WOW! The Beat definitely made a statement on this overcast and windy opening Saturday. Look Out! The Beat is Back!

With four spring losses to avenge, the first of which against Finnegan's for the season opener, the Beat came out of the gates like a steaming locomotive with no brakes. The Beat kicked up their game a notch and dispatched Finnegan's 13-1 in only 57 minutes. Offense, defense, pitching; everything clicked today.

Finnegan's started the game with a quick comebacker to the mound for the first out. Lefty left-fielder Koo then popped an outside curve to left-center. Mark Briscoe parked under the ball...but oh, did I forget to say this game was on Jackson #2 (i.e., the launching pad). The ball caught the jet stream and blew right over Briscoe for a solo homer. Finnegan's belted a couple more hits before Mezarai grounded to shortstop Derek Rey (1-3, 2 runs) behind second. D-Rey stepped up to the bag then doubled off Mezarai to end the inning with Finnegan's up 1-0. D-Rey is moving from second to short this summer with Mondo Lopez (3-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR, 3B) going from short to third in a move that looks to really shore up the left side of the infield.

The bottom of the first started much like the top, with a groundout to the pitcher. Kevin Austin (2-4, 3 runs) then Texas-leagued a single to right and moved to third on the first of Mark St. Georges'(3-3) three hits. But the inning ended there with the Beat still down 1-0.

In the top of the second, catcher Gunnar Rosenquist (2-3, Run, RBI) liked the flutter on the knuckle ball in warm-ups and asked for more. Relying almost exclusively on the "Big Nasty" knuckler, Austin proceeded to shut down Finnegan's for the next 4 innings in what Finnegan's Manager called "the best game I've seen pitched...unhittable!" Austin faced 16 straight Finneagan's batters without allowing a hit including a career high 12-straight batters retired following a second-inning error. Finnegan's finally got their next hit with two out in the 6th when Mondo's new ride left him face down in the dirt at third to watch the grounder squib by.

Meanwhile, the Beat went on an offensive roll scoring in 3 straight innings. The second opened with a leadoff homer by Mondo. Singles by Jacque Wilson (1-2, RBI, SF), D-Rey, and G-Man loaded the bases for Jacq Wilson (2-4, 2RBI) who singled in two.

The Beat struck hard in the bottom of the third  with MSG singling and Donnell Moody (2-3, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, 3B SF) blooping over short for a wind-aided RBI triple. Jim Colletto singled home D then Mondo followed his homer with an RBI triple plating Big Jim. Q sac'd in Mondo for the first out as the Beat took a 7-1 lead. Now before the game as Manager Pete Wenner was reading off the lineup card, he said it was like two potent line-ups, the second half led off by Brian Greenblatt (2-3, Run, RBI). Pete nailed that one on the head. Brian and Gunnar both singled with D-Rey reaching on an error. Jacq also singled and Gunnar scored on the resulting error before the third out. The Beat batted around and put together a solid 7-run inning on 7 hits and capitalizing on 2 Finnegan's errors. Beat 10, Finnegan's 1!

The 4th started with back to back singles by MSG and D. Mondo and Brian each singled in another run. Beat 12, Finnegan's 1. After going scoreless in the 5th (btw, Gunnar ended that 1-2-3 inning to grab the Beer Bitch tiara again), the Beat added one more in the sixth. Austin and Pete (batting for MSG) singled and then D hit a deep fly to sacrifice Austin in from third to make it 13-1.

Now that Finnegan's had put their hitting shoes back on, they started the top of the 7th with two straight hits including a liner by lefty #3 hitter Murai who somehow pulled a curve breaking away past Moody (now at second for MSG) who was caught leaning with the pitch. Austin got Salino on an infield fly then struck out Mezarai before walking Dillenback to load the bases. With two outs and the bases jacked, Delucci lined a shot up the middle. D went horizontal snatching the liner out of the air to end the game and lay down the challenge to the rest of the team...this is our summer and we're stepping it up a notch! In the words of Pete, "The earth shook on that last play. Guys on the other diamond said they stopped in awe."

D not only posted the web gem of the game (and possibly the year) but got the game ball for his efforts and great hitting (and the mouth full of dirt he came back up with). Kev got an honorable mention GB from D for his best pitching in a couple years. And let's not forget Mondo coming a double shy of the cycle with 3 ribbies and 2 runs scored.

This team is ready so who's next?!?!? That would be our friends Il Pirata at 12:30pm, Jackson 1.