Sir Lord Baltimore 10, Wolfepack 6

"I knew we had it locked after the first inning," said Emery P with a smile, who turned in a solid first performance as an outfielder.

His post-game comment was full of bluster, though, because the game started bleakly for Sir Lord Baltimore. Through the first five innings on the muddy field, the Wolfepack held them to three runs while scoring six.

In the first, the 'Pack scored two when a line drive squeezed through CF Adam C's legs. Then the Sirs were retired in order in the bottom of the inning.

The Wolfepack scored a third run in the second, but the Sirs also managed to get on the board when Michael K scored on Adam R's bloop single to right. The run proved costly, though, as Michael K pulled his hamstring rounding third base.

Things only got worse in the third inning, when the Sirs were unable to shut down the weird-swinging V.J., who hit a hard shot to right field. Although they would prove to be the 'Pack's last of the night, three more runs would score in that round, and the Sirs failed to respond.

Sir Lord Baltimore's defense kept their opponents from scoring in the fourth, though, when Michael K struck out two batters with a runner at third. K had four K's on the night, during which he frequently chatted with the home plate ump, Avery, who may have been intoxicated.

In their turn at bat, with Adam C at second, the ailing Michael K hit a profoundly deep line drive to center field, which on any day of the week would have been a homerun for the slowest turtle. Hampered by his injury, though, Michael only skip-walked as far as second base. Meanwhile, Adam C crawled home to make the score 6-2. Emery P went in to pinch run for Michael, but the side was retired.

The Sirs defense managed to hold the 'Pack again in the fifth inning. Then the Sirs managed to score another run when Adam R crossed the plate on an errant throw to first, bringing the score to 6-3.

In the top of the sixth, Adam C made a great sliding grab at LF. (In the locker-bleachers after the game, he pointed out that his legs were still grass stained.) Then a weak grounder was mucked up in the sludge pit on the third base side of the field, and despite charging the ball, Kevin D was unable to pull it from the mud and make the throw in time. Things got dramatic when the Sirs put a shift on to defend against V.J.'s right-field bloop with runners at first and second. Instead, V.J. went to left field, dropping the ball behind third base, but Adam R scrambled over from second to make the catch and retire the side.

Things looked grim as your Sirs of Baltimore headed into the dugout for what could be their last chance to secure a victory, and with it a top seed for the playoffs. They knew that if they didn't make it happen here, their chances in the post season would be significantly diminished.

Leading off the inning, Emily B struck a ball up the third base side and legged it out to first -- but the ball was called foul. She ended up striking out in the at bat. But after her, Kevin D roped his first single of the night. Then Adam C walloped one down the left field line. It looked foul, so Kevin hung up between first and second, while Adam C was scurrying past first. The runners almost passed each other, but Adam C slammed on the brakes just in time. When the fielder missed the catch, the ball was determined to be in play, but the confusion limited the extra base hit to a single.

Joan S, who played a stalwart first base all night, loaded the bases on a single. Then Emery P hit a high fly ball that landed in right field, and Kevin and Adam scored. Michael K hit another deep shot to score Joan and tie the game, but again his injury left him short of bases. Andy S came in to pinch run from first base, but was put out by Barbara D's well-struck fielder's choice RBI for the second out, which scored Emery P for the go ahead run. Then Adam R cranked a double to right to keep the rally going.

With Adam R on second and Barbara D at third, Mike B hit a hard grounder past the shortstop. Barbara  scored easily, and on the throw home to catch Adam R, Mike hustled to third base. Adam R beat the throw, which was promptly sent back to third base to put out the baserunner, who dove bodily into the bag.

The ball passed him wildly, and he scrambled to his feet and walked in, the proud owner of a three RBI in-the-park homerun.

In the game's final inning, Mike B made two catches in right field, the second of which was a beauty that he tracked down and caught on the fly. "I knew I had it," he said later of the catch that earned him Player of the Game.

Michael K stuck out the final batter and the topsy-turvy contest was over.

"That was the best performance of Sweatpants's career," said SLB fanatic Rahne A after the game, referring to the team's jerseys. Spirits were high all around for the team and the fans, which also included Kevin D's parents, in town from Pittsburgh. They had assembled bunk beds during the day.

The win should secure a top seed for Sir Lord Baltimore in the postseason, which begins on Tuesday. Tune in here for the latest standings and results.