Dec. 15, 2008 — The Quarren Schjang 40 Plus Softball league defending champions Just For Fun are one game away from an unprecedented ninth championship in a row after knocking off the Rebels over the weekend 7-5 to take a 2-0 lead in their best three-of-five finals at the D.C. Canegata Ballpark.
Mario Ortiz turned in yet another strong performance in relief of Edwin Sankitts, while Guido Schjang's big bat helped to seal the deal on the win.
After the Rebels failed to score in the top of the first, Just for Fun came up with two runs in the bottom of the inning on Schjang's two-run blast to take the early lead. A Just for Fun error in the top of the second allowed the rebels to score their first run to pull within 2-1. The Just for Fun squad had no answer in the bottom of the inning.
The Rebels then took a 4-2 lead in the top of the third, scoring three runs on a sacrifice fly by Edgardo Sanes and a two-run home run by Mervin Mills. This three-run outburst chased off the Just for Fun starting pitcher, Sankitts, and Ortiz came on in relief and prevented any further damage. Just for Fun again came up empty in their half of the inning.
The score would stay that way until the bottom of the fifth, when Just for Fun erupted for five runs to take the lead for good at 7-4. They scored five runs on RBI singles by Schjang, Raymond Cintron and Reuben Molloy, and two runs came on Rebels errors.
The Rebels could not do much against Ortiz for the rest of the contest, but they were able to score their final run of the game in the top of the seventh on Ronald hall's RBI double to set the final score at 7-5.
Ortiz got the win for the eight-time defending champs, while José Maldonado took the loss for the Rebels. Top hitters Just for Fun were Schjang, 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs; Molloy, 2 for 3 with one RBI; and Cintron, 1 for 3 with one RBI. For the Rebels, Mills went 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, Sanes went 2 for 3 with one RBI, and Darwin Dowling went 2 for 3.
The action continues Friday at the D.C. Canegata Ballpark, with Just for Fun looking to wrap up the series with a victory and the Rebels looking to extend the series.
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