in the second.  Chris Lyons also had an RBI single to round out the scoring. Corey Brown tripled in McSwiggans Pub’s first inning run but was later thrown out at the plate to end the inning.  Down 6-1 heading into the third, McSwiggans Pub began to work their way back into the game.  Brown doubled in two more runs before Vinny Menechino hit his own double to score Brown.  Now a 6-4 game, Louise & Jerry’s buckled down on defense, shutting out McSwiggans Pub over the next three innings and allowing the offense to pad the lead.  They would do just that.  Bracken struck again in the fourth, this time with an RBI double.  Erika Lesher scored on the play but Muccioli was thrown out at home to end the inning, limiting the damage.  Louise & Jerry’s was able to extend the lead once more in the sixth on a Muccioli single, bringing the score to a commanding 8-4 lead.  If McSwiggans Pub was going to go down, they would go down swinging.  In the top of the seventh, down 4 runs with their backs against the wall, they took one more shot at the defending champs.  Randy Williams had a productive RBI groundout that opened the scoring in the inning.  McSwiggans Pub then took advantage of their opponent’s mistakes.  Brown put the ball in play and put pressure on the Louise & Jerry’s defense.  He’d reach on an error, allowing 2 more runs to score and cutting the deficit to just 1 run with two outs in the seventh.  With the tying run on first, pitcher Anthony Romano shut the door on McSwiggans Pub with a game clinching strikeout.  Louise & Jerry’s held on to take the game by a score of 8-7.

            In the loss, Greg Nadler went 2 for 3 at the plate for McSwiggans Pub with two runs scored.  Corey Brown led the team with 3 RBI’s.  Jude Bracken and Anthony Muccioli tore it up for Louise & Jerry’s.  The two combined for 7 of 8 at the plate, 1 double, 2 homeruns, 2 runs scored, and 7 of the teams 8 RBI’s.  In what could be a playoff preview, both teams played tough and didn’t give an inch.  Louise & Jerry’s edged out their all too familiar opponent and improved to an impressive 5-1 on the season.